Method and Apparatus for End of Life Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP)

• US 20100014853A1
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DeHaan, David Franklin, Olatunde-Bello, Omolaoye, Dickens, Louie Arthur, Astigarraga, Tara
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/9
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07 Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers

Abstract

A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for visually indicating the remaining life of a small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver module. The total number of optical light pulse signals processed by an SFP are compared to a predetermined lifecycle number of signals that can be processed before the SFP enters a failed operating state. The remaining life of the SFP is calculated. A first display visually indicates that the total number of processed signals has not exceeded the lifecycle number of signals. A second display located on the SFP enclosure visually indicates the SFP has reached the end of its lifecycle.

Claims

1. A computer-implementable method for visually indicating the remaining life of an optical transceiver module, comprising:

monitoring the number of optical light pulse signals processed by an optical transceiver module, wherein said monitoring generates a total number;

comparing said total number to a predetermined lifecycle number of optical light pulse signals;

calculating the remaining life of the optical transceiver module from said comparison;

indicating the remaining life, wherein the remaining life is visually indicated on said optical transceiver module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical transceiver module is compatible with the Small Form-factor Pluggable Transceiver MultiSource Agreement (SFP MSA).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical transceiver module comprises logic operable to perform said:

monitoring the number of optical light pulse signals processed;

comparing said total number to a predetermined lifecycle number; and

calculating the remaining life.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said optical transceiver module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and

each of said plurality of LEDs corresponds to a lifecycle threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of said LEDs comprise a color attribute associated with a said corresponding lifecycle threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical transceiver module comprises a numeric display operable to provide said indication of remaining life.

7. A system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to the processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer-usable medium being coupled to the data bus, the computer program code visually indicating the remaining life of an optical transceiver module and comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for;

monitoring the number of optical light pulse signals processed by an optical transceiver module, wherein said monitoring generates a total number;

comparing said total number to a predetermined lifecycle number of optical light pulse signals;

calculating the remaining life of the optical transceiver module from said comparison;

indicating the remaining life, wherein the remaining life is visually indicated on said optical transceiver module.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the optical transceiver module is compatible with the Small Form-factor Pluggable Transceiver MultiSource Agreement (SFP MSA).

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said optical transceiver module comprises logic operable to perform said:

monitoring the number of optical light pulse signals processed;

comparing said total number to a predetermined lifecycle number; and

calculating the remaining life.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein:

said optical transceiver module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and

each of said plurality of LEDs corresponds to a lifecycle threshold.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of said LEDs comprise a color attribute associated with a said corresponding lifecycle threshold.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein said optical transceiver module comprises a numeric display operable to provide said indication of remaining life.

13. A computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

monitoring the number of optical light pulse signals processed by an optical transceiver module, wherein said monitoring generates a total number;

comparing said total number to a predetermined lifecycle number of optical light pulse signals;

calculating the remaining life of the optical transceiver module from said comparison;

indicating the remaining life, wherein the remaining life is visually indicated on said optical transceiver module.

14. The computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the optical transceiver module is compatible with the Small Form-factor Pluggable Transceiver MultiSource Agreement (SFP MSA).

15. The computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein said optical transceiver module comprises logic operable to perform said:

monitoring the number of optical light pulse signals processed;

comparing said total number to a predetermined lifecycle number; and

calculating the remaining life.

16. The computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein:

said optical transceiver module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and

each of said plurality of LEDs corresponds to a lifecycle threshold.

17. The computer usable medium of claim 16, wherein each of said LEDs comprise a color attribute associated with a said corresponding lifecycle threshold.

18. The computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein said optical transceiver module comprises a numeric display operable to provide said indication of remaining life.

19. The computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions are deployable to a client computer from a server at a remote location.

20. The computer usable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions are provided by a service provider to a customer on an on-demand basis.