Reconfiguration and Protocol Adaptation of Optoelectronic Modules and Network Components

1 . An optoelectronic module for coupling an information system device with an optical fiber comprising:

a housing including an electrical connector for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting information-containing electrical signals over said connector, and a fiber optical connector adapted for coupling with an external optic fiber for transmitting and/or receiving an optical signal;

an electro-optic subassembly disposed in said housing coupled to the information system device for converting the electrical signal to or from a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signals at a predetermined wavelength;

a circuit for determining the optical communications protocol used by said optical signal; and

a communication adaptation circuit disposed in said housing for adapting said subassembly to use said optical communications protocol for subsequent communications.

2 . The module of claim 1 , wherein said optical communications protocol is selected from the group consisting of SONET, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel and SDH.

3 . The module of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector utilizes an electrical interface selected from the group consisting of Infiniband, XAUI and XIF.

4 . The module of claim 1 , wherein the housing utilizes a form factor selected from the group consisting of XENPAK, X2, SFF, SFP, XFP, or QSFP factors.

5 . The module of claim 1 , wherein the circuit for determining the optical communications protocol includes a microprocessor.

6 . The module of claim 1 , further comprising a communication interface to provide a unique MAC layer identification address of the module.

7 . The module of claim 1 , wherein said optical communications protocol includes a packet structure.

8 . An optoelectronic module for coupling an information system device with an optical fiber comprising:

a housing including an electrical connector for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and for transmitting information-containing electrical signals over said connector, and a fiber optical connector adapted for coupling with an external optic fiber for transmitting and/or receiving an optical signal;

an electro-optic subassembly disposed in said housing coupled to the information system device for converting the electrical signal to or from a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signals at a predetermined wavelength;

a circuit for determining the electrical communications protocol used by said electrical signals; and

a communication adaptor disposed in said housing for adapting said subassembly to use said electrical communications protocol for subsequent communications.

9 . The module of claim 8 , wherein the electrical communications protocol is selected from the group consisting of Infiniband, XAUI, XIF, USB, and Firewire.

10 . A data communication network comprising a plurality of network units and a plurality of pluggable optoelectronic modules coupled to one or more of such network units, the modules functioning to couple the associated network unit to an optical fiber for transmitting and/or receiving optical signals over such fiber, each module having an adaptive protocol processor that is selectable from a set of protocols, and a communications interface to communicate with an external device using a selected or predetermined electrical or optical protocol.

11 . A method of adjusting an operational parameter of an optoelectronic module, the optoelectronic module including an electrical connector for coupling with an external electrical cable or information system device and a fiber optical connector adapted for coupling with an external optic fiber, the method comprising:

receiving at a remote terminal information about the operational parameter in a wireless format;

providing the information to a user of the remote terminal;

subsequently receiving an input at the remote terminal regarding an adjustment to the operational parameter of the optoelectronic module; and

wirelessly communicating a command based on the input to adjust the operational parameter of the optoelectronic module.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the information to a user of the remote terminal comprises displaying the information on a display screen at the remote terminal.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless command causes an adjustment in a wavelength of the laser in the optoelectronic module.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless command causes an adjustment in a launch power of the laser in the optoelectronic module.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless command causes an adjustment in an optical modulation technique of the optoelectronic module.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless command causes an adjustment in a chirp of the laser of the optoelectronic module.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless command causes an adjustment in an error correction methodology of the optoelectronic module.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless command causes an adjustment in a communications protocol of the optoelectronic module.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless command causes an adjustment in packet control fields of the optoelectronic module.

20 . A method of adjusting an optoelectronic module comprising:

wirelessly receiving operational data about the optoelectronic module at a receiver remotely located from the optoelectronic module; and

wirelessly communicating from the receiver to the optoelectronic module a command that adjusts one of an optical modulation technique and an error correction methodology in the optoelectronic module.