A novel branching unit provided. The branching unit may include a first port for connecting a first power conductor disposed in a first optical cable, a second port for connecting a second power conductor disposed in a second optical cable, and a third port for connecting a third power conductor and a fourth power conductor disposed in a branch cable. The third port may include a first sub-port and a second sub-port. The first sub-port may be configured to connect the third power conductor of the branch cable. The second sub-port may be configured to connect the fourth power conductor of the branch cable.

A network element configured to operate in an Optical Transport Network (OTN) network includes one or more modules including a first regenerator port and a second regenerator port, wherein the one or more modules are configured to provide a Low Order (LO) regenerator function; and circuitry configured to detect the one or more modules are part of the LO regenerator function, and, responsive to detection of a fault on the first regenerator port, cause forward traffic conditioning at a High Order (HO) path to the second regenerator port. The forward traffic conditioning can include an Alarm Indication Signal (AIS) on the HO path.

A regen node is described. The regen node includes a coherent receiver, a control module and a coherent transmitter. The coherent receiver has circuitry to convert a first optical signal received from an upstream node in an optical layer of an optical network to a first digital data stream in a digital layer having a first FEC frame and a data traffic. The control module extracts a first fault signal from the first FEC frame; generates a second fault signal based at least in part on the first fault signal; and encodes the second fault signal within a second FEC frame with the data traffic into a second digital data stream on the digital layer. The coherent transmitter has circuitry to convert the second digital data stream into a second optical signal on the optical layer and to transmit the second optical signal to a downstream node.

Provided are an optical relay system and a method for setting identification information of a remote device in an optical relay system. In particular, provided are an optical relay system and a method for setting identification information of a remote device in an optical relay system in which a donor device generates unique identification information of a remote device based on temporary identification information and characteristic information received from the remote device to automatically set identification information of the remote device, and as a result, the optical relay system can be normally implemented rapidly in initial installation of the optical relay system or a change of an optical relay system environment and convenience of a manager and reliability of a mobile communication service can be improved.

Provided are an optical relay system and a method for setting identification information of a remote device in an optical relay system. In particular, provided are an optical relay system and a method for setting identification information of a remote device in an optical relay system in which a donor device generates unique identification information of a remote device based on temporary identification information and characteristic information received from the remote device to automatically set identification information of the remote device, and as a result, the optical relay system can be normally implemented rapidly in initial installation of the optical relay system or a change of an optical relay system environment and convenience of a manager and reliability of a mobile communication service can be improved.

A vehicle communication system includes a core module, a first terminal module, and a second terminal module. The core module is installed in a vehicle and includes a first switching hub, a second switching hub, and a core communication line bundle. The first and the second switching hubs relay the data. The core communication line bundle includes a core optical cable that propagates optical signals and a core electrical wire that conducts electrical signals. In the core communication line bundle, the core optical cable and the core electrical wire couple the first switching hub and the second switching hub for communication. In the core communication line bundle, the core optical cable has a larger communication traffic volume than that of the core electrical wire.

A vehicle communication system includes a core module, a first terminal module, and a second terminal module. The core module is installed in a vehicle and includes a first switching hub, a second switching hub, and a core communication line bundle. The first and the second switching hubs relay the data. The core communication line bundle includes a core optical cable that propagates optical signals and a core electrical wire that conducts electrical signals. In the core communication line bundle, the core optical cable and the core electrical wire couple the first switching hub and the second switching hub for communication. In the core communication line bundle, the core optical cable has a larger communication traffic volume than that of the core electrical wire.

Embodiments of an optical data communication apparatus using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) micro-mirror arrays is described herein. The apparatus may include a router configured to operate as a relay to exchange optical data signals between optical switches of the apparatus. The optical switches may be configured to switch between reflection directions to reflect the optical signals over different optical connections between the optical switches and different receiving ports of the router. The reflection directions may be switched in accordance with predetermined mappings between the receiving ports of the router and destinations of the optical signals. The router includes a MEMS micro-mirror array configured to reflect received optical signals to the destinations. A processing element of the optical data switching circuitry may generate a plurality of optical data signals and may send the optical data signals to an optical switch of the optical data switching circuitry.

Apparatus for isolating transmit and receive optical beams having a common wavelength to ensure genderless interoperability in an optical communication system comprises a transmit path that propagates a transmit optical beam at a particular base wavelength and a receive path that propagates a receive optical beam at the same particular base wavelength wherein at least a portion of the receive path is separate from the transmit path. The apparatus further comprises an annular mirror having a receive beam region and a center aperture and the transmit path includes a steering mirror and the receive path also includes the steering mirror. The steering mirror has a single surface that reflects an entirety of the transmit optical beam transmitted along the transmit path and the single surface of the steering mirror reflects an entirety of the receive optical beam received along the receive path. A method of isolating transmit and receive optical beams in an optical communication system is also disclosed.

Apparatus for isolating transmit and receive optical beams having a common wavelength to ensure genderless interoperability in an optical communication system comprises a transmit path that propagates a transmit optical beam at a particular base wavelength and a receive path that propagates a receive optical beam at the same particular base wavelength wherein at least a portion of the receive path is separate from the transmit path. The apparatus further comprises an annular mirror having a receive beam region and a center aperture and the transmit path includes a steering mirror and the receive path also includes the steering mirror. The steering mirror has a single surface that reflects an entirety of the transmit optical beam transmitted along the transmit path and the single surface of the steering mirror reflects an entirety of the receive optical beam received along the receive path. A method of isolating transmit and receive optical beams in an optical communication system is also disclosed.