Patent ID: 6798944
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: G02B,H04B,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of monitoring fiber optics circuits which include a plurality of connection locations defining first and second pairs of connection locations defining first and second connection points, which provide a first optical signal pathway between the first connection points and a second optical signal pathway between the second connection points, further includinga first switch between the first and second optical signal pathways with a normal first state with the first connection points optically linked along the first optical signal pathway, and the second connection points optically linked along the second optical signal pathway, and a second loopback pathway with the first and second connection points of the first pair in communication along a path along a portion of the first and second optical signal pathways with the first and second connection points of the second pair in communication along a second loopback path along other portions of the first and second optical signal pathways, and further including connection locations defining a third pair of connection locations optically linked with a selected one of the first and second optical signal pathways, the method comprising the following steps: 1) placing the first switch in the first state; 2) linking the third pair of connection locations to the first optical pathway, observing the optical throughput and then linking the third pair of connection locations to the second optical pathway and observing the optical throughput; and 3) repeating steps 1 and 2 as long as the first and second optical pathways transmit the optical throughput normally, otherwise placing the first switch in the second state, linking the third pair of connection locations to the first optical pathway, observing the optical throughput, then linking the third pair of connection locations to the second optical pathway and observing the optical throughput.