Patent ID: 7603041

Claim:
An apparatus for use in an optical communication system, the apparatus comprising: a first laser having an output and configured to operate at a first wavelength; a second laser having an output and configured to operate at a second wavelength distinct from the first wavelength; a signal combiner configured to couple the output of the first laser and the output of the second laser to a combiner output; a control module configured to selectively activate one of the first laser and the second laser; and an optical receiver configured to receive a response message at one of the first wavelength and the second wavelength and the optical receiver is configured to receive a reflection of at least a portion of an output from the first laser or the second laser, wherein the control module selects the first laser for further communication if the response message is received at the first wavelength, the control module selects the second laser for further communication if the response message is received at the second wavelength, and the reflection comprises a retro-modulated optical signal.