Abstract: Methods and system for clock alignment are described. In an example, a timing device can distribute a clock signal to a line card via a trace of a backplane. The timing device can further send a pulse to the line card at a first time via the trace. The timing device can further receive a return pulse from the line card at a second time via the trace. The timing device can determine a time difference between the first time and the second time. The time difference can indicate a propagation delay associated with the line card and the trace. The timing device can send the time difference to the line card. The line card can adjust a phase delay offset of the line card using the time difference.

Abstract: According to various aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided. In an aspect, the apparatus includes an optical transceiver having a first port, a second port and an optical switch coupled to the first port and the second port. The optical switch is switchable between a unidirectional port operation mode and a bidirectional port operation mode. When the optical switch is in the unidirectional port operation mode, the first port is configured to send a first optical signal, and the second port configured to receive a second optical signal. When the optical switch is in the bidirectional port operation mode, the first port configured to send the first optical signal and receive the second optical signal, and the second port configured to receive a third optical signal and not send the first signal.

Abstract: A computerized system for performing preparation operations for a maintenance activity that causes a disruption in a communication path of traffic over a multi-layer network. The system comprising: a maintenance tool configured to coordinate maintenance activities of the multi-layer network based on maintenance activity data, a storage unit to store the maintenance activity data; and a multi-layer control system comprising a processor, wherein said processor is configured to: receive from the maintenance tool an indication that one or more maintenance activities are required on an indicated optical resource, determine an affected optical path, determine an affected IP link utilizing said affected optical path; remove traffic from the affected IP link; remove the affected optical path; activate an alternative optical path; configure the packet switching layer to utilize the alternative optical path; and repeat for each affected optical path and each affected IP link.

Abstract: A distributed radio access network (RAN) includes a plurality of radio points (RPs), each being configured to exchange radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one user equipment (UE). The distributed RAN also includes a baseband controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of RPs via a fronthaul network. The baseband controller is configured to determine, for each of the plurality of RPs, a number of successfully received packets on the fronthaul network, for a wireless channel, during a measurement interval. The baseband controller is also configured to determine, for each of the plurality of RPs, a number of packet losses (reflecting dropped and/or delayed packets), for the wireless channel and during the measurement interval, based on the number of successfully received packets.

Abstract: An OLT comprises a processor configured to generate a first message comprising a first field instructing an ONU to report its data rate capability as at least one of 10 Gb/s, 25 Gb/s, or 50 Gb/s; a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the first message to the ONU; and a receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive a second message from the ONU in response to the first message, the second message comprises a second field indicating the data rate capability. A method comprises generating a first message comprising a first field instructing reporting of a data rate capability as at least one of 10 Gb/s, 25 Gb/s, or 50 Gb/s; transmitting the first message; and receiving a second message in response to the first message, the second message comprises a second field indicating the data rate capability.

Abstract: An optical forwarding device includes a specific optical connector and an optical forwarding module. The optical forwarding module includes first and second optical connectors, first and second wavelength division multiplexers (WDM), and an optical circulator. The first WDM receives and forwards a first optical signal from the first optical connector. The optical circulator includes first, second, and third ports. The first port forwards the first optical signal from the first WDM. The second port forwards the first optical signal from the first port to the optical cable through the specific optical connector, and receives and forwards a second optical signal from the optical cable. The first and second optical signals have a first wavelength. The third port receives and forwards the second optical signal from the second port. The second WDM receives the second optical signal from the third port and sends the same to the second optical connector.

Abstract: An optical switch configuration is disclosed that gives the appearance of a logical cut in a fiber optic line. The inputs to the optical switch are redundant so that if a fiber event occurs on one input, the optical switch can switch to the other input. In the case where both paths of an optical fiber have fiber events, router convergence is delayed. One mechanism to mitigate a prolonged fiber degradation is to dampen the optical power on the output optical fiber of the optical switch, such that it creates a loss of light and appears as a clean cut of the optical fiber. Another solution uses optical switches to inject an alternate light source onto the output optical fiber, wherein the alternate light source is of a wavelength to be filtered out giving an appearance of a clean cut of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A constraint solver service of a computing resource service provider performs evaluations of logic problems provided by the service provider's users and/or services by deploying a plurality of constraint solvers to concurrently evaluate the logic problem. Each deployed solver has, or is configured with, different characteristics and/or capabilities than the other solvers; thus, the solvers can have varying execution times and ways of finding a solution. The service may control execution of the solvers using virtual computing resources, such as by installing and configuring a solver to execute in a software container instance. The service receives solver results and delivers them according to a solution strategy such as “first received” to reduce latency or “check for agreement” to validate the solution. An interface allows the provider of the logic problem to select and configure solvers, issue commands and modifications during solver execution, select the solution strategy, and receive the solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an optical transmission system including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The optical transmitter including a transmitting circuitry configured to receive electrical signals from a source device; at least one laser configured into the transmitting circuitry for converting the electrical signals into light signals; a first interface electrically connected to the transmitting circuitry and configured to connect the transmitting circuitry to the source device; and a plurality of optical connectors connected to the transmitting circuitry for receiving the light signals, the plurality of optical connectors configured to removably connect to a plurality of transmitting optical fibers for transmitting light signals. The optical receiver including a receiving circuitry configured to receive the light signals from the transmitting optical fibers and convert the light signals into the electrical signals.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit package includes two arrays or sets of integrated comb laser modules that are bonded to a silicon interposer. Each comb laser of an array has a common or overlapping spectral range, with each laser in the array being optically coupled to a local optical bus. The effective spectral range of the lasers in each array are different, or distinct, as to each array. An optical coupler is disposed within the silicon interposer and is optically coupled to each of the local optical buses. An ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) is bonded to the silicon interposer and provides control and operation of the comb laser modules.

Abstract: Provided are a communication destination determination device and the like in which a communication destination that is highly likely to pose a threat can be detected. A communication destination determination device 101 is provided with: a signal transmission unit 102 which transmits, when a first signal transmitted from a communication destination 104 is received via a communication network, a second signal in response to the first signal to the communication destination 104; and a communication destination determination unit 103 which classifies whether the communication destination 104 is highly likely to pose a threat or not, on the basis of whether or not a third signal transmitted from the communication destination 104 is received within a certain time period from the timing of transmission of the second signal.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit package includes two arrays or sets of integrated comb laser modules that are bonded to a silicon interposer. Each comb laser of an array has a common or overlapping spectral range, with each laser in the array being optically coupled to a local optical bus. The effective spectral range of the lasers in each array are different, or distinct, as to each array. An optical coupler is disposed within the silicon interposer and is optically coupled to each of the local optical buses. An ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) is bonded to the silicon interposer and provides control and operation of the comb laser modules.

Abstract: A technology is described for operating a multi-tiered data processing service. An example method may include receiving a data rule set used to process data generated by a network addressable device included in a multi-tiered data processing service having computing nodes that are connected using one or more networks, where the computing nodes may have computing capacities to execute a portion of the data rule set using a rules engine. A computing node included in the multi-tiered processing service may be selected to host a portion of the data rule set on the computing node and a portion of the data rule set may be deployed to the computing node, where the data rule set may be registered with the rules engine that executes on the computing node and data generated by the network addressable device may be processed using the rules engine and the data rule set.

Abstract: A method and system for providing joint IP/Optical Layer restoration mechanisms for the IP over Optical Layer architecture, particularly for protecting against router failure within such architecture, includes any one of plural node elements participating in the detection and restoration of the joint IP/Optical Layer architecture upon the failure of a router in one of the nodes. The plural node elements may include, but are not limited to, one of plural routers and an optical cross-connect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pro-active protection of packet-optical transport in a software defined network (SDN) controller are disclosed herein. The SDN controller may define a proactive protection threshold criterion based on based on a plurality of optical system performance metrics and may collect at least one measurement for each of the metrics. The SDN controller may then determine whether the proactive protection threshold criterion is met based on at least one of the collected measurements. Further, the SDN controller may select a protection mechanism and define a protection threshold criterion on a condition that the proactive protection threshold criterion is met. Also, the SDN controller may initiate proactive protection events based on the selected protection mechanism. The SDN controller may determine whether the protection threshold criterion is met. The SDN controller may implement one or more protection events on a condition that the protection threshold criterion is met.

Abstract: A computing system includes a plurality of computing resources that communicate with each other using network on a chip architecture. One of the plurality of computing resources is attached to memory external to the computing system through an external memory interface. The memory-attached computing resource is configured to read data from the memory and modify the read data prior to either writing the modified data back to the memory, or transmitting the modified data to one or more other of the computing resources, or both.

Abstract: 10-Gbps client signals (1a) to (1c) which are processed by a 10-Gbps transponder (3a), a 40-Gbps transponder (3b), and a 100-Gbps transponder (3c), respectively, are branched by optical couplers (2a) to (2c) into an M:N switch (40). The M:N switch (40) selects a client signal to be made redundant from the branched client signals (1a) to (1c) and outputs the selected client signal to a redundancy 100-Gbps transponder (50) having 10-Gbps-based client interfaces.

Abstract: Method for repairing a communication link failure. In certain embodiments, the method generally includes communicating with another apparatus using an initial number of channels of a plurality of channels of a communication link; selectively coupling a plurality of communication lanes with the plurality of channels of the communication link, wherein, during an initial state, a first lane of the plurality of lanes is coupled with a first channel of the plurality of channels, and wherein the plurality of channels comprises a spare channel; determining whether at least one channel of the plurality of channels is experiencing a failure; and controlling at least one of the multiplexers such that the failed channel is replaced by another channel of the plurality of channels by using the spare channel.

Abstract: Computer program product and apparatus for repairing a communication link failure. In certain embodiments, the apparatus generally includes a controller configured to initialize the communication link for communication with another apparatus using an initial number of channels of a plurality of channels. The apparatus may also include a plurality of multiplexers configured to selectively couple a plurality of communication lanes with the plurality of channels of the communication link. In certain embodiments, during an initial state, a first lane of the plurality of lanes may be coupled with a first channel of the plurality of channels, and the plurality of channels may include a spare channel. The controller may determine whether at least one channel of the plurality of channels is experiencing a failure and control at least one of the multiplexers such that the failed channel is replaced by another channel of the plurality of channels by using the spare channel.

Abstract: A method and system for providing joint IP/Optical Layer restoration mechanisms for the IP over Optical Layer architecture, particularly for protecting against router failure within such architecture, includes any one of plural node elements participating in the detection and restoration of the joint IP/Optical Layer architecture upon the failure of a router in one of the nodes. The plural node elements may include, but are not limited to, one of plural routers and an optical cross-connect.

Abstract: A method for managing data communication traffic in a network routing device includes monitoring a bandwidth utilization of the network routing device and determining whether the bandwidth utilization exceeds a threshold. The method may additionally include receiving a first signal, the first signal having a first bandwidth, the first signal further having stream of packets. A second signal may be generated based on determining that the bandwidth utilization exceeds the threshold. The second signal may include the stream of packets. The second signal may additionally have a second bandwidth, where the second bandwidth is larger than the first bandwidth. The method may be continued by routing the second signal along a loopback path external to the network routing device. The method may then include extracting, based on determining that the bandwidth utilization is at or below the threshold, the stream of packets from the second signal for processing.

Abstract: A method for managing data communication traffic in a network routing device includes monitoring a bandwidth utilization of the network routing device and determining whether the bandwidth utilization exceeds a threshold. The method may additionally include receiving a first signal, the first signal having a first bandwidth, the first signal further having stream of packets. A second signal may be generated based on determining that the bandwidth utilization exceeds the threshold. The second signal may include the stream of packets. The second signal may additionally have a second bandwidth, where the second bandwidth is larger than the first bandwidth. The method may be continued by routing the second signal along a loopback path external to the network routing device. The method may then include extracting, based on determining that the bandwidth utilization is at or below the threshold, the stream of packets from the second signal for processing.

Abstract: A system includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The optical transmitter includes a first comb light source, a second comb light source, an optical switch configured to selectively switch either the first comb light source or the second comb light source through to an output of the optical switch, and optical modulators configured to apply differential phase modulation, to channels associated with the switched first comb light source or with the second comb light source, to generate modulated light output signals. The optical receiver includes coherent receivers configured to receive the modulated light output signals from the optical transmitter, and detect and process the received, modulated light output signals to generate corresponding digital signals. The optical receiver further includes a digital signal processor configured to apply forward error correction to the digital signals to generate forward error corrected digital signals.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for providing secure accelerated data transfer. The system may transparently provide accelerated data transfer between a client and a remote system. The system may provide a method for determining a mapped domain name for identifying an ingress server. The system may provide a method for determining a tunnel route to an egress server selected for establishing a connection with the remote system. The system may provide a method of exchanging data between the client system and the remote system via the ingress server and the egress server.

Abstract: A network interface controller includes a plurality of host interfaces configured to communicate with a plurality of processing nodes, a plurality of network interfaces configured to provide network communication for the processing nodes to a network, and a shared resource configured to provide link based services and stateless offload services for the processing nodes when communicating with the network.

Abstract: A protection channel provisioning method includes: reserving a first protection channel corresponding to a first work channel and a second protection channel corresponding to a second work channel; provisioning a shared protection channel by configuring a circuit of node equipment provided on a shared route on which the first protection channel and the second protection channel are redundantly reserved so that a data signal of the first work channel or a data signal of the second work channel is transmitted via the shared route; and configuring a circuit of branch node equipment provided in a branch node at which the shared protection channel is guided to a first node corresponding to the first protection channel and a second node corresponding to the second protection channel so that the data signal transmitted via the shared protection channel is not guided to the first node and the second node.

Abstract: A host networking device networking interface is automatically configured. The interface is initially configured to operate in a single-link mode in which multiple network communication lanes of the interface cooperatively provide a single communication link. If a signal is not present on any communication lane, then the interface is configured to operate in a multiple-link mode in which each lane provides a separate and different communication link, and is operated in the multiple-link mode. If a signal is present on every communication lane, and if the single communication link has been established with another networking device over all the lanes, then the interface is operated in the single-link mode. If a signal is present on every communication lane, but if the single communication link has not been established over all the lanes, then the interface is configured to operate in the multiple-link mode and is operated in the multiple-link mode.

Abstract: Method is provided for reducing adverse effects of a link failure in an optical network, wherein the optical network comprises at least one main link which comprises a first optical fiber amplifier (OFA), and along which communications traffic is currently being conveyed, and at least one protection link which comprises a second optical fiber amplifier (OFA) along which communications traffic is not currently being conveyed, wherein the at least one protection link is adapted to carry out communications traffic diverted from the at least one main link when a failure occurs at said at least one main link or at one or more nodes associated therewith, and wherein the method is further characterized in that when no communications traffic is being conveyed along the at least one protection link, one or more pumps of the second OFA is operating to provide an output having a pre-defined power level.

Abstract: A method and system for providing joint IP/Optical Layer restoration mechanisms for the IP over Optical Layer architecture, particularly for protecting against router failure within such architecture, includes any one of plural node elements participating in the detection and restoration of the joint IP/Optical Layer architecture upon the failure of a router in one of the nodes. The plural node elements may include, but are not limited to, one of plural routers and an optical cross-connect.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses an apparatus and method for rerouting multiple traffics.

Abstract: In a normal operation, line cards LCm1 and LCm2 set transmit ports TXu of user ports UPm1 and UPm2 into an open state, and line cards LCs1 and LCs2 set transmit ports TXu of user ports UPs1 and UPs2 into a blocking state. Here, for example, if a failure occurs in a communication line LNa1, the line card LCm2 detects the failure through a transmission port HPm2, and then changes the transmit port TXu in the user port UPm2 from the open state to the blocking state, and notifies the line card LCs2 of failure detection through a backplane. The line card LCs2 receives the notification of the failure detection, and changes the transmit port TXu in the user port UPs2 from the blocking state to the open state.

Abstract: A method, in a node operating in a network with a control plane, to optimize wavelength retuning on service redials, includes detecting a failure on a link associated with the node; and, for each affected connections on the link, sending a respective release message to an associated originating node via the control plane, the release message including a protect path and a wavelength, wherein the release message is utilized by the associated originating node to redial the affected connections with the protect path and the wavelength determined by the node, to minimize wavelength retuning on the affected connections.

Abstract: A network management device monitors an optical network that is configured for a required bandwidth. The optical network includes multiple optical nodes and a plurality of light paths between the multiple optical nodes. The multiple optical nodes include transport cards with a majority of the transport cards provisioned as active cards to receive a traffic load of up to full capacity of the transport cards, and with a minority of the transport cards provisioned as floating spare cards for the active cards.

Abstract: A cross connecting unit outputs an including frame whose type matches a type of an including frame stored in a storage unit in association with identification information of a multiplexing unit having a problem among including frames generated by an including unit to a backup multiplexing unit when any one of multiplexing units has a problem.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are optical distribution networks and corresponding methods for providing physical-layer redundancy. Example embodiments include a head-end passive optical splitter-combiner (OSC) to split optical signals from an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) onto primary and secondary optical paths for redundant distribution to optical network terminal(s) (ONTs), a passive access OSC for tapping the redundant signals, and an optical switch for selecting between the redundant signals and providing an ONT access to the selected signal. Example optical distribution networks and corresponding methods provide multiple drop points, a fully cyclical path, and autonomous protection switching, all at low cost. A further advantage of these networks and methods is that where faults may occur, maintenance may not be required for a certain time.

Abstract: A multi-path provisioning scheme is provided to ensure full protection while reducing or minimizing resource overbuild. A signal to be provisioned is divided at a source node into a plurality of sub-signals that are independently routed from the source node to a destination node. Bandwidth for back-up traffic B is allocated in addition to bandwidth for primary traffic T. In some embodiments, the initial bandwidth B of the backup traffic equals the bandwidth of the primary traffic. The T+B traffic is initially distributed so that no link carries more than B traffic. The traffic distribution pattern is then iteratively revised to reduce the bandwidth requirements for the backup traffic while still meeting requirements for protection.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical node comprising of at least two degrees, a plurality of directionless add/drop ports, a plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers, and at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver, wherein the at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver can transmit and receive in place of any of the plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers.

Abstract: Apparatus for enabling an M:N recovery scheme in an optical network includes a set of N working DSP-enabled optical transceivers/transponders including at least one working DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder that uses a first set of transmission parameters and at least one working DSP-enabled optical transceiver/transponder that uses a second set of transmission parameters which is different from the first set of transmission parameters, and a set of M protection DSP-enabled optical transceivers/transponders operable to protect the set of N working DSP-enabled optical transceivers/transponders and including L protection DSP-enabled optical transceivers/transponders, each having a capability of using a set of adjustable transmission parameters enabling it to protect every one of the N working DSP-enabled optical transceivers/transponders, and, when M>L, M?L protection DSP-enabled optical transceivers/transponders, each having a capability of protecting at least one, but not all, of the N working DS

Abstract: An optical network is configured to optimize network resources. The optical network includes multiple optical nodes, light paths between the multiple optical nodes, and a network monitoring device. The network monitoring device monitors the optical network to identify a failure in the optical network. When the failure is a fiber failure, light paths are re-routed around the fiber failure while maintaining the required bandwidth for the optical network. When the failure is a transponder card failure within one of the multiple nodes, a floating spare card may be provisioned to service a particular light path associated with the transponder card failure. When the failure is a node failure, transponder cards in some of the multiple optical nodes are provisioned to reconfigure some of the plurality of light paths to route traffic around the failed node.

Abstract: A method for shared mesh restoration includes configuring a switch to allow sharing of a plurality of backup line cards across a plurality of node degrees associated with a reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM). The switch is communicatively coupled to the ROADM. The method further includes configuring a number of backup line cards coupled to the switch. The number of backup line cards is based on determining a number of active backup lightpaths for each of a plurality of network failures associated with each of the plurality of node degrees of the ROADM, identifying which node degree and failure has the largest number of active backup lightpaths for all of the plurality of node degrees of the ROADM and for each of the plurality of network failures, and determining the number of backup line cards to configure based on the identified largest number of active backup lightpaths.

Abstract: A node device in an optical transport ring network including plural node devices connected in a ring form using plural optical transmission paths so that optical transport frames of a working line and a protection line are transmitted using the plural optical transmission paths, includes a control information transmitter, when a failure occurs in the optical transmission paths, transmitting the optical transport frame to an opposing node device as a transmission destination node in the optical transmission paths, the optical transport frame including switching control information; and a switcher receiving the optical transport frame including switching control information, the optical transport frame being transmitted to the node device as the transmission destination node, forming a loop back to fold a transmission path between the plural optical transmission paths, and switching the optical transmission path from the work line to the protection line.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of electro-optical transducers, control circuitry, and a connector housing. The electro-optical transducers are configured to convert between electrical signals and respective optical signals conveyed over respective optical fibers. The control circuitry is configured, in response to a failure of a first electro-optical transducer in the array that is associated with a given optical fiber, to switch one or more of the electrical signals and the optical signals so as to replace the first electro-optical transducer with a second electro-optical transducer in the array in conveying an optical signal over the given optical fiber. The connector housing contains the array of the electro-optical transducers and the control circuitry.

Abstract: A method, a network, and a node each implement the transmission of Automatic Protection Switching (APS) switching coordination bytes across an OTN network. A working signal and a protection signal are received, one of which is designated as an active signal. The active signal is encapsulated in an Optical channel Data Unit (ODU) signal. APS switching coordination bytes from the working and protection signals are placed in an overhead segment of the ODU signal. The ODU signal is transmitted into and received from an Optical Transport Network (OTN) network. The working and protection signals are recreated based on the active signal encapsulated in the ODU signal and the APS switching coordination bytes in the overhead segment. The recreated working and protection signals are transmitted. In this manner, a single ODU signal may be used to transmit both the working and protection signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing path protection for rate-adaptive optics is provided. As part of the method, an aggregate input bit stream is received. The aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted using a rate-adaptive optical transceiver when transmitting on a first optical path. When the first optical path has a fault, the aggregate input bit stream is then transmitted on a second optical path using the rate-adaptive optical transceiver and a fixed-rate optical transceiver.

Abstract: A system and method for Passive Optical Networks (PON) providing integration (cross-correlation) of powersave and fiber protection, optionally with encryption, facilitating the successful operation and/or benefits that can be gained when operating a PON system with these features. A major problem with power save is the detection, since both the OLT and the ONUs rely on a valid signal in order to detect fiber failure. However, the OLT may not detect this for sleeping ONUs, and an ONU in Tx/Rx sleep-mode, may not detect a fiber failure, and may not be aware of the OLTs switchover. In addition to solving the problem of combined fiber protection and power savings, a solution is also needed for providing security for this combination. A current embodiment is a system and method for Passive Optical Networks (PON) providing integration (cross-correlation) of powersave and fiber protection, optionally with encryption.

Abstract: Due to demand for more network bandwidth, a need for multi-user optical network topologies has, and will continue to, increase. A method or corresponding apparatus in embodiments of the present invention provide for an availability determination tool for determining and displaying wavelength and subrate availabilities within a network. Benefits of embodiments of a tool include allowing a user to identify the availability and capacity of any wavelength on any network, via an interactive graphical user interface, such as by using three-dimensional representations. In one embodiment, the disclosed availability determination tool allows users to locate and view any combination of available wavelengths between nodes in an optical network topology, and generate graphical and tabular reports of the availability in order to maintain an efficient and organized method or apparatus for determining and controlling wavelengths in a network.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include sorting potential optical layer link failures in a network in an increasing order of failed traffic amount. The method may further include, for each potential optical link failure in increasing order of failed traffic amount: determining the additional higher layer link capacity required on existing higher layer links associated with the potential optical link failure using higher layer restoration of the potential optical link failure; determining the additional optical layer capacity required for restoring the existing higher layer links associated with the potential optical link failure using optical layer restoration; and selecting one of the higher layer and the optical layer as a restoration layer for restoration of the existing higher layer links associated with the potential optical link failure based on the determined additional higher layer link capacity and the determined additional optical layer capacity.

Abstract: A self-diagnostic method for PON protection system, in which optical switch-related failure can be previously inspected, and a PON protection system.

Abstract: A method may include: (i) provisioning a first network-side interface of a first plug-in unit and a second network-side interface of a second plug-in unit as members of a network-side protection group, the first plug-in unit and the second plug-in unit integral to an adaptation layer network element; (ii) provisioning a first client-side interface of the first plug-in unit and a second client-side interface of the second plug-in unit as members of a client-side protection group; (iii) designating one of the first and second network-side interface as an active network-side interface of the network-side protection group; and (iv) designating one of the first second client-side interface as an active client-side interface of the client-side protection group, such that traffic ingressing on the active network-side interface may egress on the active client-side interface and traffic ingressing on the active client-side interface may egress on the active network-side interface.

Abstract: Chip identification pads for identification of integrated circuits in an assembly. In one example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) assembly includes a controller, a plurality of ICs, a shared communication bus connecting the controller to the plurality of ICs and configured to enable communication between the controller and each of the plurality of ICs, and a set of one or more chip identification pads formed on each IC. Each set of chip identification pads has an electrical connection pattern. The electrical connection pattern of each set is distinct from the electrical connection pattern on every other set. Each distinct electrical connection pattern represents a unique identifier of the corresponding IC thereby enabling the controller to distinguish between the ICs.