Optical Data Communications

• US 20100303458A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Packetfront Network Products AB (ShortCap AB)
• Original Assignee: Packetfront Systems AB (Tosca IOM Ltd.)
• Inventors: Foster, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

A method of communicating data between a network device and a data network to which the device is connected via an optical fiber data link in which the device is connected to the optical fiber data link and the connection is monitored to detect data communication at a first standard. If data communication is detected at the first standard, data communication is established using the first standard. If not, the connection is monitored at the second standard. If data communication is detected at the second standard, data communication is established using the second standard.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data between a network device and a data network to which the device is connected via an optical fiber data link, the method comprising:

connecting the device to the optical fiber data link; and

monitoring the connection in the device to detect data communication at a first standard, and either;

a) if data communication is detected at the first standard, establishing data communication between the network device and the network using the first standard;

or

b) if no data communication is detected at the first standard, monitoring the connection in the device to detect data communication at the second standard and if data communication is detected at the second standard, establishing data communication between the network device and the network using the second standard.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising cycling the device between monitoring at the first standard and at the second standard until communication is established.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the device ceases to monitor communications after a predetermined period of time if no communication is detected at either standard.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising monitoring at one or more further standards if no communication is detected on either the first or second standard.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first, second and/or further standards are mutually incompatible such that a device operating at one standard cannot communicate with a device operating at one of the other standards.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each standard provides communication at a different speed.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first standard operates at 1 Gbit/s and the second standard operates at 100 Mbit/s.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each standard uses different coding algorithms.

16. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein each standard provides communication at a different speed.

17. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein each standard uses different coding algorithms.

9. A communication device for connection to a data network via an optical fiber fibre data link, comprising:

data communication means for communicating data to and from the data link at a first or second standard; and

monitoring means connected to the data link to detect communication at the first or second standard;

wherein the monitoring means are configured to monitor the connection to detect data communication at a first standard, and either;

a) if data communication is detected at the first standard, the data communication means are configured to establish data communication between the network device and the network using the first standard;

or

b) if no data communication is detected at the first standard, the monitoring means are configured to monitor the connection to detect data communication at the second standard and if data communication is detected at the second standard, the data communication means are configured to establish data communication between the network device and the network using the second standard.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the monitoring means are configured to cycle connection monitoring at the first standard and at the second standard until communication is detected.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the monitoring means are configured to cease to operate after a predetermined period of time if no communication is detected at either standard.

12. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the data communication means is configured for data communication at one or more further standards and the monitoring means are configured to monitor communication at the one or more further standards if no communication is detected on either the first or second standard.

13. A system comprising at least first and second data communication devices connected via a fiber optic data link, at least one of the first and second data communication devices being a device as claimed in claim 9.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first data communication device operates at only one of the first, second or further standards.

15. A system comprising at least first and second data communication devices, the first and second data communication devices each being a device as claimed in claim 9, each device being configured to monitor to detect data communication at the first or second standard for a different period of time.