IP Library Granted Patent US 11,515,938
Granted Patent B2
US 11,515,938 · App. 17/164,288 · Granted Nov 29, 2022

Automatic Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer (OTDR)-based testing of device under test

Inventor: Julien Barrier (Saint Jean Bonnefonds, FR)
Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
H04B10/071G01M11/3109G01M11/3118G01M11/3145
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,515,938
App. No.
17/164,288
Filed
Feb 1, 2021
Granted
Nov 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2877
USPC
356/73.1
Abstract

In some examples, automatic OTDR-based testing may include determining, based on analysis of a signal that is received from a DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected. Based on a determination that the DUT is optically connected, a measurement associated with the DUT may be performed.

Claims (40)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a device under test (DUT) connection detector, executed by at least one hardware processor, to:

determine, based on analysis of a signal that received from a DUT is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with a connection quality specification by determining, based on comparison of a signal level associated with the signal to a reference level threshold, whether the DUT is optically connected; and

generate, based on a determination that the signal level associated with the signal exceeds reference level threshold, an indication that the DUT is optically connected; and

an optical reflectometer controller, executed by the at least one hardware processor, to

perform, based on a determination that the DUT is optically connected, measurement associated with the DUT.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the DUT includes a fiber optic link.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the DUT connection detector is executed by at least one hardware processor to determine, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with the connection quality specification by:

determining, based on analysis of a Rayleigh backscatter power of the signal, whether the DUT is optically connected.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the DUT connection detector is executed by at least one hardware processor to determine, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with the connection quality specification by:

determining, based on analysis of a Rayleigh backscatter energy of the signal, whether the DUT is optically connected.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the DUT connection detector is executed by at least one hardware processor to determine, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with the connection quality specification by:

determining, based on analysis of an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) front end backscatter level of the signal, whether the DUT is optically connected.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the optical reflectometer controller is executed by the at least one hardware processor to:

perform, based on a set-up that defines a condition for launch of the measurement, the measurement associated with the DUT.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a connection port,

wherein the DUT connection detector is executed by at least one hardware processor to determine, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with the connection quality specification by:

determining, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected to the connection port.

8. A method comprising:

determining, based on analysis of an emitting signal that is received from an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) that is optically connected to a device under test (DUT) that is to be monitored, whether a first end of the DUT is optically connected in accordance with a connection quality specification to a connection port and a second opposite end of the DUT is optically connected in accordance with the connection quality specification to the OTDR by determining, based on comparison of a signal level associated with the emitting signal to a reference level threshold, whether the DUT is optically connected to the connection port and to the OTDR;

generating, based on a determination that the signal level associated with the signal exceeds the reference level threshold, an indication that the DUT is optically connected; and

performing, based on a determination that the DUT is optically connected to the connection port and to the OTDR, a measurement associated with the DUT.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the DUT includes a fiber optic link.

10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving, after completion of the measurement associated with the DUT, a further emitting signal from the OTDR that is optically connected to the DUT; and

determining, based on analysis of the further emitting signal, whether the first end of the DUT continues to be optically connected to the connection port and the second opposite end of the DUT continues to be optically connected to the OTDR.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

validating, based on a determination that the first end of the DUT continues to be optically connected to the connection port and the second opposite end of the DUT continues to be optically connected to the OTDR, the measurement associated with the DUT.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions, when executed by at least one hardware processor, cause the at least one hardware processor to:

determine, based on analysis of a signal that is received from a DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with a connection quality specification by determining, based on comparison of a signal level associated with the signal to a reference level threshold, whether the DUT is optically connected;

generate, based on a determination that the signal level associated with the signal exceeds the reference level threshold, an indication that the DUT is optically connected; and

perform, based on a determination that the DUT is optically connected, a measurement associated with the DUT.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the DUT includes a fiber optic link.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the machine readable instructions to determine, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with the connection quality specification, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, further cause the at least one hardware processor to:

determine, based on analysis of a Rayleigh backscatter power of the signal, a Rayleigh backscatter energy of the signal, or an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) front end backscatter level of the signal, whether the DUT is optically connected.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, further cause the at least one hardware processor to:

perform, based on a set-up that defines a condition for launch of the measurement, the measurement associated with the DUT.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the machine readable instructions to determine, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected in accordance with the connection quality specification, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, further cause the at least one hardware processor to:

determine, based on analysis of the signal that is received from the DUT that is to be monitored, whether the DUT is optically connected to a connection port.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 73189/0873 Recorded May 28, 2026
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: INERTIAL LABS, INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC
Reel/Frame 075642/0381 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2025
From: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC; INERTIAL LABS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 073571/0137 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 21, 2025
From: INERTIAL LABS, INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.; VIAVI SOLUTIONS LICENSING LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 073189/0873 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2021
From: BARRIER, JULIEN
To: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 055657/0711 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20306335 · Nov 5, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220140895A1 · May 5, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,281,959