Optical communications system having distributed intelligence

Abstract

The invention is embodied in a distributed intelligence optical fiber communications system capable of fully automated and continuous monitoring and testing of the optical fibers and their connections within the optical fiber distribution frames therein. In particular, it is an optical communications system having an optical distribution frame including interconnection modules having actively intelligent microcontrollers thereon. Also, the distribution frame includes inventive electrical and optical interconnection fabrics between the distributed intelligence located on the interconnection modules and a host located outside of the distribution frame. The distributed intelligence interconnection modules allow monitoring, testing and/or related activities of the overall optical communications system to be performed locally at the interconnection modules. Also, when used in combination with the electrical and optical interconnection fabrics, the inventive modules substantially reduce optical fiber routing and enable more effective monitoring and testing operations to be performed, while maintaining compatibility with existing conventional cross-connect, switching and network architectures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.