Patent ID: 8428462

Claim:
A device comprising: a component for configuring optical paths between ports, comprising: a first pair of optical ports connected to a first pair of optical fibers, and a second pair of optical ports connected to a second pair of optical fibers; a first switch configured to output one of two optical signals received by the first pair of optical ports from the first pair of optical fibers; a repeater to including one of: an optical regenerator for reshaping the outputted optical signal, or an optical amplifier to boost power of the outputted optical signal, wherein the optical amplifier includes: a primary amplifier pump; and a backup amplifier pump; an optical service channel to send one or more messages to a remote device over one of the first pair of optical fibers, the one or more messages indicative of activation of the backup amplifier pump responsive to a failure of the primary amplifier pump; and a second switch configured to direct the reshaped or amplified signal to one of the second pair of optical ports.