Patent ID: 7623784

Claim:
A method of verifying the identity of a network connection in an optical communication network, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a read system proximate to one of a plurality of network components of the optical communication network, wherein each of the network components is configured to store an identification code; reading the identification code stored on the one network component when the read system is proximate to the one network component; verifying the identity of a network connection wherein the identification code read from the one network component is compared to a known identification code; indicating the results of the verification using the read system; if a connection is required, then authorizing the connection of a fiber optic cable to the one network component based on the identification code read from the one network component matching the known identification code; and if a disconnection is required, then authorizing the disconnection of the fiber optic cable to the one network component based on the identification code read from the one network component matching the known identification code.