Identifiable fiber optics

• US 8,210,755 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lavranchuk, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US11/618,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20080159738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/100, 385/139, 385/76, 385/77, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/138, 385/123, 385/12, 398/17, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64

Abstract

The present invention provides for an optical cable and methods for interconnecting modular components with optical fibers. Each optical fiber is electronically labeled with a unique serial number such that interconnections using the optical fibers can be accurately audited.

Claims

1. An optical interconnection method for providing new bandwidth for interconnected systems or domains, comprising:

identifying a light guide and a first port associated with the light guide, the first port connecting the light guide to a first system;

propagating a message comprising an electronic label information associated with the light guide and an interrogation to determine a location of a second port associated with the light guide at a second system;

receiving a message, the message containing identification related to the second port location at the second system and label and port identification of the light guide thereby discovering a connection, and

advertising the connection to the interconnected systems to thereby provide new bandwidth for connections.

2. The optical interconnection method of claim 1, wherein communication is established with a peer system or another network element.

3. The optical interconnection method of claim 2, wherein the other network element is a network manager.

4. The optical interconnection method of claim 3, wherein the network manager is distributed and located within each system.

5. The optical interconnection method of claim 3, wherein the network manager is centralized and located separate from the first and second systems.

6. The optical interconnection method of claim 1, wherein the request message includes additional information stored on the electronic labels.

7. The optical interconnection method of claim 1, wherein the peer system sends a return message notifying a sending system that the other end of the cable is not located at the peer system.

8. The optical interconnection method of claim 7, wherein the peer system does not send a message to thereby prevent network congestion.

9. The optical interconnection method of claim 8, wherein the peer system at the other end sends a message.

10. An optical communications network, comprising:

means for identifying a light guide and a first port associated with the light guide, the first port connecting the light guide to a first system;

means for propagating a message comprising an electronic label information associated with the light guide and an interrogation to determine a location of a second port associated with the light guide at a second system;

means for receiving a message, the message containing identification related to the second port location at the second system and label and port identification of the light guide thereby discovering a connection, and

means for advertising the connection to the interconnected systems to thereby provide new bandwidth for connections.