SECURITY MONITORING FOR OPTICAL NETWORK
First Claim
1. An apparatus for an optical communications network, the apparatus comprising:
- at least two optical paths for optical traffic to or from other nodes, the optical paths having respective optical ports, wherein at least one of the optical ports is configured as an unused output port, available for future use for optical traffic, anda security monitoring system for detecting unauthorised access, the system comprising;
a blocking part coupled removably to the unused output port to occupy the unused output port so as to exclude any other part from using the unused output port to gain unauthorised access to the optical path of the unused output port;
an optical detector coupled to the blocking part and configured to detect optical signals passing through the unused output port; and
alarm circuitry configured to output an alarm signal indicative that the unused output port has been accessed based on the detecting of the optical signals by the optical detector.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for an optical communications network has optical paths for optical traffic, and optical ports, one of which is an unused output port. A security monitoring system has a blocking part coupled removably to the unused output port to occupy it to prevent unauthorised access. An optical detector can detect optical signals passing through the unused output port to the blocking part, and there is alarm circuitry configured to output an alarm signal based on the detecting of the optical signals. This monitoring can help make the node more secure from interference or from eavesdropping. By blocking the port, the monitoring can be independent of the type of signals on the optical paths. The system can be passive or active, and does not require a change in the installed node configuration and so can be added easily to existing infrastructure.
18 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for an optical communications network, the apparatus comprising:
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at least two optical paths for optical traffic to or from other nodes, the optical paths having respective optical ports, wherein at least one of the optical ports is configured as an unused output port, available for future use for optical traffic, and a security monitoring system for detecting unauthorised access, the system comprising; a blocking part coupled removably to the unused output port to occupy the unused output port so as to exclude any other part from using the unused output port to gain unauthorised access to the optical path of the unused output port; an optical detector coupled to the blocking part and configured to detect optical signals passing through the unused output port; and alarm circuitry configured to output an alarm signal indicative that the unused output port has been accessed based on the detecting of the optical signals by the optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A security monitoring system for coupling to an unused output port of an optical path of apparatus of an optical network, the apparatus having at least two optical paths for optical traffic to or from other nodes, the optical paths having respective optical ports, wherein at least one of the optical ports is configured as an unused output port, available for future use for optical traffic, the security monitoring system being for detecting unauthorised access and comprising:
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a blocking part for coupling with the unused output port so as to occupy the unused output port; an optical detector coupled to the blocking part and configured to detect optical signals passing through the unused output port; and alarm circuitry configured to output an alarm signal indicative that the unused output port has been accessed, based on the detecting of the optical signals by the optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring security of an optical path to detect unauthorised access to the optical path in an apparatus of an optical network, the apparatus having at least two optical paths for optical traffic to or from other nodes, the optical paths having respective optical ports, wherein at least one of the optical ports is configured as an unused output port, available for future use for optical traffic, the method comprising:
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blocking the at least one unused output port so as to exclude any other part from using the unused output port to gain unauthorised access to the optical path of the unused port; detecting optical signals on the optical path of the unused output port; and outputting an alarm signal indicating whether access has occurred based on the detecting of the optical signals by the optical detector. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of installing a security monitoring system to upgrade apparatus of an optical communications network, the apparatus having at least two optical paths for optical traffic to or from other parts of the network, and having two or more optical ports, wherein at least one of the optical ports is configured as an unused output port, available for future use for optical traffic, and the security monitoring system is for detecting unauthorised access and has a blocking part suitable to couple removably to the at least one unused output port to occupy the unused output port so as to exclude any other part from using the unused output port to gain unauthorised access to the optical path of the unused output port, an optical detector coupled to the blocking part and configured to detect optical signals passing through the unused output port, and alarm circuitry configured to output an alarm signal indicative that the unused output port has been accessed based on the detecting of the optical signals by the optical detector, the method of installing the security monitoring system comprising:
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coupling the blocking part of the security monitoring system to the unused output port; and providing a communication path for the circuitry of the security monitoring system to communicate the indication to a network management system of the network.
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Specification