Patent ID: 8391665

Claim:
A patch panel device comprising: an optical signal port for receiving an incoming optical signal; an optical inject port for receiving an optical inject signal, wherein the optical inject port has an active mode and an inactive mode; a first switch for selecting one or more of the input signals, wherein the switch is response to the mode of the optical inject port; an electrical inject port for receiving an electrical inject signal, wherein the electrical inject port has an active mode and an inactive mode; a second switch for selecting the signals selected by the first switch or the electrical inject signal or both in response to the mode of the input-side electrical inject port; an electrical output port for transmitting an output electrical signal corresponding to the signals selected by the second switch; and an optical-to-electrical converter for generating a converted electrical signal in corresponding to the one or more signals selected by the first switch; wherein, when the optical inject port is in its active mode, the first switch is operational to include the optical inject signal in the signals selected by the first switch; wherein, when the optical inject port is in its inactive mode, the signals selected by the first switch include the incoming optical signal and do not include the optical inject signal; wherein, when the electrical inject port is in its active mode, the second switch is operational to include the electrical inject signal in the signals selected by the second switch; and wherein, when the electrical inject port is in its inactive mode, the signals selected by the second switch include the one or more signals selected by the first switch and do not include the electrical inject signal.