HP's New Application Software Slashes Test Time for Gigabit Lightwave and Sonet OC-192 System Design.DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 1997--Hewlett-Packard Company today introduces two application software packages designed to slash the time lightwave design engineers spend evaluating the latest gigabit lightwave-transmission systems and components. The announcement was made here at the Optical Fiber Conference (OFC OFC Office OFC Officer OFC Of Course OFC Oxygen Free Copper OFC Oceania Football Confederation (soccer) OFC Optical Fiber Cable OFC Optical Fiber Communications OFC Optical Fiber Conference ), which runs from Feb. 18 through 20. The two packages -- the HP E4543A Q-factor and eye-contour application software and HP E4544A STM-64/OC-192 functional-test software -- run on Microsoft(R) Windows(R)-based PCs controlling HP gigabit-error performance analyzers. Q-factor Application Software HP's E4543A Q-factor and eye-contour application software provides faster characterization of optically amplified systems by replacing error-prone manual procedures with automatic analysis of eye contours Contours may mean:
(2) (Bit Error Rate) The average number of bits transmitted in error. See BERT. 1. ) inside the displayed eye diagram. This allows engineers to rapidly evaluate margins of system performance at BER rates as low as 10(-20) that would be impossible to assess by direct BER measurements. HP believes Q-factor is becoming the industry-standard procedure for evaluating optically amplified communication devices and systems, replacing the traditional BER vs. received optical power. Q-measurement provides a figure of merit Noun 1. figure of merit - a numerical expression representing the efficiency of a given system, material, or procedure efficiency - the ratio of the output to the input of any system for optical-line systems. It also can be used as a means for estimating eye contours at very low BER down to 10(-20), which would be very time-consuming -- perhaps impossible -- using the traditional means. "Lightwave engineers asked us for an off-the-shelf Q-factor analysis package that would eliminate the need for laborious la·bo·ri·ous adj. 1. Marked by or requiring long, hard work: spent many laborious hours on the project. 2. Hard-working; industrious. manual measurements," said Jim McWhinnie, product manager for HP's Communications Measurement Division. "They need a fast and convenient way of estimating the very low BER floor of today's lightwave-transmission systems and of quantifying system degradation and operating margin Operating Margin A ratio used to measure a company's pricing strategy and operating efficiency. Calculated by: ." The new software controls the HP 71612A 12-gigabit-per-second (Gb/s)-error performance analyzer to acquire data on the eye-diagram profile. The software processes this data to provide an extensive range of Q-measurements, including mean and standard deviation In statistics, the average amount a number varies from the average number in a series of numbers. (statistics) standard deviation - (SD) A measure of the range of values in a set of numbers. for `0' and `1' levels, inverse-error function vs. decision threshold, Q-factor and contours of constant BER inside the eye diagram. The automatic eye-contour plot reveals pattern-dependent degradations due to intersymbol interference In telecommunication, intersymbol interference (ISI) means a form of distortion of a signal that causes the previously transmitted symbols to have an effect on the currently received symbol. (ISI ISI International Sensitivity Index, see there ) and is particularly important for assessing the cumulative degradations of optically amplified transmission systems. Eye contours for BER down to 10(-20) are plotted using estimates from the Q-measurement, which greatly reduces test time. The "data save" feature allows measurement results to be transferred to other applications for creating reports. SDH/SONET FUNCTIONAL TEST SOFTWARE The HP E4544A STM-64/OC-192 functional test software enables HP's gigabit-error performance analyzers to generate SDH/SONET frames, ensuring that both alarm and error-response mechanisms of network devices are rigorously tested. HP manufactures two gigabit-error performance analyzers -- the 3Gb/s HP 71603B and the 12Gb/s HP 71612A. Both provide an extensive range of pseudo-random binary-sequence (PRBS PRBS Pseudo-Random Binary Sequence PRBS Pseudo Random Bit Sequence PRBS Pseudorandom Bit Stream (Hekimian) PRBS Probability Random Bit Sequence PRBS Pseudo Random Bit Stream ) and user-programmable test patterns and feature tightly specified output-waveform characteristics. In addition, the receiver features error-location analysis, which can capture and display systematic errors caused by ISI and reflections. This latest test software extends the capability of HP's 3Gb/s and 12Gb/s error performance analyzers by downloading PC-based patterns to the internal pattern memory to create fully compatible SDH/SONET frame structures. Patterns may be downloaded off-line on a PC and transferred to a 3.5-inch floppy disk for uploading later into the pattern memory. Alternatively, downloading may be done in real time while the PC is connected to the gigabit-pattern generator. Downloaded patterns may contain an error-free frame, plus a frame containing parity errors An error condition that occurs when the parity bit of a character is found to be incorrect. See parity checking. (storage, communications) parity error - An error discovered by the inclusion of a parity bit. and alarms. Switching between these two patterns enhances flexibility, which makes it easier to test device and system performance, interworking (standard) interworking - Systems or components, possibly from different origins, working together to perform some task. Interworking depends crucially on standards to define the interfaces between the components. and compliance to the latest standards. U.S. PRICING AND AVAILABILITY The new software packages are available now. The HP E4543A Q-factor and eye-contour software is $11,300 and the HP E4544A STM-64/OC-192 functional test software is $5,500. Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 112,000 employees and had revenue of $38.4 billion in its 1996 fiscal year. Information about products from HP's Test and Measurement Organization can be obtained on the World Wide Web via http://www.hp.com/go/tmnews . -0- Note to Editors: Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Windows is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. The figure in this release, 10(-20), denotes 10 to the negative 20th power. A color photo/slide will be available for downloading on Feb. 18 from http://www.businesswire.com . Sales information may be obtained by calling 800/452-4844 ext. 5150. Please do NOT use editor-contact or corporate telephone numbers for sales information. Information in this release applies specifically to products available in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Product availability and specifications may vary in non-U.S. markets. If you choose to review this item, your readers will receive the quickest response to their inquiries by mailing them to Hewlett-Packard Company, Test and Measurement Organization, P.O. Box 50637, Palo Alto Palo Alto, city, California Palo Alto (păl`ō ăl`tō), city (1990 pop. 55,900), Santa Clara co., W Calif.; inc. 1894. Although primarily residential, Palo Alto has aerospace, electronics, and advanced research industries. , Calif. 94303-9512. CONTACT: Hewlett-Packard Company Hugh Walker Hugh Walker (1855–1939) was a British university educator. He was born in Kilbirnie, Scotland, on January 7, 1855. Educated at Glasgow High School, he went on to study at the city's university, where he was awarded their medal in logic and moral philosophy, and , 44-131-331-7485 hugh_walker@hp.com John McCreadie, 408/553-7342 dearjohn@sc.hp.com |
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