Optical network terminal agent

1. A method comprising:

monitoring at least one performance metric of at least one network component in an optical network system;

determining, in an optical line terminal, whether said at least one network component is a rogue network component using said at least one performance metric;

saving environment data of said rogue network component to a non-volatile storage medium;

performing at least one self-diagnostic routine on a specific sub-component of said rogue network component based on said saved environment data; and

modifying the operation of said rogue network component to reduce interference of said rogue network component with said optical network system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring occurs via said optical network system.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

saving a result generated by said at least one self-diagnostic routine to said non-volatile storage medium.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one performance metric is directed to activity on said optical network system of said at least one network component.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining further comprises comparing said at least one performance metric with a predetermined operational profile of said at least one network component.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring further comprises counting ranging attempts of said at least one network component.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying further comprises:

commanding said rogue network component to discontinue accessing said optical network system, said rogue network component responding to said commanding by discontinuing accessing said optical network system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying further comprises commanding said rogue network component to shut down.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning a communication of said at least one network component in a plurality of time-slots of said optical network system.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one performance metric is selected from the group comprising: an optical power overload of said optical network system, a lasing tail of said rogue network component, said rogue network component interfering with said optical network system, a predetermined number of ranging retries of said rogue network component, and an undefined operational state of said rogue network component.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a type of error of said rogue network component.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said environment data comprises a status for a hardware or software component.

13. A system comprising:

an agent operably connected to an optical network system;

at least one network component connected to said optical network system;

a communication channel operably connecting said agent and said at least one network component, wherein said agent identifies a malfunction of said at least one network component via said optical network system, and said agent uses said communication channel to command said at least one network component to initiate a corrective action when a malfunction is identified;

a non-volatile storage medium; and

a trigger initiating storage of environment data of said at least one network component to said non-volatile storage medium, wherein said agent performs at least one self-diagnostic routine on a specific sub-component of said network component based on said environment data.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said command attempts to reduce disruption of said optical network system by said at least one network component.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein said communication channel comprises a time division multiplexing scheme.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of network components and wherein said agent commands said plurality of network components to occupy a plurality of time-slots of said time division multiplexing scheme.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said agent uses said occupation of said plurality of time-slots to determine said malfunction.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein identifying said malfunction further comprises said agent receiving a statistically significant number of communications from said at least one network component.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein said environment data comprises a status for a hardware or software component.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein said agent saves a result generated by said at least one self-diagnostic routine to said non-volatile storage medium for future diagnosis of said at least one network component.

21. A method comprising:

detecting a condition of a network component in an optical network system;

triggering storage of environment data of said network component to a non-volatile storage medium;

performing, in an optical network terminal, at least one self-diagnostic routine on a specific sub-component of said network component in response to said environment data, wherein said self-diagnostic routine has a result; and

saving said result to said non-volatile storage medium.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said network component is an optical network terminal.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein said environment data comprises a status for a hardware or software component.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein said condition comprises the performance of said network component on said optical network system.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein said network component takes an action based on said condition.