Patent · US Expired

Smart connect

US6920287B1 · kind B1 · utility

48Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 1, 2000
Grant dateJul 19, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 26, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B2210/071
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

To automate fiber connectivity management in optical systems, a dedicated low bit-rate communications channel unique to each fiber connection in an optical system is provided. The dedicated communications channel simplifies fiber connectivity management by supporting the exchange of port identification information from one optical component to another after which processing determines if the specific connection is a desired association. The dedicated communications channel supports optical interconnection surveillance for all card-to-card optical connections within a group of related cards or within an optical network link. Automating fiber connectivity management in this manner will enhance future products by simplifying the fiber connection validation process and ensuring that any specific connection between optical components is the required association. This will be particularly useful in complex optical environments with many interconnected devices and where troubleshooting faulty connections would be time-consuming and, therefore, very costly.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.