A fully connectorized optic fiber tap assembly is described that includes a first upstream connector interface configured to receive a downstream connector of a first upstream optic fiber line, and a first downstream connector interface configured to receive an upstream connector of a first downstream optic fiber line. The tap assembly further includes a set of service drop line connector interfaces. Moreover, an optic fiber tap of the assembly is configured to: receive an optical signal from the upstream connector interface, extract a portion of the optical signal, direct the extracted portion of the optical signal to the set of service drop line connector interfaces, and pass a remaining portion of the optical signal to the downstream connector interface. The fully connectorized optic fiber tap assembly is configured to be connected to the first upstream optic fiber line and the first downstream optic fiber line without splicing.

An optical network having a first terminal node, a second terminal node, and a network service system is described. The first terminal node has a plurality of ports and a signal restoration component to create a restored path. The second terminal node has a plurality of ports and a failure monitor to issue a path failure notice. A working path, a protection path, and the restored path are each fiber optic lines optically coupling the first terminal node to the second terminal node to enable a service, each path requiring a quantity of exclusive licenses. The network service system receives a path failure notice indicating a working path failure, calculates the quantity of licenses required by the restored path, releases the quantity of licenses required by the working path and applies at least a portion of the quantity of licenses to the quantity of licenses required by the restored path.

An optical network having a first terminal node, a second terminal node, and a network service system is described. The first terminal node has a plurality of ports and a signal restoration component to create a restored path. The second terminal node has a plurality of ports and a failure monitor to issue a path failure notice. A working path, a protection path, and the restored path are each fiber optic lines optically coupling the first terminal node to the second terminal node to enable a service, each path requiring a quantity of exclusive licenses. The network service system receives a path failure notice indicating a working path failure, calculates the quantity of licenses required by the restored path, releases the quantity of licenses required by the working path and applies at least a portion of the quantity of licenses to the quantity of licenses required by the restored path.

A wireless IO-link communication network has a main master and at least one device which have a bidirectional wireless communication between the main master and the at least one device, as well as a backup master which is connected to the main master and the at least one device and is configured to control the at least one device. In a method for operating the IOLW communication network with such a backup master, the backup master controls the at least one device instead of the main master.

A wireless IO-link communication network has a main master and at least one device which have a bidirectional wireless communication between the main master and the at least one device, as well as a backup master which is connected to the main master and the at least one device and is configured to control the at least one device. In a method for operating the IOLW communication network with such a backup master, the backup master controls the at least one device instead of the main master.

Systems and methods include, responsive to a fault affecting an optical service on an active path in an optical network operating at a frequency μ1 via an optical transceiver and having optical line protection via an optical protection switch, switching to an inactive path that now becomes the active path and finding a new route in the optical network for the inactive path that has the fault; responsive to being unable to find a route at the frequency μ1, switching the inactive path to a new route at a different frequency μ2; and implementing spectrum coordination relative to the inactive path to either determine the frequency μ1 is available on the new route or to find another new route for the inactive path where the frequency μ1 is available.

Systems and methods include, responsive to a fault affecting an optical service on an active path in an optical network operating at a frequency μ1 via an optical transceiver and having optical line protection via an optical protection switch, switching to an inactive path that now becomes the active path and finding a new route in the optical network for the inactive path that has the fault; responsive to being unable to find a route at the frequency μ1, switching the inactive path to a new route at a different frequency μ2; and implementing spectrum coordination relative to the inactive path to either determine the frequency μ1 is available on the new route or to find another new route for the inactive path where the frequency μ1 is available.

An apparatus includes a direct-detection optical data receiver to receive a data-modulated optical carrier. The direct-detection optical data receiver includes an optical power splitter, an array of at least three optical intensity detectors, and a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor is connected to receive digital values of intensity measurements of each of the optical intensity detectors of the array and to recover data of the received data-modulated optical signal from the digital values of the intensity measurements. The first optical intensity detector is connected to receive light from the optical power splitter via a dispersive optical path and the remaining of the optical intensity detectors of the array are connected to receive light from the optical power splitter via a multiple input and multiple output passive optical processing unit. The passive optical processing unit is configured to optically mix light received on different optical inputs thereof.

An apparatus includes a direct-detection optical data receiver to receive a data-modulated optical carrier. The direct-detection optical data receiver includes an optical power splitter, an array of at least three optical intensity detectors, and a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor is connected to receive digital values of intensity measurements of each of the optical intensity detectors of the array and to recover data of the received data-modulated optical signal from the digital values of the intensity measurements. The first optical intensity detector is connected to receive light from the optical power splitter via a dispersive optical path and the remaining of the optical intensity detectors of the array are connected to receive light from the optical power splitter via a multiple input and multiple output passive optical processing unit. The passive optical processing unit is configured to optically mix light received on different optical inputs thereof.

An electro-optical (EO) interconnect assembly includes an optical fiber, and first and second EO transceivers. The first and second EO transceivers, which are coupled to respective ends of the optical fiber, are configured to (i) connect to respective first and second network devices, (ii) exchange electrical signals with the first and second network devices, (iii) convert between the electrical signals and optical signals, and exchange the optical signals with one another over the optical fiber, and (iv) conduct with one another, over the optical fiber, a secure challenge-response transaction, and to initiate a responsive action upon failure of the challenge-response transaction.