Abstract:
A smart interface converter senses initial activation in a network environment, performs preselected tests, and signals to a predefined destination. The tests performed may include internal device status, bit error rates, power levels, and the like. Signaling to a predefined destination may take place automatically on completion of the tests, or may be conditioned on the receipt of a control message addressed to the smart interface converter. The signaling by the smart interface converter may trigger events such as the activation of one or more services.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments in accordance with the invention are related to computer network interfaces, and more particularly, using smart interface modules to automatically commission network links and services. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Interface converters used in digital networks are small pluggable modules which convert signals from one form to another. As an example, an interface converter known as a GBIC (Giga Bit Interface Converter) provides bidirectional conversion of signals to and from electrical and electrical or optical form, connecting twisted pair copper cables or fiber optic cables to devices such as hubs, switches, and routers. Such converters are offered in standardized packages and interfaces such as GBIC, XENPAK, SFP, XFP, and XPAK. Many of these interfaces provide digital diagnostic information on a special two wire slow-speed electrical port. The industry-standard SFF-8472, Diagnostic Monitoring Interface for Optical Xcvrs, provides for a diagnostics standard including parameters such as optical transmit and receive power, voltage and temperature measurement, vendor identification, optical wavelength, serial number, and other factory parameters. 
         [0003]    While these modules provide information on internal operation, this information is either only available locally, or through added interfaces in the switch or router. Improved diagnostic or information capabilities in these pluggable modules cannot be accessed unless and until they are supported by the myriad of devices which may host them. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A smart interface converter senses initial activation in a network environment, performs preselected tests, and signals to a predefined destination. The tests performed may include internal device status, bit error rates, power levels, and the like. Signaling to a predefined destination may take place automatically on completion of the tests, or may be conditioned on the receipt of a control message addressed to the smart interface converter. The signaling by the smart interface converter may trigger events such as the activation of one or more services. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a smart interface converter, 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of a smart channel, and 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a flow diagram of device startup. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0008]    Interface converters are building blocks used in many networking devices such as high speed switches, hubs, and routers, and are used to convert high speed signals from a first medium to a second medium. As an example, one popular type of interface converter known as a GBIC converts signals from optical to electrical form; optical signals carried on fiber optic cables being used to communicate over the network, and electrical signals being used within the device housing the GBIC. Other GBIC forms convert signals from twisted-pair copper conductors used in high-speed networks to electrical signals suitable for the device housing the GBIC. While the present invention is described in terms of the GBIC form factor, it is equally applicable to other form factors including but not limited to XPAK, XENPAK, XFP, and SFP. In addition to the high-speed interfaces, interface converters may contain a slow-speed data port which may be used for configuration, testing, and sensing device status according to standards such as SFF-8742. 
         [0009]    Smart interface converters include additional logic within the interface converter package. This additional logic may include the ability to query the status of the interface converter, perform internal tests, and/or perform data capture and analysis. 
         [0010]    As an example, the smart interface converter may be able to track and report bit error rates, transmit and receive power levels, power supply voltages, device temperatures such as the operating temperature of a laser diode. 
         [0011]    The smart interface converter adds the ability to inject data packets into the high speed data stream. In conjunction with such communications capability, the smart interface converter contains a unique identifier, which may be a serial number or a MAC address. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a smart interface converter  100  according to the present invention. In the case of an optical fiber device, optical fiber input  110  is converted  210  to high-speed electrical output  130  in serial form; similarly, high-speed serial electrical input  140  is converted  220  to optical fiber output  120 . For a device using high-speed copper, electrical input  110 , typically one or more twisted pairs, is converted  210  to a high-speed electrical output  130  in serial form; similarly, high-speed serial electrical input  140  is converted  220  to electrical output  120 . Slow-speed serial interface  150  is provided for local diagnostics, converter configuration, and the like. For clarity, features common to the art such as power supplies are not shown. While the examples shown are in terms of an interface converter with optical connections, the invention is equally suitable for interface converters using copper cables. 
         [0013]    In optical modules, electro/optical converter  200  typically comprises a high-speed photodiode and amplifier for input converter  210 , and a laser diode with accompanying control circuitry for output converter  220 . Interface  250  provides access to converter information such as device temperatures, input and output power levels, and the like. 
         [0014]    Converter  200  feeds smart channels  300  and  350  which provide the ability to inject packets into the high-speed data stream. These smart channels are controlled by controller  400 , which communicates  250  with electro/optical converter  200 , and also communicates  420  with parameter memory  410 , which in one embodiment is an electrically alterable memory such as Flash or EEPROM. 
         [0015]    Further details of smart channels  300  and  350  are shown in  FIG. 2 . The operation of smart channels  300  and  350  is described in detail in “A Method of Creating a Low-Bandwidth Channel within a Packet Stream,” application Ser. No. 10/688,340, filed Oct. 17, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and is merely summarized here. 
         [0016]    High speed serial input  211  is deserialized  210  into parallel form  212 . This parallel data is fed to multiplexer  270 , first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer memory  250 , and control logic  230 . Multiplexer  270  feeds parallel data  273  to input  221  of serializer  220 , which converts parallel data  221  to high-speed serial output data  222 . Multiplexers  270  and  280  operate under control  274 ,  284  of control logic  230 , selecting as the datastream to serializer  220  the output  212  of deserializer  210 , the output  261  of extra packet memory  260 , or the output  252  of FIFO buffer  250 . Switching multiplexers  270  and  280  to select extra packet memory  260  allows the contents of extra packet memory  260  to be sent to serializer  220  and injected into the high speed datastream output  222 . Extra packet memory  260  is controlled and loaded  262   235  by control logic  230 . FIFO  250  is used to buffer incoming packets. Input  280  to control logic  230  is used to preload extra packet memory  260 , initialize control logic  230  specifying capture and trigger events and the like. 
         [0017]    While the block diagrams of  FIGS. 1 and 2  show separate control logic blocks  230  for smart channels  300  and  350 , they may be incorporated into the same physical logic element, such as a gate array, and may be implemented in the same logic element as controller  400 . 
         [0018]    Slow-speed interface  150  may be used, for example, to configure parameter memory  410  during manufacturing, and prior to device deployment. According to the present invention, smart interface converter contains a serial number, which may be stored in memory  410 . Controller  400  and memory  410  are also configured for a series of tests to be performed on initial network connection. This may be done, for example, by placing a set of flags in memory  410  which enable tests, or by placing code or pointers to code in memory  410  denoting the tests to be run. Also preset in memory  410  is the destination address for reporting test information. This address, by example, may be an IPV4 or IPV6 address. 
         [0019]    According to the present invention, and following the flow diagram of  FIG. 3 , the smart interface converter detects initial network connection. This may be done through sensing activity on the high speed communications ports, such as receive power level above a preset threshold in an optical module, the smart channels detecting symbols, detecting electrical connection to a high speed communications port, detecting the presence or absence of electrical jumpers, detecting the state of switches, or other means known to the art. 
         [0020]    Smart interface converter  100  may be configured to perform startup tests and reporting only once, or on every occasion it is powered up connected to a network. If configured to perform startup tests and reporting only once, on detecting network presence, smart interface converter  100  checks to see if this startup sequence has been previously completed. In the embodiment shown, this may be done by checking a flag stored in memory  410 . If the flag indicates the startup sequence has been performed already, then the remainder of this sequence is skipped. 
         [0021]    The startup sequence continues with controller  400  performing preselected tests. These tests include but are not limited to link quality tests such as transmit and receive power levels, bit error rate testing, operating environment tests such as temperatures and voltages, and the like. 
         [0022]    Once tests have been performed, smart interface converter  100  either signals to the predetermined destination, or waits for receipt of a control message to signal to the predetermined destination. Data is signaled to the destination by placing the desired information into extra packet buffer  260  of the proper smart channel, either or both of  300  or  350  of  FIG. 1  depending on the destination. As packets are built in extra packet buffer  260  they can be injected into the high-speed data stream  130  or  120  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    If smart interface converter  100  has been configured to wait for receipt of a control message before signaling to the destination, controller  400  loads  310 ,  360  either or both smart channels  300  and  350  with the trigger information. Since smart channels  300  and  350  are able to monitor all traffic passing through smart interface converter  100 , the trigger information may be contained for example in a specially crafted packet or packet header. 
         [0024]    The information sent to the destination includes identification information from smart interface converter  100 , and may include results of the preselected tests. 
         [0025]    Once the information is sent, a flag is set in memory  410  to indicate this startup processing has been completed. 
         [0026]    At the destination address, receipt of a startup message from smart interface converter  100  may be logged and used to initiate other services. Communications from smart interface converter  100  may be used, for example to validate installation information such as the network circuit or path on which it is installed, activation time, and the like. Value-added services may be initiated. These services could include but are not limited to monitoring of the communications link and smart interface converter status. As an example, smart interface converter  100  could be monitored remotely, periodically checking the status of the communications link and converter status to flag link or interface degradation. 
         [0027]    While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to these embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.