Toward Universal Optical Performance Monitoring for Intelligent Optical Fiber Communication Networks

Optical performance monitoring (OPM) plays an essential role in the intelligent optical fiber communication networks, which perform dynamic network planning and service deployment based on the knowledge of the real-time conditions of the optical layer. Common parameters estimated by OPM include optical power, optical signal-to-noise ratio, chromatic dispersion, polarization mode dispersion, and so on. To be cost-effective and integrated, a universal OPM for multiple parameters realized on a single hardware platform is highly desirable. Although the sources of distinct impairments are independent, the induced distortions on the signal are mixed together, thus challenging the realization of universal OPM. In this article, the existing OPM methods are reviewed with a focus on those based on spectral analysis. A viable solution of universal OPM based on a double-homodyne scheme with all low-cost components is presented.