Patent ID: 6587236
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A fiber optic node comprising:a first optical-to-electrical converter coupled to a first optical fiber and configured to receive and convert a first data signal; a second optical-to-electrical converter coupled to a second optical fiber and configured to receive and convert a second data signal; a first fault detector coupled to the first optical-to-electrical converter and configured to monitor the first data signal for errors; a second fault detector coupled to the second optical-to-electrical converter and configured to monitor the second data signal for said errors; a synchronization system comprising a sync generator connected to a buffer, wherein the synchronization system is coupled to the first optical-to-electrical converter and the second optical-to-electrical converter, and wherein the synchronization system is configured to receive the first data signal and the second data signal, align the first data signal and the second data signal using the sync generator and the buffer, and transfer the first data signal and the second data signal; and a switching system coupled to the synchronization system, the first fault detector, and the second fault detector, and configured to transfer the first data signal if said errors are detected in the second data signal and transfer the second data signal if said errors are detected in the first data signal.