Patent ID: 8036538

Claim:
A method for laser safety protection in an optical communication system, comprising: detecting, by a downstream station, whether an identification signal, loaded by an upstream station on a main optical channel in a direction from the upstream station to the downstream station, exists on the main optical channel; and determining that a failure occurs on the fiber of the main optical channel, executing a scheduled safety protection procedure if the identification signal is not detected; wherein the identification signal is an intensity modulated signal or a pulse signal, and wherein the amplitude of the identification signal occupies 3˜5% of the amplitude of an optical signal of the main optical channel, and the frequency of the intensity modulated signal is at or below Megahertz level; wherein the intensity modulated signal is loaded on the main optical channel by: setting a signal light intensity modulation module at the upstream station side of the main optical channel; and controlling the signal light intensity modulation module to enable an optical signal of the main optical channel to generate a wave motion in compliance with the wave motion of the intensity modulated signal; wherein the signal light intensity modulation module comprises one of a variable attenuator and a variable gain component.