Abstract: An automatic optical power management system for use with an optical communications system includes a light source residing in a first circuit pack and adapted to emit light at a nominal power level only absent receipt of an indicator signifying a loss of signal resulting from a fiber discontinuity relating to the first optical fiber, wherein the nominal power level is of sufficient magnitude to violate laser safety guidelines in the event of the fiber discontinuity. A redundant detection system includes a first optical detector residing in the first circuit pack, and a second optical detector residing in a second circuit pack that is optically adjacent to the first circuit. A redundant response system communicates an indicator signifying loss of signal from the first and second optical detectors to the light source upon detection of loss of signal by either detector.

Abstract: A system and method for control messaging in an optical network is provided. A provisioning data path for the transmission of provisioning data to an Operations, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning (OAM&P) subsystem is provided within a prefabricated cable When the prefabricated cable is placed in the system during the provisioning process, provisioning information is transmitted to the OAM&P subsystem over the provisioning data path and a cross-connector. Later the same path may be used to transmit data regarding the logical provisioning of the connection.

Abstract: An automatic optical power management system for use with an optical communications system includes a light source residing in a first circuit pack and adapted to emit light at a nominal power level only absent receipt of an indicator signifying a loss of signal resulting from a fiber discontinuity relating to the first optical fiber, wherein the nominal power level is of sufficient magnitude to violate laser safety guidelines in the event of the fiber discontinuity. A redundant detection system includes a first optical detector residing in the first circuit pack, and a second optical detector residing in a second circuit pack that is optically adjacent to the first circuit. A redundant response system communicates an indicator signifying loss of signal from the first and second optical detectors to the light source upon detection of loss of signal by either detector.

Abstract: A circuit connection integrity monitor detecting and isolating connection faults in data path cards is disclosed. A connection integrity monitoring method and corresponding apparatus are applicable to selector and cross-connect circuits and permit a user to monitor all points where signal traffic may be prone to misconnection.

Abstract: The invention is found in a system comprising switches and cross-connects for optical networks where the shelves and ports of the various units are connected to a central cross-connect system. These connections are assigned unique fibers on the basis of a single color per fiber, which is directly connected to a particular incoming or outgoing color on a customer or network fiber. The connections are usually provided as a ‘transparent’ facility, and the optical bandwidth is in some cases fully used by the data and protocols being carried on a fiber. These facts mean that it is impractical to add any further data to that channel for use in verification of a connection. A separate path for the transmission of provisioning data to an Operation, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning subsystem is included within the prefabricated cables used to interconnect the various system modules,. This is referred to as the provisioning data path.