Appeal No. 96-0974
Application 08/024,299
figure, the intelligent interconnect 10 includes a
transmitting data processing terminal 15 connected to
receiving data processing terminal 20 by an optical channel 12
(e.g., optical fibers) and an operation monitoring channel 14
(e.g., an RF link) (col. 2, line 49 to col. 3, line 1).
Transmitting terminal 15 includes electrical to optical
transducers 22 and optical to electrical transducers 24 (col.
3, lines 2-10). Optical channel 12 includes a plurality of
predetermined optical paths that are normally used for the
transmission of data and one or more redundant optical paths
to be used in the event one or mor of the predetermined
optical paths fails (col. 3, lines 53-57). Input data is
formatted by formatting circuitry 27 and applied to cross
connect apparatus 35, which is controllable by microprocessor
37 to switch any one of the data input lines from the normal
selected optical path to a redundant path (col. 3, lines 15-17
and col. 3, line 50 to col. 4, line 6). Microprocessor 37 is
responsive to diagnostic and failure detection circuit, which
is connected to transducers 22 so as to detect a failure in
any of the optical paths (col. 4, lines 6-11). Circuit 40 may
also or alternatively be connected to transducers 24 so as to
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Last modified: November 3, 2007