Optical bit stream reader system

An optical bit stream reader for reading fiber optic bit stream data comprising:

• a fiber optic line through which said data is transmitted, said fiber optic line comprising an element capable of transitioning into an excited energy state, wherein upon transitioning into said excited energy state, said element is capable of generating a photo-signal, said photo-signal indicating the presence or absence of a data bit at a location in the fiber optic;
• an energy source directed at said fiber optic line, capable of exciting said element into said excited energy state;
• and
• a detector element which detects said photo-signal.

An optical bit stream reader for reading fiber optic bit stream data comprising:

• a fiber optic line through which said data is transmitted, said fiber optic line comprising a core and a cladding, each having an index of refraction;
• at least one discrete point in said fiber optic line, where the index of refraction of said cladding exceeds the index of refraction of said core, wherein at all other locations in the fiber optic, said index of refraction of said core exceeds said index of refraction of said cladding, such that a small fraction of data, if present in the fiber optic at said discrete point, is coupled out of the fiber optic and can be detected;
• and
• a detector element for detecting said data.

A data stuffer for stuffing data into an optical fiber line through which bit stream data is transmitted comprising:

• a first optical fiber line transmitting bit stream data;
• a stuffer optical fiber line through which the data to be stuffed is initially transmitted;
• a continuation optical fiber line;
• and
• a director element switchable between first and second modes, wherein in said first mode, the bit stream data coming in from said first optical fiber line is directed to said continuation line, and wherein in said second mode, the data to be stuffed is directed from said stuffer optical fiber line is directed to said continuation line.

A method for routing a data packet transmitted through an optical fiber line to a selected destination comprising:

• providing a first optical fiber line containing the data packet;
• providing second and third optical fiber lines;
• and
• providing a switchable director element wherein said director element can switchably direct the data packet to either of said second and third optical fiber lines.

A method for monitoring the operation of an optical fiber line comprising:

• stuffing a data packet into an optical fiber line containing bit stream data by:
• providing second and third optical fiber lines, wherein the data packet to be stuffed is transmitted through said third optical fiber line;
• and
• providing a director element switchable between first and second modes, wherein in said first mode, said director element directs said bit stream data coming in from the optical fiber line into said second optical fiber line, and in said second mode, said director element directs the data packet to be stuffed, and coming in from said third optical fiber line, into said second optical fiber line;
• and
• inspecting the data packet after it has been stuffed to ensure that it is unchanged, in order to monitor the operation of the optical fiber line.

A diagnostic method for an optical fiber line containing bit stream data comprising:

• illuminating the fiber with an energy beam, said fiber capable of generating signals when said energy beam and bit stream data are present simultaneously;
• detecting said signals to determine an approximate average power generated when said fiber is illuminated, said average power being cumulatively based on said signals;
• and
• detecting a drastic drop in said average power, as an indication of improper operation of the system.

A diagnostic method for an optical fiber line containing bit stream data comprising:

• Providing a piece of optical fiber which emits a signal upon the presence of a data pulse;
• Continuously detecting said signals emitted during the transmission of bit stream data through said optical fiber o determine an approximate average power generated, said average power being cumulatively based on said signals;
• and
• Detecting a drastic drop in said average power, as an indication of improper operation of the system.