Patent ID: 7447424

Claim:
An optical communication system, comprising: a first optical device comprising a transmission optical switch and a controller coupled to the transmission optical switch; and a second optical device coupled to the first optical device via each of a first fiber and a second fiber, wherein the transmission optical switch is configured to operate in one of a first mode associated with the first fiber and a second mode associated with the second fiber based on control signals generated by the controller, wherein the controller is configured: (a) to transmit a first control signal to the transmission optical switch that prompts the transmission optical switch to operate in the first mode; (b) to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied with respect to the first fiber; (c) if the predetermined condition is satisfied with respect to the first fiber in step (b), to return to step (b); (d) if the predetermined condition is not satisfied with respect to the first fiber in step (b), to transmit a second control signal to the transmission optical switch that prompts the transmission optical switch to transition from the first mode to the second mode; (e) to determine whether the predetermined condition is satisfied with respect to the second fiber; (f) if the predetermined condition is not satisfied with respect to the second fiber in step (e), to transmit a third control signal to the transmission optical switch that prompts the transmission optical switch to transition from the second mode to the first mode, and to return to step (b); and (g) if the predetermined condition is satisfied with respect to the second fiber in step (e), to return to step (e).