Abstract: Method and apparatus for remote peripheral software installation. A software system running in a local computer system used by a system administrator can install drivers, network utilities, and other peripheral software on a remote system connected to a network. The software system gathers system information from the remote system including the locations and names of system files. The software system also provides for the stopping and restarting of services which are associated with the peripheral software. In this way, installation can be completed without rebooting, or otherwise disrupting the operation of the remote system. Additionally, no special software is needed on the remote system, and no user need be logged into the remote system.

Abstract: Adjustable optical fiber grating dispersion compensators. The invention provides a fully tunable dispersion compensator with a wide dynamic range. Dispersion compensators according to the invention are based on uniform fiber Bragg grating technology. Individual gratings are tuned so that the gratings, which normally operate in reflection mode, operate in transmission mode with the frequency of interest falling just outside a reflection band edge. Gratings are combined to provide broadband, or multiple-wavelength dispersion. Tuning is provided via transducers coupled to the gratings. A control system can be connected to the transducers to provide a control signal so that the frequencies of the gratings can be dynamically tuned. The control system operates by measuring signals from opto-electronic detectors. The signals are used to determine a fractional spectral power transmitted through a filter. The fractional spectral power is related to the amount of dispersion present in the optical path of the network.