Method and system for protecting against communication loss in an optical network system

摘要

A method and system for protecting against communication loss or disruption in an optical network system includes a signal state detector, which can measure received optical signals and determine if their strength is sufficient to support reliable communications. If the signal state detector informs the control circuit that the received optical signal is too low to support communications with the data service hub (or if there is no signal at all, such as in a severance of an optical waveguide), then the control circuit can instruct the data switch to re-route communications from the primary communication path to a secondary or back up communication path. This switching or re-routing of communications from a primary communication path which is non-functional or inoperative to an operational and fully functional communication path (a back up or secondary communication path) can be completed in a very short time, such as within fifty milliseconds or less.

主权项

1. A system for protecting against communication loss in an optical network system comprising:
a first subscriber optical interface coupled to a primary communication path, the first subscriber optical interface for receiving downstream optical signals and converting them into an electrical domain, and for converting electrical signals into upstream optical signals, the first subscriber optical interface comprising:
a signal state detector for sensing if the primary communication path is available to support optical communications;a control circuit coupled to the signal state detector and a data switch; and a second subscriber optical interface coupled to a secondary communication path and coupled to the first subscriber optical interface via an electrical connection, the second subscriber optical interface for receiving downstream optical signals and converting them into an electrical domain, and for converting electrical signals into upstream optical signals, the control circuit determining if the primary communication path is not available to support optical communications; if the primary communication path is not available, then the control circuit instructs the data switch to re-route data from the primary communication path to the secondary communication path by sending signals to and receiving signals from the second subscriber optical interface, each subscriber optical interface comprising a protocol adapter for translating signals from an optical network protocol to signals propagated according to an electrical network protocol, wherein the first subscriber optical interface and second subscriber optical interface are assigned to the same virtual local area network (VLAN).