Technique for live insertion of transceiver modules in a telecommunication system

1. A smooth connector circuit for on-line connection of an optical telecommunication module to a main telecommunication unit comprising a common power supply circuit and connectable to a number of optical telecommunication modules by separately creating with each of them a power connection, a control connection and a communication connection,

the smooth connector circuit, whenever an optical telecommunication module is connected to the main unit, being capable of successively creating said connections between the optical communication module and the main unit, so that the power connection is created first and a required level of power supply in said module is reached gradually,

the smooth connector circuit further comprising a delay circuit for creating the control and communication connections between the telecommunication module and the main unit after the power connection is established and the power supply level at said module is reached, wherein the delay circuit comprises a Schmit trigger assembly operative to enable interaction between the main unit and the module when the power supply level at the module reaches its required level.

2. The smooth connector circuit according to claim 1 , comprising at least one electronic switching circuit forming part of the power supply circuit of said main unit and capable of gradually rising the power supply voltage at the telecommunication module up to at least one respective required value whenever said module is physically coupled to the main unit.

3. An optical telecommunication module comprising:

one or more optical transceivers and suitable for live insertion into a telecommunication network via a main unit comprising a common power supply circuit, the live insertion being performed by means of a smooth connector circuit successively creating between the module and the main unit, whenever physically coupled, a power connection, a control connection and a communication connection, wherein a required level of power supply in the module is reached gradually; and

the module comprising a memory and an A/D converting block connected to the one or more optical transceivers, said memory and said A/D block being adapted to establish the control connection with the main unit.

4. The module according to claim 3 , wherein the smooth connector circuit comprises at least one electronic switching circuit located on the module, forming part of the power supply circuit of said main unit and capable of gradually rising the power supply voltage at the telecommunication module up to at least one respective required value whenever said module is physically connected to the main unit.

5. The module according to claim 3 , comprising a delay circuit forming part of the smooth connector circuit and ensuring successive establishing of the control and communication connections with the main unit upon stabilizing of the power supply in the module.

6. The module according to claim 3 , comprising more than one optical transceivers of respective communication channels for creating a multi-channel said communication connection with the main unit.

7. The module according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one optical transceiver is suitable for transmitting and receiving a data stream accepted in one or more optical telecommunication hierarchies.

8. A main unit of a telecommunication equipment, comprising:

a common power supply circuit and enabling live insertion to it of a number of optical telecommunication modules by forming with each of them separate connections, the live insertion being performed by means of a smooth connector circuit successively creating between any of said modules and the main unit, whenever physically coupled, a power connection, a control connection and a communication connection, wherein a required level of power supply in said module is reached gradually; and

the main unit comprising a control unit operative to recognize the modules connected to it and parameters of said modules using the control connection, and an executive block for manipulating incoming and outgoing data streams using the telecommunication connection.

9. A main unit of a telecommunication equipment comprising:

a common power supply circuit and enabling live insertion to it of a number of optical telecommunication modules by forming with each of them separate connections, the live insertion being performed by means of a smooth connector circuit successively creating between any of said modules and the main unit, whenever physically coupled, a power connection, a control connection and a communication connection, wherein a required level of power supply in said module is reached gradually, and

wherein the smooth connector circuit comprises a number of electronic switching circuits forming part of the power supply circuit of the main unit, associated with said modules and positioned at the main unit, thereby forming in the main unit an array of the electronic switching circuits.

10. A telecommunication system comprising a number of telecommunication modules and a main unit connectable to said modules by separately creating with each of them power, control and communication connections, the system comprising:

at least one smooth connector circuit according to claim 1 , or

at least one of said modules implemented according to claim 3 , or

said main unit in the system implemented according to claim 8 , or

said main unit in the system implemented according to claim 9 .

11. A kit of telecommunication equipment comprising:

at least one main unit according to claim 8 , or

at least one main unit according to claim 9 , or

at least one telecommunication module according to claim 3 .