Patent ID: 7046929
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. An optical node for an optical network transporting an optical datastream, the node comprising: at least one port for optically coupling the node to at least one neighboring node; a fault restoration element to adjust the operation of the node in response to a fault; at least one optical sensor for measuring a first set of optical characteristics of the optical datastream at the node; a signal sensor configured to receive a second set of optical characteristics of the optical datastream from an upstream optical device; and a local controller correlating the first and second sets of optical characteristics and activating the fault restoration element if the correlated first and second sets of optical characteristics have values corresponding to a potential fault requiring activation of the fault restoration element, wherein said controller is a microprocessor having a software program residing on the microprocessor, the software program including a list of possible faults and corresponding restoration actions as a function of the first and second of optical characteristics, wherein said software program records the result of the restoration instance and communicates the result of the restoration instance to the optical network, and wherein said software program communicates a message alerting other nodes of the optical network of an upcoming restoration instance prior to the restoration instance.