Method and apparatus for monitoring the security of an optical cablelink during installation

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for installing an optical cable link between first and second communication access points is provided. The method begins by securing a first end of an optical cable to the first communication access point to establish optical connectivity therebetween. A second end of the optical cable is secured to the second communication access point to establish optical connectivity therebetween. Prior to securing the second end of the optical cable, an optical probe signal is launched into the first or second end of the optical cable. A portion of the optical probe signal is received which has traversed at least a part of the cable and in which information concerning optical characteristics of the optical cable is embodied. An alert indicative of cable tampering is generated if the received portion of the optical probe signal changes beyond a threshold limit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.