Service and maintenance solutions for programmable and/or reconfigurable modules included in communication network nodes

• US 20060179128A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Romer, Tume, Haulin, Tord
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

The present invention relates to service and maintenance solutions for programmable and/or reconfigurable modules (CM₁, . . . , CM_n), which are included in the nodes of a communications network (140). The module (CM₁) contains a first digital storage unit (M1), which holds information pertaining to the accomplishment of a primary function of the module. A secondary function of the module involves control of the primary function. The module has an optical bi-directional interface (I_w) towards the first digital storage unit. Data in the first digital storage unit may be read out (D₀) and may also be updated (D_i) by the portable software carrier unit via the optical bi-directional interface. Data read-out as well as data updating may be accomplished independently of the primary function. Preferably, an access module (A) controls the bi-directional interface in response to an authorization signal (SA) from an authorization unit (120, 121, 122, 123).

Claims

1. A communication module adapted to be removably connected to a node in a communications network, the module being adapted to perform a primary function pertaining to an over-all operation of the module and a secondary function involving control of the primary function, comprising:

a first digital storage unit adapted to hold information pertaining to accomplishment of the primary function; and

a bi-directional interface towards the first digital storage unit,

wherein the bi-directional interface (I_w) comprises at least one optical interface and is adapted to provide a local wireless access to the first digital storage unit, the local wireless access being provided independently of the primary function.

2. A communication module according to claim 1, wherein the bi-directional interface is adapted to allow read out of data from the first digital storage unit.

3. A communication module according to claim 1 wherein the bi-directional interface is adapted to allow updating of the contents of the first digital storage unit.

4. A communication module according to claim 1 wherein the first digital storage unit comprises a first register including status data with respect to the primary function, and the bi-directional interface is adapted to:

receive a request for status information; and

transmit a status report on basis of the request, the status report including data from the first register which pertains to at least one parameter of the primary function.

5. A communication module according to claim 3, wherein

the first digital storage unit comprises a second and volatile register adapted to store information pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function;

and

the bi-directional interface is adapted to receive at least one control command, wherein

the bi-directional interface is adapted to alter at least one parameter in the second register pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function on basis of the at least one control command.

6. A communication module according to claim 3, wherein the communication module

comprises a second digital storage unit adapted to temporarily store information pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function,

the first digital storage unit comprises a third and non-volatile register adapted to store information pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function,

the bi-directional interface 4w) is adapted to receive at least one piece of information pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function, and

the bi-directional interface is adapted to store the at least one piece of information in the second digital storage unit.

7. A communication module according to claim 6, wherein the communication module is adapted to, after reset of the module, alter the contents of the third register on basis of the at least one piece of information in the second digital storage unit.

8. A communication module according to claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises an access module adapted to allow access to the first digital storage unit via the bi-directional interface, the access module being controllable via an authorization unit such that the access module blocks access to the first digital storage unit via the bi-directional interface at least until an authorization signal has been generated by the authorization unit with respect to the module.

9. A communication module according to claim 8, wherein the access module comprises an authorization sub-unit adapted to receive a pass phrase from a portable software carrier unit via the bi-directional interface, the access module blocking access to the first digital storage unit via the bi-directional interface at least until an acceptable pass phrase has been received.

10. A communication module according to claim 8, wherein the authorization signal includes an address field which designates a specific module position within the node.

11. A communication module according to claim 8, wherein the authorization signal includes a unique identifier of the module.

12. A communication module according to claim 10, wherein the communication module comprises an identification unit adapted to indicate an active data transmission state upon reception of an authorization signal which designates the communication module.

13. A communication module according to claim 12, wherein the identification unit comprises a first optical indicator indicative of the bi-directional interface being open for access to the first digital storage unit.

14. A communication module according to claim 12, wherein the identification unit comprises a second optical indicator indicative of data transmitted over the bi-directional interface.

15. A method of communicating with a communication module being removably connected to a node in a communications network, the module being adapted to perform a primary function pertaining to an over-all operation of the module and a secondary function involving control of the primary function, the method comprising:

generating an authorization signal for the module;

receiving the authorization signal in the module; and

exchanging data between the module and a portable software carrier unit via a bi-directional optical interface, the data including information pertaining to accomplishment of the primary function and being exchanged independently of the primary function.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the authorization signal includes an address field which designates a specific module position within the node.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the authorization signal includes a unique identifier of the module.

18. A method according to claim 15 further comprising receiving a pass phrase in the communication module, the pass phrase being received via the bi-directional optical interface.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the pass phrase including includes a static segment.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the pass phrase including includes a dynamic segment, the method comprising calculating the dynamic segment in the portable software carrier unit and a central resource respectively.

21. A method according to claim 18 wherein the pass phrase including includes a cyclic redundancy checksum, the cyclic redundancy checksum being based on data which is to update the contents of the first digital storage.

22. A method according to claim 15 further comprising by updating of the contents of the first digital storage unit via the bi-directional interface.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:

receiving at least one control command via the bi-directional interface; and

altering at least one parameter pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function on basis of the at least one control command.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

receiving at least one piece of information pertaining to the accomplishment of the primary function via the bi-directional interface;

storing temporarily the at least one piece of information in a second digital storage unit;

resetting the communication module; and

altering the contents of the first digital storage on basis of the at least one piece of information.

25. A method according to claim 15 further comprising reading out data from the first digital storage unit via the bi-directional interface.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a request for status information via the bi-directional interface; and

transmitting a status report on basis of the request, the status report including data pertaining to at least one parameter of the primary function.