Optical network faulted identification

1. An optical network node capable of being powered, comprising

a transceiver,

a retro-reflective reflector arranged to reflect an optical signal back to an optical transmitter that is the source of the optical signal, the optical transmitter being located at a head end of a network to which the optical network node belongs, and

a switch arranged to direct the optical signal to the transceiver or the reflector in dependence on whether the optical network node is powered,

wherein the switch is arranged to direct the optical signal to the retro-reflective reflector when the optical network node is unpowered such that the optical signal is reflected back to the optical transmitter that is the source of the optical signal; and

wherein the optical network node is arranged to transmit a power down indication signal, indicating power loss to the optical network node, to the head end to initiate transmission of a test optical signal from the optical transmitter to the optical network node.

2. An optical network node according to claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a micro-electromechanical systems switch.

3. An optical network node according to claim 2 wherein the retro-reflective reflector comprises at least one of: a Fibre Bragg Grating reflector; a thin film filter; an optical fibre having a cleaved end with a predetermined reflective value; an optical fibre having a cleaved end with a predetermined reflective pattern; and an optical fibre having a cleaved end of a predetermined length having a cleaved end.

4. An optical network node according to claim 1 further comprising a socket for receiving an optical connector plug, the socket including a retro-reflective reflector configured to reflect back to its source an optical signal received via the connector plug.

5. The optical network node according to claim 1 wherein an optical connector, is plugged into the optical network node and comprises a plurality of retro-reflective reflectors.

6. A telecommunications network comprising:

an optical network node capable of being powered, the optical network node comprising

a transceiver,

a retro-reflective reflector arranged to reflect an optical signal back to an optical transmitter that is the source of the optical signal, the optical transmitter being located at a head end of the telecommunications network to which the optical network node belongs, and

a switch arranged to direct the optical signal to the transceiver or the reflector in dependence on whether the optical network node is powered,

wherein the optical network node is operationally linked by an optical fibre to the optical transmitter, the switch being arranged to direct an optical signal output by the optical transmitter to the retro-reflective reflector in dependence on whether the optical network node is powered,

wherein the switch is arranged to direct the optical signal to the retro-reflective reflector when the optical network node is unpowered such that the optical signal is reflected back to the optical transmitter that is the source of the optical signal; and

wherein the optical network node is arranged to transmit a power down indication signal, indicating power loss to the optical network node, to the head end to initiate transmission of a test optical signal from the optical transmitter to the optical network node.

7. A telecommunications network according to claim 6 wherein the optical transmitter comprises an optical time domain reflectometer.

8. A telecommunications network according to claim 6 including the head end comprising a network management system and an optical line terminal, wherein the network management system comprises a persistent management agent arranged in use to receive messages concerning a loss of connection between the optical network node and the optical line terminal.

9. A telecommunications network according to claim 8 wherein the optical transmitter is co-located with the optical line terminal.

10. A telecommunications network according to claim 6 wherein an optical link comprises an optical connector for plugging into the optical network node, wherein the optical connector comprises at least one retro-reflective reflector.

11. The telecommunications network according to claim 6 further comprising an optical link including an optical connector for plugging into the optical network node, wherein the optical connector comprises a plurality of retro-reflective reflectors.

12. A method of remotely detecting a power status of an optical network node, comprising:

in a first operational state in which the optical network node is powered, using a transceiver to send or receive an optical signal at the optical network node;

in a second operational state, in which the optical network node is not powered, using a switch to direct an optical signal to a retro-reflective reflector arranged to reflect the optical signal back to an optical transmitter that is the source of the optical signal, the optical transmitter being located at a head end of a network to which the optical network node belongs; and

transmitting a power down indication signal, indicating power loss to the optical network node, from the optical network node to the head end to initiate transmission of a test optical signal from the optical transmitter to the optical network node.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the optical signal received at the optical network node is received at a wavelength different from a wavelength of optical data communications transmitted between the optical network node and an optical line terminal.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the optical signal received at the optical network node is received continuously when the optical network node is powered.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein the optical signal received at the optical network node is output by an optical time domain reflectometer over an optical fibre operationally connected to the optical network node, and wherein a retro-reflected optical signal received at the optical time domain reflectometer is compared against a reference value based on a length of an optical link.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising using the optical time domain reflectometer to establish the reference value at set up.