Identifiable fiber optics
View Patent ↗The present invention provides for an optical cable and methods for interconnecting modular components with optical fibers. Each optical fiber is electronically labeled with a unique serial number such that interconnections using the optical fibers can be accurately audited.
1. An optical interconnection method for providing new bandwidth for interconnected systems or domains, comprising:
identifying a light guide and a first port associated with the light guide, the first port connecting the light guide to a first system;
propagating a message comprising an electronic label information associated with the light guide and an interrogation to determine a location of a second port associated with the light guide at a second system;
receiving a message, the message containing identification related to the second port location at the second system and label and port identification of the light guide thereby discovering a connection, and
advertising the connection to the interconnected systems to thereby provide new bandwidth for connections.
2. The optical interconnection method of claim 1 , wherein communication is established with a peer system or another network element.
3. The optical interconnection method of claim 2 , wherein the other network element is a network manager.
4. The optical interconnection method of claim 3 , wherein the network manager is distributed and located within each system.
5. The optical interconnection method of claim 3 , wherein the network manager is centralized and located separate from the first and second systems.
6. The optical interconnection method of claim 1 , wherein the request message includes additional information stored on the electronic labels.
7. The optical interconnection method of claim 1 , wherein the peer system sends a return message notifying a sending system that the other end of the cable is not located at the peer system.
8. The optical interconnection method of claim 7 , wherein the peer system does not send a message to thereby prevent network congestion.
9. The optical interconnection method of claim 8 , wherein the peer system at the other end sends a message.
10. An optical communications network, comprising:
means for identifying a light guide and a first port associated with the light guide, the first port connecting the light guide to a first system;
means for propagating a message comprising an electronic label information associated with the light guide and an interrogation to determine a location of a second port associated with the light guide at a second system;
means for receiving a message, the message containing identification related to the second port location at the second system and label and port identification of the light guide thereby discovering a connection, and
means for advertising the connection to the interconnected systems to thereby provide new bandwidth for connections.