US6438285B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Facility for intializing a fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of modes
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2000-05-31
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Granted: 2002-08-20
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Expires: 2020-05-31
Abstract
Abstract An initialization facility is provided for a fiber optic data link wherein the link can be initialized in one of a plurality of fiber control modes, including one or more open fiber control (OFC) modes and a non-OFC mode. Initialization may be automatic, being responsive to received optical signals, or user determined. Along with the initialization facility, safety logic is presented which allows the facility to be fully compliant with industry standard laser safety requirements for inherently safe Class 1 operation. Further, logic is provided for controlling resetting of an OFC chip. In one embodiment, the facility can be implemented in an auto-sense circuit coupled between a conventional OFC chip and a transceiver of the fiber optic data link.
Inventors
- 👤 Casimer M. DeCusatis
- 👤 Thomas A. Gregg
- 👤 Daniel J. Stigliani, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/40; H04B10/25; H04B10/2589
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for automatically initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said method comprising: automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes; determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said one mode; and automatically disabling the one mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize and determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in another mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for automatically initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said method comprising: automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes; determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said one mode; and automatically disabling the one mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize and determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in another mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes comprises at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes further comprises a non-OFC mode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said automatically bringing up comprises automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one OFC mode of said at least one OFC mode, and wherein said automatically disabling comprises automatically disabling said one OFC mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize therein and determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said non-OFC mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising waiting n×(pulse repetition time (PRT)), wherein n>1, after bringing up the fiber optic data link in said one OFC mode before determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising waiting n×PRT after said disabling of the one OFC mode before determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in the non-OFC mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one OFC mode comprises a plurality of OFC modes and the one OFC mode comprises a first OFC mode of the plurality of OFC modes, and said method further comprises automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in another OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes if the fiber optic data link does not initialize in the first OFC mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising repeating said bringing up of the fiber optic data link in each OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes until said fiber optic data link initializes in one OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes or until said fiber optic data link initializes in said non-OFC mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said fiber optic data link comprises a first transceiver and a second transceiver and wherein said method further comprises implementing said automatically bringing up, said determining and said automatically disabling in auto-detect logic associated with at least one of said first transceiver and said second transceiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said method further comprises providing safety logic with said auto-detect logic to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the fiber optic data link is initialized in an open fiber control (OFC) mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a manual override of said automatically bringing up which allows a user of the fiber optic data link to specify whether the fiber optic data link is to initialize in a fiber control mode comprising one of an open fiber control (OFC) mode or a non-OFC mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode provided by an OFC chip associated with the fiber optic data link, and wherein said method further comprises automatically resetting the OFC chip responsive to a loss of signal being received across a channel of the fiber optic data link.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein said automatically resetting includes waiting a predefined time interval subsequent to receipt of the loss of signal before initiating automatic resetting of the OFC chip.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said method comprising: providing a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; selecting one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and providing hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said method comprising: providing a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; selecting one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and providing hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said selecting comprises user selecting said one mode in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said selecting comprises automatically selecting said one mode in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for automatically initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said system comprising: means for automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes; means for determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said one mode; and means for automatically disabling the one mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize and for determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in another mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for automatically initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said system comprising: means for automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes; means for determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said one mode; and means for automatically disabling the one mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize and for determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in another mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes comprises at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes further comprises a non-OFC mode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein said means for automatically bringing up comprises means for automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one OFC mode of said at least one OFC mode, and wherein said means for automatically disabling comprises means for automatically disabling said one OFC mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize therein and means for determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said non-OFC mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 20 , further comprising means for waiting n×(pulse repetition time (PRT)), wherein n>1, after bringing up the fiber optic data link in said one OFC mode before determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 21 , further comprising means for waiting n×PRT after said disabling of the one OFC mode before determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in the non-OFC mode.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one OFC mode comprises a plurality of OFC modes and the one OFC mode comprises a first OFC mode of the plurality of OFC modes, and said system further comprises means for automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in another OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes if the fiber optic data link does not initialize in the first OFC mode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 23 , further comprising means for repeating said bringing up of the fiber optic data link in each OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes until said fiber optic data link initializes in one OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes or until said fiber optic data link initializes in said non-OFC mode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein said fiber optic data link comprises a first transceiver and a second transceiver and wherein said system further comprises implementing said means for automatically bringing up, said means for determining and said means for automatically disabling in auto-detect logic associated with at least one of said first transceiver and said second transceiver.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 25 , wherein said system further comprises safety logic associated with said auto-detect logic, said safety logic ensuring disabling of the fiber optic data link if the fiber optic data link is initialized in an open fiber control (OFC) mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 25 , further comprising means for providing a manual override of said means for automatically bringing up which allows a user of the fiber optic data link to specify whether the fiber optic data link is to initialize in a fiber control mode comprising one of an open fiber control (OFC) mode or a non-OFC mode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode provided by an OFC chip associated with the fiber optic data link, and wherein said system further comprises means for automatically resetting the OFC chip responsive to a loss of signal being received across a channel of the fiber optic data link.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein said means for automatically resetting includes means for waiting a predefined time interval subsequent to receipt of the loss of signal before initiating automatic resetting of the OFC chip.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
84 words
A fiber control system for a fiber optic data link having a transceiver and an open fiber control (OFC) circuit coupled thereto, said control system comprising: an auto detect circuit coupled to said OFC circuit and said transceiver, said auto detect circuit being adapted to automatically initialize the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least some of multiple open fiber control (OFC) modes and a non-OFC mode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
84 words
A fiber control system for a fiber optic data link having a transceiver and an open fiber control (OFC) circuit coupled thereto, said control system comprising: an auto detect circuit coupled to said OFC circuit and said transceiver, said auto detect circuit being adapted to automatically initialize the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least some of multiple open fiber control (OFC) modes and a non-OFC mode.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
58 words
The control system of claim 30 , further comprising a safety circuit coupled to said auto detect circuit, said safety circuit being adapted to automatically disable the fiber optic data link if the fiber optic data link is initialized by said auto detect circuit in an open fiber control (OFC) mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
The control system of claim 31 , wherein the auto detect circuit comprises logic for cycling among said plurality of fiber control modes to determine said one mode in which to initialize the fiber optic data link.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
117 words
A system for initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said system comprising: means for providing a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; means for selecting one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link and adapted to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
117 words
A system for initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said system comprising: means for providing a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; means for selecting one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link and adapted to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein said means for selecting comprises means for user selecting said one mode in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 33 , wherein said means for selecting comprises means for automatically selecting said one mode in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said system comprising: a select circuit adapted to provide a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; wherein said select circuit is further adapted to select one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode by the select circuit and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, said system comprising: a select circuit adapted to provide a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; wherein said select circuit is further adapted to select one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode by the select circuit and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
108 words
At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of automatically initializing a fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of modes, comprising: automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes; determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said one mode; and automatically disabling the one mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize and determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in another mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
108 words
At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of automatically initializing a fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of modes, comprising: automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one mode of a plurality of fiber control modes; determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said one mode; and automatically disabling the one mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize and determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in another mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 37 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes comprises at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 38 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes further comprises a non-OFC mode.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
79 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 39 , wherein said automatically bringing up comprises automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in one OFC mode of said at least one OFC mode, and wherein said automatically disabling comprises automatically disabling said one OFC mode if the fiber optic data link does not initialize therein and determining thereafter whether the fiber optic data link initializes in said non-OFC mode of the plurality of fiber control modes.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
43 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 40 , further comprising waiting n×(pulse repetition time (PRT)), wherein n>1, after bringing up the fiber optic data link in said one OFC mode before determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes therein.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 41 , further comprising waiting n×PRT after said disabling of the one OFC mode before determining whether the fiber optic data link initializes in the non-OFC mode.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
77 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 40 , wherein the at least one OFC mode comprises a plurality of OFC modes and the one OFC mode comprises a first OFC mode of the plurality of OFC modes, and said method further comprises automatically bringing up the fiber optic data link in another OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes if the fiber optic data link does not initialize in the first OFC mode.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
62 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 43 , further comprising repeating said bringing up of the fiber optic data link in each OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes until said fiber optic data link initializes in one OFC mode of said plurality of OFC modes or until said fiber optic data link initializes in said non-OFC mode.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
58 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 37 , wherein said fiber optic data link comprises a first transceiver and a second transceiver and wherein said method further comprises implementing said automatically bringing up, said determining and said automatically disabling in auto-detect logic associated with at least one of said first transceiver and said second transceiver.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
54 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 45 , wherein said method further comprises providing safety logic with said auto-detect logic to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the fiber optic data link is initialized in an open fiber control (OFC) mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
61 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 37 , further comprising providing a manual override of said automatically bringing up which allows a user of the fiber optic data link to specify whether the fiber optic data link is to initialize in a fiber control mode comprising one of an open fiber control (OFC) mode or a non-OFC mode.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
67 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 37 , wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode provided by an OFC chip associated with the fiber optic data link, and wherein said method further comprises automatically resetting the OFC chip responsive to a loss of signal being received across a channel of the fiber optic data link.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
37 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 48 , wherein said automatically resetting includes waiting a predefined time interval subsequent to receipt of the loss of signal before initiating automatic resetting of the OFC chip.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
134 words
At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, comprising: providing a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; selecting one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and providing hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
134 words
At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of initializing a fiber optic data link in one of a plurality of modes, comprising: providing a plurality of fiber control modes within which the fiber optic data link can be initialized, wherein the plurality of fiber control modes includes at least one open fiber control (OFC) mode; selecting one mode of the plurality of fiber control modes in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link; and providing hardware safety logic associated with the fiber optic data link to ensure disabling of the fiber optic data link if the data link is initialized in an OFC mode and said OFC mode is subsequently disabled.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
32 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 50 , wherein said selecting comprises user selecting said one mode in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
32 words
The at least one program storage device of claim 50 , wherein said selecting comprises automatically selecting said one mode in which to bring up and initialize the fiber optic data link.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-19 | 2006-02-18 | 2006-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-19 | 2010-02-18 | 2010-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-19 | 2014-02-18 | 2014-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |