Patent ID: 7565079

Claim:
A system for demarcating optical networks comprising: a first network interface for receiving a first inbound signal and outputting a first outbound signal; a second network interface for outputting a second inbound signal and receiving a second outbound signal; an optical monitor that receives a portion of the second outbound signal, and outputs a switch control signal, wherein the switch control signal represents an intensity of the second outbound signal, and wherein the switch control signal is active when the second outbound signal is below a threshold value; and an optical switch that receives the switch control signal and wherein: the optical switch couples the first inbound signal to the second inbound signal, and couples the first outbound signal to the second outbound signal when the switch control signal is inactive; and the optical switch couples the first inbound signal to the first outbound signal, and the second inbound signal to the second outbound signal when the switch control signal is active.