Physical layer management for an active optical module

• US 9,207,417 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Coffey, Joseph C., Patel, Kamlesh G., Ressler, Kevin Glenn, Coburn, Hutch
• Primary Examiner(s): Lepisto, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GUY G
• Application Number:
  US13/926,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 385 14- 15, 385/53, 385 88- 89, 385100-101, 398135-139, 398/151, 398/156
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/07 Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0793 Network aspects, e.g. central monitoring of transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0795 Performance monitoring; Measurement of transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects

Abstract

Embodiments described herein are directed to a cable assembly including at least a first optical fiber extending from a first end to a second end and an active optical module (AOM) attached to the first end of the first optical fiber and including a first storage device that is electrically connected to the electrical connector. The cable assembly also includes a passive optical connector terminating the second end of the first optical fiber and including a second storage device. The first storage device includes an AOM identifier stored therein identifying the active optical module and the second storage device includes first information stored therein indicating that the first end of the first optical fiber is associated with the AOM identifier.

Claims

1. A cable assembly comprising:

at least a first optical fiber extending from a first end to a second end;

an active optical module (AOM) attached to the first end of the first optical fiber using a non-connector based connection, the active optical module including an electrical connector, the active optical module configured to convert between electrical signals to/from the electrical connector and optical signals to/from the first end of the first optical fiber, the active optical module including a first storage device that is electrically connected to the electrical connector; and

a passive optical connector terminating the second end of the first optical fiber, the passive optical connector including a second storage device and a storage device interface that is electrically connected to the second storage device, wherein the second storage device and the storage device interface are isolated from the optical signals carried over the first optical fiber;

wherein the first storage device includes an AOM identifier stored therein identifying the active optical module;

wherein the second storage device includes first information stored therein indicating that the first end of the first optical fiber is associated with the AOM identifier;

whereby an aggregation point can associate a first port to which the active optical module is inserted with a second port to which the passive optical connector is inserted by determining that the first port has an active optical module inserted therein that is associated with the AOM identifier, and by determining that the second port has a passive optical connector inserted therein that is at the other end of a cable assembly from the active optical module associated with the AOM identifier.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the AOM identifier is used for authenticating the AOM to a host device to which the electrical connector of the active optical module is connected.

3. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-connector based connection comprises one of a permanent connection that is made when the cable assembly is manufactured and a semi-permanent connection wherein the active optical module is spliced to the first optical fiber.

4. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector and the active optical module include a multi-source agreement (MSA) compatible connector and module, and wherein the passive optical connector includes a duplex LC, SC, or MPO fiber connector.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first storage device supports the I-squared-C (I2 C) bus protocol for communication over a control interface of the electrical connector.

6. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first information includes the AOM identifier.

7. A system comprising:

a host device having a plurality of ports for connection of an electrical connector of a respective active optical module (AOM);

a passive optical interconnect having a plurality of ports for connection of a respective passive optical connector;

a cable assembly connected between the host device and the passive optical interconnect, the cable assembly including;

at least a first optical fiber extending from a first end to a second end;

an AOM attached to the first end of the first optical fiber using a non-connector based connection, the active optical module including a first storage device that is electrically connected to the electrical connector, wherein the AOM is connected to a first port of the host device;

a passive optical connector attached to a second end of the first optical fiber, the passive optical connector including a second storage device and a storage device interface that is electrically connected to the second storage device, wherein the second storage device and the storage device interface are isolated from the optical signals carried over the first optical fiber, wherein the passive optical connector is connected to a second port of the passive optical interconnect; and

an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the host device;

wherein the first storage device includes an AOM identifier stored therein identifying the active optical module;

wherein the second storage device includes first information stored therein indicating that the first end of the first optical fiber is associated with the AOM identifier;

wherein the host device is configured to obtain the AOM identifier from the first storage device and provide the AOM identifier to the aggregation point;

wherein a processor associated with the passive optical interconnect is configured to obtain the first information from the second storage device and provide the first information to the aggregation point;

wherein the aggregation point is configured to associate the first port with the second port by aggregating the AOM identifier and the first information with physical layer information corresponding to the first port and the second port.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein host device is configured to obtain the AOM identifier for authenticating the AOM to the host device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the host device comprises one of a switch, router, gateway, access point, server computer, end-user computer, appliance computer, or node of a storage area network (SAN).

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the first information includes the AOM identifier.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the host device is configured to store the AOM identifier in a MIB block at the host device;

wherein the aggregation point is configured to obtain the AOM identifier in the MIB by issuing a Layer 2 request to the host device.

12. A cable assembly comprising:

at least a first optical fiber extending from a first end to a second end;

an active optical module (AOM) attached to the first end of the first optical fiber using a non-connector based connection, the active optical module including an electrical connector, the active optical module configured to convert between electrical signals to/from the electrical connector and optical signals to/from the first end of the first optical fiber, the active optical module including a first storage device that is electrically connected to the electrical connector; and

a passive optical connector terminating the second end of the first optical fiber, the passive optical connector including a second storage device and a storage device interface that is electrically connected to the second storage device, wherein the second storage device and the storage device interface are isolated from the optical signals carried over the first optical fiber;

wherein the first storage device includes a cable identifier stored therein identifying the cable assembly and an AOM identifier stored therein identifying the AOM, wherein the AOM identifier is for authenticating the AOM to the host device and the cable identifier is for physical layer management, wherein the cable identifier is stored in memory locations of the first storage device that are not used for AOM information;

wherein the second storage device includes the cable identifier stored therein;

whereby an aggregation point can associate a first port to which the active optical module is inserted with a second port to which the passive optical connector is inserted by determining that the first port has an active optical module inserted therein that is associated with the cable identifier, and by determining that the second port has a passive optical connector inserted therein that is associated with the cable identifier.

13. The cable assembly of claim 12, wherein information in the first storage device is organized into a plurality of fields, wherein the AOM identifier is stored in a first field that is required by a multi-source agreement (MSA) and allocated to the AOM identifier, wherein the cable identifier is stored in a second field that is not required by the MSA.

14. The cable assembly of claim 12, wherein information in the first storage device is organized into a plurality of fields, wherein the AOM identifier and the cable identifier are stored in a first field that is required by the MSA and allocated to the AOM identifier.

15. The cable assembly of claim 14, wherein the cable identifier is combined with the AOM identifier in a manner that does not affect the use of the AOM identifier for authentication by a host device.

16. The cable assembly of claim 12, wherein information in the first storage device is organized into a plurality of fields, wherein the AOM identifier is stored in a first field that is required by the MSA and allocated to the AOM identifier, wherein the cable identifier is stored in unallocated space that is not part of one of the plurality of fields.

17. A cable assembly comprising:

at least a first optical fiber extending from a first end to a second end;

an active optical module (AOM) attached to the first end of the first optical fiber using a non-connector based connection, the active optical module including;

an electrical connector, the active optical module configured to convert between electrical signals to/from the electrical connector and optical signals to/from the first end of the first optical fiber;

a programmable processor coupled to one or more contacts of the electrical connector; and

a first storage device coupled to the programmable processor, wherein the first storage device includes a cable identifier stored therein identifying the cable assembly and an AOM identifier stored therein identifying the AOM, wherein the AOM identifier is for authenticating the AOM to a host device connected to the electrical connector and the cable identifier is for physical layer management;

wherein the programmable processor is configured to access the first storage device, wherein in response to a read message from the host device requesting the AOM identifier, the programmable processor is configured to insert at least a portion of the cable identifier into a portion of a return message not used by the AOM identifier; and

a passive optical connector terminating the second end of the first optical fiber, the passive optical connector including a second storage device and a storage device interface that is electrically connected to the second storage device, wherein the second storage device and the storage device interface are isolated from the optical signals carried over the first optical fiber, wherein the second storage device includes the cable identifier stored therein;

whereby an aggregation point can associate a first port to which the active optical module is inserted with a second port to which the passive optical connector is inserted by determining that the first port has an active optical module inserted therein that is associated with the cable identifier, and by determining that the second port has a passive optical connector inserted therein that is associated with the cable identifier.

18. The cable assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least a portion of the cable identifier is inserted into a field in the return message that is allocated to the AOM identifier, wherein the at least a portion of the cable is inserted into portions of the field that are not used by the AOM identifier.

19. The cable assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least a portion of the cable identifier is concatenated with the AOM identifier.

20. A pluggable optical transceiver comprising:

an electrical connector at a first end for communicating electrical signals;

one or more optical adaptors at a second end for communicating optical signals to/from one or more optical fibers;

a storage device interface at the second end, wherein the storage device interface is configured to contact a corresponding storage device interface on the one or more optical fibers;

a transmitter optical assembly (TOSA) for converting electrical signals from the electrical connector into optical signals for transmission over the one or more optical fibers;

a receiver optical assembly (ROSA) for converting optical signals from the one or more optical fibers to electrical signals for sending from the electrical connector;

a controller for controlling the TOSA and ROSA; and

a programmable processor coupled to the storage device interface and one or more contacts of the electrical connector, wherein the programmable processor is configured to access a storage device in the one or more optical fibers through the storage device interface and provide physical layer management (PLM) information obtained therefrom to a host device connected to the electrical connector.

21. The pluggable optical transceiver of claim 20, comprising:

a second storage device coupled to the programmable processor, wherein AOM information is stored in the second storage device for authenticating the pluggable optical transceiver to the host device;

wherein the programmable processor is configured to provide the AOM information to the host device.

22. The pluggable optical transceiver of claim 21, wherein the programmable processor is configured to provide the AOM information to the host device in response to a read message from the host device.

23. The pluggable optical transceiver of claim 22, wherein the programmable processor is configured to provide at least a portion of the PLM information to the host device along with the AOM information.

24. The pluggable optical transceiver of claim 23, wherein the programmable processor is configured to insert the at least a portion of the PLM information into a portion of the return message not used by the AOM information.

25. The pluggable optical transceiver of claim 24, wherein the PLM information includes a cable identifier.

26. The pluggable optical transceiver of claim 24, wherein the AOM information includes an AOM identifier, wherein the at least a portion of the PLM information is inserted into a field in the return message that is allocated to the AOM identifier, wherein the at least a portion of the PLM information is inserted into portions of the field that are not used by the AOM identifier.

27. The pluggable optical transceiver of claim 26, wherein the at least a portion of the PLM information is concatenated with the AOM identifier.

28. A system comprising:

a host device;

a pluggable optical transceiver connected to the host device, the pluggable optical transceiver including;

an electrical connector at a first end for communicating electrical signals, the electrical connector connected to a first port of the host device;

one or more optical adaptors at a second end for communicating optical signals;

a first storage device interface at the second end; and

a programmable processor coupled to the first storage device interface and one or more contacts of the electrical connector;

a fiber optic cable having a first passive optical connector on a first end, the first passive optical connector having a first storage device and a second storage device interface associated therewith, wherein the first passive optical connector is connected to the one or more optical adaptors of the pluggable optical transceiver and the second storage device interface contacts the first storage device interface; and

an aggregation point communicatively coupled to the host device;

wherein the programmable processor is configured to access the first storage device in the fiber optic cable through the first storage device interface and provide physical layer management (PLM) information obtained therefrom to the host device;

wherein the host device is configured to send a read message to the pluggable optical transceiver to obtain AOM information therefrom;

wherein the programmable processor of the pluggable optical transceiver is configured to include the PLM information obtained from the first storage device along with the AOM information in a return message in response to the read message from the host device;

wherein the host device is configured to provide the PLM information to the aggregation point.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the host device is configured to store the AOM information and the PLM information in a MIB block at the host device;

wherein the aggregation point is configured to obtain the PLM information in the MIB by issuing a Layer 2 request to the host device.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the PLM information is inserted into a portion of the read message that is not used by the AOM information.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the programmable processor is configured to conform to the I2C (I-squared-C) interface for messages sent to the host device over the one or more contacts.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the AOM information includes an AOM identifier and the PLM information includes a cable identifier.

33. The system of claim 28, comprising:

a passive optical interconnect having a plurality of ports for connection of a respective passive optical connector;

wherein the fiber optic cable includes a second passive optical connector on the second end, the second passive optical connector connected to a second port of the passive optical interconnect, the second passive optical connector having a second storage device associated therewith;

wherein a processor associated with the passive optical interconnect is configured to obtain second PLM information from the second storage device and provide the second PLM information to the aggregation point;

wherein the aggregation point is configured to associate the first port with the second port by aggregating the PLM information from the first storage device and the second PLM information from the second storage device with physical layer information corresponding to the first port and the second port.