Reconfiguration and Protocol Adaptation of Optoelectronic Modules and Network Components

Abstract

An optoelectronic module for converting and coupling an information-containing electrical signal with an optical fiber including a housing having an electrical input for coupling with an external cable or information system device and for transmitting and receiving information-containing electrical signals over such input, and a fiber optic connector adapted for coupling with an external optical fiber for transmitting and receiving an optical signal; an electro-optic subassembly coupled to the information containing electrical signal and converting it to and/or from a modulated optical signal corresponding to the electrical signal; means disposed in the housing for determining the electrical and/or optical protocols or packet formats in use; and a processor for adapting the module to utilize the electrical and optical protocol or packet format.

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.