Patent ID: 7433371

Claim:
An optical signal connection apparatus for connecting first and second optical signal transmission lines to first and second routers, respectively, the first and second routers being configured to handle both optical signals and electrical signals, the optical signal connection apparatus comprising a first node and a second node, wherein the first node includes: a first port that is coupled to the first router via the first optical signal transmission line, the first port being configured to handle a first type of optical signals associated with the first router, the first optical signal transmission line defining a first communication link, a first line-setting unit configured to couple the first and second nodes to enable data transfer between the first and second nodes using optical signals, a first control unit to control the first line-setting unit in setting an optical communication link between the first and second nodes, and a first signal-type storage unit configured to store first information on the first type of optical signals that the first port is configured to handle; wherein the second node includes a second port that is coupled to the second router via the second optical signal transmission line, the second port being configured to handle a second type of optical signals associated with the second router, the second optical signal transmission line defining a second communication link, wherein the first information is compared with second information on the second type of optical signal to determine whether the first and second communication links are compatible to each other, wherein the first and second information are transmitted to a management apparatus that is remotely located from the connection apparatus, the management apparatus using the first and second information to determine whether the first and second communication links are compatible to each other.