Systems and methods for generation of communication channel fault information

1. A method for generating fault information associated with a communication channel, the method comprising:

receiving an error value associated with the communication channel, wherein the error value varies with time;

if the error value exceeds a first threshold, storing a first time value associated with the error value exceeding the first threshold; and

if the error value falls and remains below the first threshold for a first minimum time period before the error value exceeds and remains above a second threshold higher than the first threshold for a second minimum time period, deleting the first time value;

otherwise, storing a second time value associated with the error value exceeding the second threshold, wherein the fault information comprises the first time value and the second time value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are lower than an uncorrectable error level for the communication channel.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to storing the second time value, issuing a signal to reroute communication traffic of the communication channel over a second communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fault information indicates a hard fault condition if a difference between the first time value and the second time value is below a first time limit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fault information indicates a soft fault condition if a difference between the first time value and the second time value is above a first time limit.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if, after exceeding the first threshold, the error value remains above the first threshold for a third minimum time period, issuing a first fault notification.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

if, after exceeding the second threshold, the error value remains above the second threshold for the second minimum time period, issuing a second fault notification.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first time value comprises a time value at which the error value exceeds the first threshold.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second time value comprises a time value at which the error value remains above the second threshold for the second minimum time period.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the error value comprises one of a bit-error rate before forward error correction, a Q-value, and a Q-margin.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication channel comprises an optical communication channel.

12. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions encoded thereon for executing a method for generating fault information associated with a communication channel, the method comprising:

receiving an error value associated with the communication channel, wherein the error value varies with time;

if the error value exceeds a first threshold, storing a first time value associated with the error value exceeding the first threshold; and

if the error value falls and remains below the first threshold for a first minimum time period before the error value exceeds and remains above a second threshold higher than the first threshold for a second minimum time period, deleting the first time value;

otherwise, storing a second time value associated with the error value exceeding the second threshold, wherein the fault information comprises the first time value and the second time value.

13. A system for generating fault information associated with a communication channel, the system comprising:

an interface configured to receive an error value associated with the communication channel, wherein the error value varies with time;

data storage; and

control logic configured to:

if the error value exceeds a first threshold, store in the data storage a first time value associated with the error value exceeding the first threshold; and

if the error value falls and remains below the first threshold for a first minimum time period before the error value exceeds and remains above a second threshold higher than the first threshold for a second minimum time period, delete the first time value from the data storage;

otherwise, store in the data storage a second time value associated with the error value exceeding the second threshold, wherein the fault information comprises the first time value and the second time value.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control logic is further configured to:

in response to the storing the second time value, issue a signal by way of the interface to reroute communication traffic of the communication channel over a second communication channel.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the fault information indicates a hard fault condition if a difference between the first time value and the second time value is below a first time limit.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the fault information indicates a soft fault condition if a difference between the first time value and the second time value is above a first time limit.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control logic is further configured to:

if, after exceeding the first threshold, the error value remains above the first threshold for a third minimum time period, issue a first fault notification via the interface.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control logic is further configured to:

if, after exceeding the second threshold, the error value remains above the second threshold for the second minimum time period, issue a second fault notification via the interface.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first time value comprises a time value associated with the error value exceeding the first threshold.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second time value comprises a time value associated with the error value remaining above the second threshold for the second minimum time period.