PLUGGABLE OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER INTERFACE MODULE

1 . A pluggable optical transceiver interface module adapted to operate in a host device, the pluggable optical transceiver interface module comprising:

a housing compliant to a first Multi Source Agreement (MSA), wherein the housing is adapted to plug into the host device;

a slot in the housing adapted to receive a pluggable optical transceiver, wherein the pluggable optical transceiver comprises an optical transmitter and an optical receiver with associated connectors; and

interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the pluggable optical transceiver and to the host device, wherein the interface circuitry is adapted to bridge data and power connectivity to the pluggable optical transceiver according to the first MSA, and wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is not compliant to the first MSA.

2 . The pluggable optical transceiver interface module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver comprises:

a communication link configured to interface with the host device through the interface circuitry for providing a high-speed signal therebetween;

framing and forward error correction circuitry configured to provide framing and forward error correction related to the high-speed signal;

transmitter optical components communicatively coupled to the framing and forward error correction circuitry and configured to transmit a composite optical output signal from the optical transmitter; and

receiver optical components communicatively coupled to the circuitry and configured to receive a composite optical input signal from the optical receiver;

wherein the framing and forward error correction is performed within the pluggable optical transceiver separately and independently from the host device and the pluggable optical transceiver interface module.

3 . The pluggable optical transceiver interface module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is compliant to a second MSA, different from the first MSA.

4 . The pluggable optical transceiver interface module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is a subsystem not compliant to any MSA.

5 . The pluggable optical transceiver interface module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is compliant to QSFP28 and the first MSA is any of CFP, CFP2, and CFP4.

6 . The pluggable optical transceiver interface module of claim 1 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is compliant to XFP and the first MSA is XENPAK.

7 . The pluggable optical transceiver interface module of claim 1 , wherein the housing is larger than a housing associated with the pluggable optical transceiver.

8 . The pluggable optical transceiver interface module of claim 1 , wherein the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are not compliant to the first MSA and operate independently of the host device and the pluggable optical transceiver interface module, wherein the interface circuitry provides an output signal compliant to the first MSA.

9 . A method with a pluggable optical transceiver interface module adapted to operate in a host device, the method comprising:

providing a housing compliant to a first Multi Source Agreement (MSA), wherein the housing is adapted to plug into the host device;

providing a slot in the housing adapted to receive a pluggable optical transceiver, wherein the pluggable optical transceiver comprises an optical transmitter and an optical receiver with associated connectors; and

providing interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the pluggable optical transceiver and to the host device, wherein the interface circuitry is adapted to bridge data and power connectivity to the pluggable optical transceiver according to the first MSA, and wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is not compliant to the first MSA.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver comprises:

a communication link configured to interface with the host device through the interface circuitry for providing a high-speed signal therebetween;

framing and forward error correction circuitry configured to provide framing and forward error correction related to the high-speed signal;

transmitter optical components communicatively coupled to the framing and forward error correction circuitry and configured to transmit a composite optical output signal from the optical transmitter; and

receiver optical components communicatively coupled to the circuitry and configured to receive a composite optical input signal from the optical receiver;

wherein the framing and forward error correction is performed within the pluggable optical transceiver separately and independently from the host device and the pluggable optical transceiver interface module.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is compliant to a second MSA, different from the first MSA.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is a subsystem not compliant to any MSA.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is compliant to QSFP28 and the first MSA is any of CFP, CFP2, and CFP4.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the pluggable optical transceiver is compliant to XFP and the first MSA is XENPAK.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are not compliant to the first MSA and operate independently of the host device and the pluggable optical transceiver interface module, wherein the interface circuitry provides an output signal compliant to the first MSA.

16 . A pluggable optical transceiver system, comprising:

a first module comprising an optical transmitter and an optical receiver with associated connectors; and

a pluggable optical transceiver interface module adapted to receive the first module and to operate in a host device, wherein the pluggable optical transceiver interface module comprises:

a housing compliant to a first Multi Source Agreement (MSA), wherein the housing is adapted to plug into the host device;

a slot in the housing adapted to receive the first module; and

interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the first module and to the host device, wherein the interface circuitry is adapted to bridge data and power connectivity to the first module according to the first MSA, and wherein the first module is not compliant to the first MSA.

17 . The pluggable optical transceiver system of claim 16 , wherein the first module comprises:

a communication link configured to interface with the host device through the interface circuitry for providing a high-speed signal therebetween;

framing and forward error correction circuitry configured to provide framing and forward error correction related to the high-speed signal;

transmitter optical components communicatively coupled to the framing and forward error correction circuitry and configured to transmit a composite optical output signal from the optical transmitter; and

receiver optical components communicatively coupled to the circuitry and configured to receive a composite optical input signal from the optical receiver;

wherein the framing and forward error correction is performed within the pluggable optical transceiver separately and independently from the host device and the pluggable optical transceiver interface module.

18 . The pluggable optical transceiver system of claim 16 , wherein the first module is compliant to a second MSA, different from the first MSA.

19 . The pluggable optical transceiver system of claim 16 , wherein the first module is a subsystem not compliant to any MSA.

20 . The pluggable optical transceiver system of claim 16 , wherein the optical transmitter and the optical receiver are not compliant to the first MSA and operate independently of the host device and the pluggable optical transceiver interface module, wherein the interface circuitry provides an output signal compliant to the first MSA.