Optical Device and Hub Node for an Optical Network

An optical device for an optical network, comprising:

• an optical input for receiving optical signals;
• a passive optical component;
• memory for storing information relating to the passive optical component;
• an optical splitter configured to power split off a portion of received optical signals to form split optical signals and to output the remaining optical power of received optical signals to the passive optical component;
• a photodetector configured to receive the split optical signals and configured to generate a corresponding photodetector output signal;
• an accumulator configured to be charged by the photodetector output signal;
• a laser configured to be powered by the accumulator;
• a controller configured to, in response to a trigger from the photodetector, read the information from the memory and to cause the laser to transmit an optical signal carrying a message based on the information read from the memory;
• and
• an optical output for outputting the optical signal.

A hub node for an optical network, the optical network comprising at least one remote optical device comprising a passive optical component, the hub node comprising:

• a plurality of optical transceivers configured to transmit and receive respective traffic optical signals at respective traffic wavelengths;
• an auxiliary optical transceiver configured to transmit an auxiliary channel optical signal at an auxiliary channel wavelength, and to receive optical signals at the auxiliary channel wavelength from the at least one remote optical device;
• and
• a controller configured to cause the auxiliary optical transceiver to transmit the auxiliary channel optical signal, and configured to detect information relating to a respective passive optical component carried on a the optical signal received by the auxiliary optical transceiver from the at least one remote optical device.

A method at an optical device of an optical network, the optical device comprising a passive optical component;

• the method comprising:
• receiving at least one optical signal and converting the at least one optical signal into a corresponding electrical signal;
• detecting whether the at least one optical signal comprises a trigger;
• charging an accumulator with the electrical signal;
• in response to detecting a trigger, obtaining information relating to the passive optical component;
• and
• transmitting an optical signal carrying a message based on the information, the optical signal being generated using electrical power from the accumulator.