Intelligent bail

1. An identification device for providing connectivity information and/or identification information to an outside identification system in an optical network, comprising:

an integrated circuit programmed with unique identification information; and

a plurality of contacts communicably coupled to the integrated circuit, each of the plurality of contacts configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of external contacts of the outside identification system to allow the outside identification system to retrieve the unique identification information;

wherein:

the identification device is configured to be mechanically coupled externally and directly to an end of an optoelectronic transceiver or transponder, the end configured to receive an optical connector;

an out of band device is coupled to the optical connector;

the out of band device includes the plurality of external contacts of the outside identification system;

the out of band device includes a wireless transmitter including a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag configured to supply power to the plurality of external contacts to read the unique identification information from the identification device through the plurality of contacts of the identification device

the end of the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder configured to receive the optical connector includes an output port and an input port;

the optical connector comprises a dual LC optical connector configured to be inserted into the output port and the input port in a sliding direction;

a face of each of the plurality of contacts of the identification device exposed to be communicably coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of external contacts is substantially normal to the sliding direction;

the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder includes an enhanced small form-factor pluggable transceiver module with a line side latch;

the line side latch includes a plurality of posts; and

the identification device further comprises a plurality of clips configured to engage the plurality of posts and thereby secure the identification device to the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder.

2. The identification device of claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit includes non-volatile memory.

3. The identification device of claim 2 , wherein the non-volatile memory includes flash memory or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only memory.

4. The identification device of claim 1 , further comprising a frame configured to provide structural support for the identification device, an overmolded body molded over the frame and the plurality of contacts and including a cavity for receiving the integrated circuit, and epoxy configured to secure the integrated circuit within the cavity of the overmolded body.

5. The identification device of claim 1 , wherein the optical connector is adapted to be received within one or more optical ports of the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder, such that the plurality of external contacts cannot be communicably coupled to the plurality of contacts unless the optical connector is received within the one or more optical ports, so that a connection between the plurality of external contacts and the plurality of contacts implicates a connection between the optical connector and the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder.

6. An identification device for providing connectivity information and/or identification information to an external identification system in an optical network, comprising:

an integrated circuit programmed with unique identification information;

a plurality of contacts communicably coupled to the integrated circuit and configured to be communicably coupled to the external identification system, enabling the external identification system to read the unique identification information from the integrated circuit; and

a plurality of clips for externally coupling the identification device directly to the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder by engaging a latch on a front of the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder to secure the identification device to the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder, the front of the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder configured to receive an optical connector;

wherein:

an out of band device is coupled to the optical connector;

the out of band device includes a plurality of external contacts of the external identification system;

the out of band device includes a wireless transmitter including a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag configured to supply power to the plurality of external contacts to read the unique identification information from the identification device through the plurality of contacts of the identification device; and

the plurality of clips are configured to engage corresponding posts on the latch on the front of the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder.

7. The identification device of claim 6 , further comprising a frame configured to provide structural support for the identification device.

8. The identification device of claim 7 , further comprising an overmolded body configured to at least partially enclose and mechanically support the integrated circuit and the plurality of contacts.

9. The identification device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of clips are integrated into the frame.

10. The identification device of claim 6 , wherein the unique identification information uniquely identifies the identification device, the optoelectronic transceiver or transponder, or both.

11. The identification device of claim 6 , wherein the integrated circuit includes non-volatile memory.