Patent ID: 7551851

Claim:
A method for using an apparatus associated with at least one node of an optical network, the method comprising: receiving a first optical signal at a first port of the apparatus; receiving a second optical signal at a second port of the apparatus; if the apparatus is receiving an amount of voltage greater than or equal to a threshold voltage, then: conveying the first optical signal from the first port to a third port of the apparatus and on to equipment of a first node, receiving the first optical signal from the equipment at a fourth port of the apparatus, conveying the first optical signal from the fourth port to a fifth port of the apparatus and on to a second node of the optical network, conveying the second optical signal from the second port to a sixth port of the apparatus and on to the equipment of the first node, receiving the second optical signal from the equipment of the first node at a seventh port of the apparatus, and conveying the second optical signal from the seventh port to an eighth port of the apparatus and on to a third node of the optical network; and if the apparatus is receiving an amount of voltage less than the threshold voltage, then bypassing the first node using a solenoid driven device comprising one of a prism and a mirror within the apparatus to redirect the first optical signal and the second optical signal, wherein using the solenoid driven device within the apparatus to redirect the first optical signal and the second optical signal comprises: moving the solenoid driven device into one of a first optical signal path and a second optical signal path when the apparatus is receiving the amount of voltage less than the threshold voltage, and moving the solenoid driven device back into an initial position when the apparatus is receiving the amount of voltage greater than or equal to the threshold voltage.