Patent ID: 6999686

Claim:
A system for managing optical signals in an optical network having a plurality of nodes, comprising: a first node configured to transmit an optical signal to a second node; a first control logic associated with the first node and configured to generate a first message associated with the optical signal, wherein the first message is to be transmitted to the second node, and wherein the first message includes information relating to a transmission component associated with the first node that is used to transmit the optical signal and information relating to optical signals received by the first node; a second control logic associated with the second node and configured to generate a second message upon receipt of the first message by the second node, wherein the second message is to be transmitted to the first node, and wherein the second message includes information relating to optical signals received by the second node; wherein the first and second messages are transmitted between the first and second nodes via a transmission path traversed by the optical signal, and wherein the transmission path includes one or more intermediate nodes and at least one intermediate node examines the first and second messages to ascertain conditions relating to the first and second nodes; wherein prior to activating the transmission component associated with the first node to transmit the optical signal, the first node via the first control logic generates and transmits an enable message to the second node requesting permission to activate the transmission component associated with the first node, the enable message is routed via the intermediate nodes, and upon receiving and examining the enable message, each intermediate node causes its associated transmission component to assume a first operational mode; wherein upon receiving the enable message, the second node via the second control logic generates and transmits an enable acknowledge message to the first node granting permissions to activate the transmission component associated with the first node; wherein upon receiving the enable acknowledge message, the first node via the first control logic generates and transmits a transmitter OK message to the second node indicating that the transmission component associated with the first node has been activated and is operational: wherein upon receiving the transmitter OK message, the second node via the second control logic generates and transmits a receiving OK message to the first node indicating that transmission component associated with the second node has been activated and is ready to receive the optical signal: wherein the receiver OK message is routed via the intermediate nodes; and wherein upon receiving and examining the receiver OK message, each intermediate node causes its associated transmission component to assume a second operational mode.