CN101292450A - Optical transceiver with customized logging mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

An optical transceiver that customizes logging information based on input from a host computing system (hereinafter referred to as a "host") is disclosed. The optical transceiver receives input from a host regarding which operational information is to be logged. The operational information may include statistical data related to system operation or measured parameters or any other measurable system characteristic. The input from the host may also specify one or more storage locations corresponding to the determined operational information. If one or more storage locations are specified, the optical transceiver logs the information to the corresponding storage location, which may be a persistent memory on the transceiver, a memory of the host, or any other accessible logging location. Additionally, the input from the host may specify one or more actions to be performed when the determined information is recorded. If one or more actions are specified, the optical transceiver performs the specified actions when the information is logged.

Description

Optical Transceiver with Custom Recording Mechanism

technical field

The present invention generally relates to optical transceivers. More particularly, the present invention relates to optical transceivers that can be configured, through input from a host computing system, to perform custom logging of operational information.

Background technique

Computing and networking technologies have changed our world. As the amount of information traveling over a network increases, high-speed transmission becomes even more important. Many high-speed data transmission networks rely on optical transceivers and similar devices to facilitate the transmission and reception of digital signals implemented as optical signals over optical fibers. Optical networks can thus be seen in a wide variety of high-speed applications from modest, like small local area networks (LANs) to gigantic, backbone networks like the Internet.

Typically, data transmission in such networks is accomplished by means of optical transmitters (also known as electro-optical converters) such as lasers or light emitting diodes (LEDs). When an electric current passes through it, the electro-optical converter emits light, and the intensity of the emitted light is a function of the magnitude of the electric current. Data reception is usually accomplished with an optical receiver (also known as a photoelectric converter), an example of which is a photodiode. A photoelectric converter receives light and generates an electrical current, the magnitude of which is a function of the intensity of the received light.

Optical transceivers also use various other components to assist in controlling the light transmitting and receiving components and in processing various data and other signals. For example, such optical transceivers typically include a driver (eg, referred to as a "laser driver" when used to drive a laser signal) configured to control the operation of the optical transmitter in response to various control inputs. Optical transceivers also typically include amplifiers (eg, often referred to as "post-amplifiers") that are configured to perform various operations with respect to certain parameters of the data signal received by the optical receiver. A control circuit (hereinafter referred to as "controller") controls the operation of the laser driver and post amplifier.

The operation of an optical transceiver is susceptible to its operating environment and its other operating parameters. An obvious example is laser bias current. If the emitter bias current drifts up or down, it can be expected that the intensity of light produced by the emitter will vary. The transmitted optical power and received optical power are also important operating parameters. The power supply voltage level supplied to an optical transceiver also affects its performance.

In addition, temperature can change the operating characteristics of the optical transceiver itself. Specifically, the wavelength output of a laser may drift by about 0.3 nanometers (nm) to about 0.6 nanometers (nm) per degree Celsius change in temperature. Because the laser generates heat during operation, this can have a significant effect on the operation of the laser. Wavelength variations can lead to crosstalk, in which one emission is mixed with another. In addition, varying wavelengths caused by varying laser temperatures may result in different fiber attenuation. Therefore, the temperature and wavelength of the laser have a huge impact on the correct operation of the optical transceiver.

The high temperature of the optical transceiver itself may lead to temporary or even permanent failure of not only the laser, but also other electronic components within the optical transceiver. Therefore, the temperature of the optical transceiver as a whole is also important for the operation of the optical transceiver.

To provide proper cooling or heating to optical transceivers and/or lasers, especially in optical transceivers whose performance is highly temperature dependent, thermoelectric coolers (TECs) are often used. Such TEC coolers heat or cool depending on the direction and magnitude of the electrical current applied to the TEC cooler. Therefore, TEC current is also an important operating parameter.

Thus these various parameters (such as laser bias current, transmit power, receive power, supply voltage, laser wavelength, laser temperature, transceiver temperature, and TEC current, etc.) are important for the operation of optical transceivers. However, when an optical transceiver fails, it is often difficult to diagnose what the problem is because there is no conventional mechanism for continuously recording important events that might give an indication of why the transceiver failed. For example, if the upper limit temperature rating of an optical transceiver is 85 degrees Celsius, the optical transceiver may malfunction or be permanently damaged if the temperature of the optical transceiver reaches 110 degrees Celsius. However, after the fact, it can be difficult to find that the optical transceiver has been subjected to inappropriate temperatures.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a mechanism for recording events that are important to the operation of the optical transceiver so that these events can be used later to understand the conditions under which the optical transceiver is operating.

Contents of the invention

The aforementioned problems presented by the prior art in the field are overcome by the principles of the present invention, which relates to a method for an optical transceiver configured to The input is customized to record information about the operating parameters of the optical transceiver to which the host computing system is communicatively coupled. An optical transceiver includes system memory and at least one processor.

The processor executes microcode in system memory. The microcode executed causes the optical transceiver to record information based on input from the host computing system.

One input from the host may be a record type identification. This identification enables the optical transceiver to determine the particular type of operational information to be recorded. The operational information may include operational data such as total operational time, number of times the optical transceiver was activated, average operational time between activations, total number of error conditions encountered, identification of one or more error conditions encountered, The different error types categorize the number of error conditions encountered, and so on. The operational information may also include operational measurements along with the time of measurement. Measured items may include laser wavelength, laser temperature, supply voltage, transceiver temperature, laser bias current measurements, thermoelectric cooler (TEC) current measurements, transmitter power measurements, receiver power measurements, and the like.

Another input from the host may be a record location identification. This identification causes the optical transceiver to record operational information in a specific memory location. These memory locations may be persistent storage on the transceiver, memory of a host computing system, a remote evaluation center coupled to the optical transceiver through the Internet or other network, or any other accessible storage location.

Input from the host can also be action identification. This identification causes the optical transceiver to perform a specific task when the operational information is recorded. For example, the optical transceiver may perform self-diagnostics while recording.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following specification and appended claims, or may be learned by practice of the invention as described below.

Description of drawings

In order to further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more detailed description of the present invention will be given with reference to specific embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope of the invention. The present invention will be described and explained in more detail and in detail through the use of the accompanying drawings. in:

Figure 1 illustrates an example of an optical transceiver that can implement the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an example of the control module of Figure 1; and

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method for customizing and recording operation information of an optical transceiver according to the principle of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The principles of the present invention relate to an optical transceiver that customizes logging information based on input from a host computing system (hereinafter referred to simply as the "host"). The optical transceiver receives input from the host as to what operational information is to be logged; operational information may include statistics related to system operation or measured parameters or any other measurable system characteristic. Input from the host may also specify one or more storage locations corresponding to the identified operational information. If one or more storage locations are specified, the optical transceiver records the information to the corresponding storage location, which may be persistent storage on the transceiver, the host's memory, or any other accessible recording location. Additionally, input from the host may specify one or more actions to be performed when the identified information is recorded. If one or more actions are specified, the optical transceiver performs the specified actions when the information is recorded. First, an example of operating an optical transceiver environment will be described. Operation according to the invention will then be described with respect to the operating environment.

Figure 1 shows an optical transceiver 100 in which the principles of the present invention may be employed. Although the optical transceiver 100 will be described in some detail, the optical transceiver 100 is described for the purpose of illustration only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The principles of the present invention are applicable to 1G, 2G, 4G, 8G, 10G and higher bandwidth optical fiber links. Furthermore, the principles of the present invention can be implemented in optical (eg laser) transmitter/receivers of any form factor such as XFP, SFP and SFF without limitation. Having said that, the principles of the present invention are not at all limited to the optical transceiver environment.

Optical transceiver 100 utilizes receiver 101 to receive an optical signal from optical fiber 110A. The receiver 101 functions as a photoelectric converter by converting an optical signal into an electrical signal. The receiver 101 provides the resulting electrical signal to the post amplifier 102 . The post-amplifier 102 amplifies the signal and provides the amplified signal to the external host 111, as indicated by arrow 102A. External host 111 may be any computing system capable of communicating with optical transceiver 100 . External host 111 may contain host memory 112, which may be a volatile or non-volatile memory source. In one embodiment, the optical transceiver 100 may be a printed circuit board or other component/chip in the host 111, although this is not required. Optical transceiver 100 may also receive electrical signals from host 111 for transmission onto optical fiber 110B. Specifically, laser driver 103 receives an electrical signal, as shown by arrow 103A, and drives emitter 104 (such as a laser or light emitting diode (LED)) with a signal that causes emitter 104 to represent the electrical signal provided by host 111. An optical signal of the information in the signal is launched onto optical fiber 110B. Thus, the emitter 104 acts as an electrical-to-optical converter.

The behavior of receiver 101, post amplifier 102, laser driver 103, and transmitter 104 can change dynamically depending on a variety of factors. For example, temperature changes, power fluctuations, and feedback conditions can each affect the performance of these components. Accordingly, the optical transceiver 100 includes a control module 105 that can evaluate temperature and voltage conditions, as well as other operating conditions, and receive information. This allows the control module 105 to optimize dynamically changing performance and additionally detect when there is a loss of signal.

Specifically, control module 105 may counteract these variations by adjusting settings on post amplifier 102 and/or laser driver 103 (also indicated by arrows 105A and 105B). These setting adjustments are very intermittent because they are only made when temperature or voltage or other low frequency changes make it necessary. Received power is an example of such a low frequency variation.

The control module 105 has access to a persistent storage 106 which, in one embodiment, is an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The persistent storage 106 and the control module 105 may be packaged together in the same package or in different packages without limitation. Persistent storage 106 may also be any other source of non-volatile storage.

The control module 105 includes an analog part 108 and a digital part 109 . Together they allow the control module to implement the logic digitally, while still primarily utilizing analog signals to interface with the rest of the optical transceiver 100 . FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example 200 of the control module 105 in more detail. Control module 200 includes analog portion 200A, which represents an example of analog portion 108 in FIG. 1 , and digital portion 200B, which represents an example of digital portion 109 in FIG. 1 .

For example, analog portion 200A may contain digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, high-speed comparators (eg, for event detection), voltage-based reset generators, voltage regulators, voltage references, clock generators, and other analog components. For example, analog portion 200A includes sensors 211A, 211B, 211C, in addition to potentially other components represented by horizontal ellipses 211D. Each of these sensors may be responsible for measuring operational parameters measurable from the control module 200 , such as supply voltage and transceiver temperature. The control module can also receive external analog or digital signals from other components within the optical transceiver that indicate other measured parameters such as laser bias current, transmit power, receive power, laser wavelength, laser temperature, and thermoelectric cooler (TEC) current. Two external lines 212A and 212B are illustrated for receiving such external analog signals, although there may be many such lines.

An internal sensor can generate an analog signal representing the measured value. In addition, the externally supplied signal may also be an analog signal. In this case, the analog signal is converted into a digital signal, which can be used in the digital part 200B of the control module 200 for further processing. Of course, each analog parameter value can have its own analog-to-digital converter (ADC). However, to preserve chip space, a single ADC, such as the illustrated ADC 214, may be utilized to periodically sample each signal in a round-robin fashion. In this case, each analog value may be provided to a multiplexer 213, which selects the analog signals one at a time in a round-robin fashion for sampling by the ADC 214. Alternatively, multiplexer 213 may be programmed to allow analog signals to be sampled by ADC 214 in any order.

As previously mentioned, the analog portion 200A of the control module 200 may also include other analog components 215, such as digital-to-analog converters, other analog-to-digital converters, high-speed comparators (eg, for event detection), voltage-based reset generators, voltage regulators, voltage references, clock generators, and other analog components.

The digital portion 200B of the control module 200 may include a timer module 202 that provides various timing signals used by the digital portion 200B. Such timing signals may include, for example, a programmable processor clock signal. The timer module 202 can also serve as a watchdog timer.

Also included are two general purpose processors 203A and 203B. Processors recognize instructions that follow a specific instruction set, and can perform standard general-purpose operations such as shifts, branches, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Boolean operations, comparison operations, and more. In one embodiment, general purpose processors 203A and 203B are both 16-bit processors, and may be constructed identically. The precise structure of the instruction set is not critical to the principles of the invention, since the instruction set can be optimized for a particular hardware environment, and the exact hardware environment is not critical to the principles of the invention.

The host communication interface 204 is used to communicate with the host 111, and can utilize a two-wire interface, such as I ² C shown as a serial data (SDA) line and a serial clock (SCL) line on the optical transceiver 100 in FIG. 1 , To implement the host communication interface 204. Other host communication interfaces may also be implemented. Data may be provided from the control module 105 to the host 111 using the host communication interface to allow digital diagnostics and reading of temperature levels, transmit/receive power levels, and the like. The external device interface 205 is used to communicate with other modules in the optical transceiver 100 such as the post-amplifier 102 , the laser driver 103 or the permanent storage 106 , for example.

Internal controller system memory 206 (not to be confused with external persistent memory 106 ) may be random access memory (RAM) or non-volatile memory. Memory controller 207 causes each of processors 203A and 203B, as well as host communication interface 204 and external device interface 205 to share access to controller system memory 206 . In one embodiment, the host communication interface 204 includes a serial interface controller 201A, and the external device interface 205 includes a serial interface controller 201B. The two serial interface controllers 201A and 201B can communicate using a two-wire interface such as I ² C or another interface as long as the other interface can be recognized by both communication modules. One serial interface controller (such as serial interface controller 201B) is a master component, and the other serial interface controller (such as serial interface controller 201A) is a slave component.

The input/output multiplexer 208 multiplexes various input/output pins of the controller module 200 to various components within the controller module 200 . This enables different components to dynamically assign pins based on the existing operation of the controller module 200 . Therefore, there may be more input/output nodes within the controller module 200 than there are available pins on the controller module 200 , thereby reducing the footprint of the controller module 200 .

Having described the specific environment with respect to Figures 1 and 2, it should be understood that this specific environment is but one of countless architectures in which the principles of the invention may be employed. As previously stated, the principles of the present invention are not intended to be limited to any particular environment.

Accordingly, the principles of the present invention relate to an optical transceiver that, based on input from a host computing system, custom-logs operational information to possible logging locations, and optionally performs one or more actions while logging . Custom logging allows the user to specify which run information to log, to what storage location the information is logged, and whether to run actions when logging. The user sends input from the host, indicating what logging task is desired. The optical transceiver responds to this input by performing the recording task specified by the input.

Referring to FIG. 3 , it shows a flow chart of a method 300 for customizing and recording operation information of an optical transceiver. The method may be performed by the optical transceiver environment described with respect to Figures 1 and 2 or by other environments. First, the optical transceiver executes microcode in system memory (act 301). This microcode can be loaded into system memory from the host. Alternatively, the microcode can also be loaded from the host into persistent storage and then into system memory.

The microcode may contain various inputs from the host indicating desired recording tasks. For example, the input may be a record type identifier 310, which identifies what operational information is to be recorded. For example, a user may wish to log only optical transceiver temperature information, or a user may wish to log all operational information. Alternatively, the input may be a recording location identifier 311, which identifies the storage location where the recording information is stored. A user may wish to log to one storage location or to multiple storage locations. Additionally, the input may also be an action identifier 312, which identifies an action that the optical transceiver may perform while recording. These three types of inputs can be included in microcode separately, in different combinations, or together. For example, a user may wish to log all operational information to two memory locations, but not perform any action while recording. In this case, the microcode would include record type identifier 310 and record location identifier 311 but not action identifier 312 . As will be appreciated, different combinations of the inputs yield great flexibility in controlling various recording tasks.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the optical transceiver 100 executes microcode received from a host. Specifically, processors 203A and 203B load microcode from the host into controller system memory 206 . Wherein the controller system memory may be RAM, and it may also be a processor, a register, a flip-flop or other storage devices. For example, processors 203A and 203B may be loaded with microcode provided by external host 111 and communicated to control module 105 through an ^I2C interface or other implemented host interface. For example, external host memory 112 may contain libraries with different microcode functions. The user can interact with the external host and select which microcode function to run based on the desired recording task. Alternatively, processor 203 may be loaded with microcode that has been previously sent from the host to persistent storage 106 . Additionally, external host 111 may be connected to the Internet or some other wide area network, allowing processor 203 to obtain microcode from a remote source. This connection can be accomplished through any standard Internet or wide area network protocol.

Referring again to the method of FIG. 3, the executed microcode causes the optical transceiver to record information about the operation of the optical transceiver based on input received from the host (act 302). As mentioned above, the input identifies what recording task the optical transceiver is to perform.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 , processor 203 executes the microcode instructions such that the microcode forms or otherwise forms a functional recorder in system memory 206 . The functional recorder has access to various operating parameters of the optical transceiver, for example from ADC 214 or from external lines 212A and 212B.

The recorder determines which optical transceiver parameters to record based on custom input from the host, which may correspond to a record type identifier 310, as previously described. External host 111 may be equipped with a keyboard or other user interface that allows the user to indicate which operating parameters are to be recorded. For example, input from the host computer may indicate that all operating parameters are to be recorded. Alternatively, input from the host may indicate that only fluctuations in certain operating parameters, such as temperature, are to be recorded.

Loggers can also be instructed to log data based on processing results such as the current runtime. Loggers can also receive instructions that provide conditions as to when to log data. For example, logging conditions may specify that all data needs to be logged if persistent storage is greater than 40% full, or that specific operating parameters need to be logged if persistent storage is 20% full.

Run information that may be logged may include statistical information such as total run time, average run time between starts, total number of error conditions encountered, identification of one or more error conditions encountered, Classified by the number of error conditions encountered, the number of times the optical transceiver was activated, and so on. Operational information can also simply record the measured operating parameters and the approximate measurement time. Such operating parameters may include, for example, approximate laser wavelength, measured laser temperature, measured supply voltage, measured transceiver temperature, measured laser bias current, measured thermoelectric cooler (TEC) current, measured transmit power, received Power measurements, acceleration measurements, peak acceleration measurements, and more.

In addition to being configured to record specific operational information, optical transceiver 100 may also be configured to store some or all of the recorded information to one or more designated recording locations, such as host memory 112, persistent storage 106, or in Any other accessible recording location on or outside of transceiver 100. As noted above, the different storage locations are specified by custom inputs received from the host, which may correspond to record location identifiers 311 . For example, microcode from host 111 may instruct at least some portions of recorded data to be sent to host memory 112 for storage via SDA and SCL lines or other implemented host communication interface, thereby allowing a user to access and evaluate the information. Additionally, if host 111 is connected to the Internet or other wide area network, the recorded information can be uploaded from host memory 112 to a remote evaluation center using any standard Internet or network protocol. In this case, if an optical transceiver failure occurs, various log entries may be evaluated to determine the probable cause of the failure. For example, if an event is recorded indicating that the optical transceiver experienced a peak acceleration of 20 times greater than the acceleration of gravity (commonly denoted as "G's"), it can be inferred that the optical transceiver has been dropped.

In another embodiment, the optical transceiver 100 may be configured to send at least some portions of the recorded data to the optical transceiver persistent storage 106 . If the persistent memory 106 is a discrete module, such as an EEPROM module, the persistent memory 106 can be pulled out of the optical transceiver 100 to evaluate its memory content. Alternatively, persistent memory 106 may be evaluated without being removed from the optical transceiver if the optical transceiver has an external I/O interface that allows persistent memory 106 to be read.

In another embodiment, optical transceiver 100 may be configured to send all logged data to host memory 112 and transceiver persistent storage 106 . This will allow stored data to be retrieved and evaluated from either of the two memory sources and will create a backup should one of the memory sources fail. The control module 105 may also be configured to send all recorded data to the host memory 112 and part of the recorded data to the persistent storage 106 . For example, persistent storage 106 may be used to permanently store diagnostic information about optical transceiver 100 . Once the external host 111 is separated from the optical transceiver 100, this will allow analysis of possible causes of the optical transceiver failure. As can be appreciated, there are many combinations of recording positions that can be used, and the examples given are by no means exclusive.

In addition to determining what operational information to record and where to record the information, the optical transceiver 100 may also be configured to perform one or more actions based on input from the host corresponding to the action identifier 312 when the determined information is recorded. specified action. For example, microcode from host 111 may instruct that when certain information is recorded, control module 105 executes a self-test diagnostic routine for the type of information recorded. For example, if an abnormal laser temperature is detected, the laser temperature may be recorded and a corresponding laser self-test diagnostic may be performed. In this way, the cause of any corresponding errors or irregularities can be determined.

The control module 105 may also be configured to generate a status report or indication upon completion of certain recording operations, which may be polled by the host computer 111 , thereby allowing the user to access and evaluate information. This will give the host 111 a window into the operation of the optical transceiver 100 .

Another example of an action that can be performed is "microcode segment paging". "Microcode segment paging" is defined as the act of transferring microcode segments back and forth between an external host and the transceiver when circumstances make this necessary.

When a particular logging event occurs, host 111 may be instructed to page microcode segments in response to the logging event. For example, if the above-mentioned self-test diagnostics are too large to reside in controller system memory 206 or persistent storage 106, the host 111 can be instructed to communicate via the SDA and SCL lines or Other host communication interfaces send microcode segments to control module 105 that perform self-test diagnostics. The control module 105 may then execute the microcode received from the host 111 .

Specifically, processor 203 loads microcode from host 111 into controller system memory 206 . Alternatively, if host 111 initially sent the microcode to persistent storage 106 , processor 203 may load the microcode stored in persistent storage 106 into controller system memory 206 . Processor 203 executes the microcode, causing transceiver 100 to perform specified diagnostics.

Once the microcode has been executed, the controller system memory 206 may send the microcode back to the host memory 112 if circumstances so require. For example, keeping a self-test diagnostic program in controller system memory 206 or persistent storage 106 after it has been run would waste valuable transceiver 100 memory, especially if the program is only run when a specific error occurs case. The transceiver 100 may be configured to recognize the end of the self-test diagnostic procedure. When the end of the process is recognized, controller system memory 206 may send the microcode to host memory 112 over an ^I2C interface or other implemented host interface. Alternatively, host 111 may be configured to send microcode to host memory 112 . This process can also be applied to other microcodes.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the environment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 . Assume that the controller system memory 206 is executing microcode configured to perform transceiver operating functions at operating temperatures between 70°C and 80°C. With the present invention, a logging type identifier can be assigned on the host computer 111 to begin logging operating temperature information when the operating temperature drops below 70°C. Along with the particular record type identifier, a storage location, such as a particular memory location in persistent storage 106, may be specified. Actions to be performed may also be specified by the host computer 111 corresponding to the recorded event, such as performing a self-test of the temperature controller. This information can then be input by the optical transceiver 100 .

As previously mentioned, the control module analog portion 200A includes sensors 211, one of which may be a temperature sensor. Assume the operating temperature drops below 70°C. The temperature sensor will detect this and the sensor 211 will send an analog signal representing the temperature to the ADC 124 through the multiplexer 213. The ADC 214 converts the analog signal to a digital signal and sends it to the processor 203 .

Based on the digitized input from the sensor, the processor 203 will determine that the operating temperature has dropped below 70° C. and cause the controller 207 to continue to receive operating temperature information through the sensor 211 and record the operating temperature, starting with the location downloaded from the host computer 111 location, which is stored in persistent storage. If a self-test action has been specified, the processor 203 will also execute code to perform the self-test procedure. When instructed to do so, host computer 111 may obtain this information from processor 203 via an ^I2C interface or other implemented host interface when the self-test routine is complete.

In some embodiments, the control module 105 may include one or more default configurations that instruct the control module to perform the various recording functions previously described without input from the host 111 . In such embodiments, the default configuration may be determined when transceiver 100 is manufactured. Microcode may be executed by the control module 105, which results in logging operations specified by the default configuration. If necessary, the user can also instruct the host 111 to change the default configuration.

The principles of the present invention provide optical transceivers with numerous advantages over existing transceivers. In particular, the invention allows direct user control of the recording process. For example, the user is able to select which transceiver parameters to measure and where to store the logged information based on the microcode executed by the logger. This provides flexibility to the user in handling the recorded information. Therefore, the user can also easily evaluate the recorded data. In some embodiments, the Internet or other wide area network may be utilized to remotely control the recording process and remotely evaluate the recording information. In another embodiment, the user may instruct some logging information to be stored both in the host memory and in the transceiver persistent memory. This creates a redundant backup which ensures that the stored data is protected in the event of failure of one of the two memories.

Additionally, the present invention allows a user to specify one or more actions to be performed when information is recorded. For example, in one embodiment, a user may instruct that when certain information is logged, the control module executes a self-test diagnostic routine specific to the type of information logged. This allows for easier determination of errors and their underlying causes. In another embodiment, the user may direct microcode paging outside the transceiver to be performed. In this way, only microcode that is more likely to be used is loaded into transceiver system memory. This allows a large number of microcode segments to be implemented with a small amount of transceiver system memory. Thus, the principles of the present invention represent a significant advance in the field of optical transceivers.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced within the scope of these claims.

Claims (20)

1. one kind is coupled in communication and is used for the method for optical transceiver record about the information of its running environment in the optical transceiver of host computing system, and described optical transceiver comprises system storage and at least one processor, and described method comprises:

Execution is from the action of the microcode of described system storage, wherein said microcode is configured to when being carried out by described at least one processor, make described optical transceiver based on from one of the input of described host computing system or default configuration, write down information about the running environment of described optical transceiver.

2. according to the method for claim 1, wherein the described input from described host computing system comprises record type identifier, which optical transceiver information it identifies will be recorded, and the action of the described microcode of wherein said execution makes below the described optical transceiver execution:

Determine the action of the operation information that will be recorded based on described record type identifier.

3. according to the method for claim 1, wherein the described input from described host computing system comprises log location identification, at least one memory location of the described information that will be recorded of its sign storage, and the action of the described microcode of wherein said execution makes below the described optical transceiver execution:

The described operation information that will be recorded stores the action in described at least one memory location specified in the described log location identification into.

4. according to the method for claim 1, wherein the described input from described host computing system comprises action identifier, at least one action that its sign will be performed when described information is recorded, wherein said microcode is configured to when being carried out by described at least one processor, described microcode makes described optical transceiver when the described operation information that will be recorded of record, carries out described at least one action specified in described action identifier.

5. according to the method for claim 2, wherein said record type identifier identifies the total run time of described optical transceiver, the number of times that described optical transceiver is activated, average operating time between the startup, the sum of the error situation that runs into, the sign of the one or more error situations that run into, the classification of the number of the error situation that runs into being carried out at a plurality of different type of errors, the laser wavelength approximation, the laser temperature measured value, the supply voltage measured value, the transceiver temperature measured value, the laser bias current measured value, the TEC current measurement value, the transmitting power measured value, one or more in received power measured value and the acceleration measurement.

6. according to the method for claim 3, wherein said log location identification identifies the permanent memory on the transceiver.

7. according to the method for claim 3, wherein said log location identification identifies the memory of described host computing system.

8. according to the method for claim 3, wherein said log location identification sign utilizes procotol to be coupled to the remote evaluation center of described host computing system.

9. according to the method for claim 4, wherein said action identifier identifies the optical transceiver self-diagnostic test.

10. according to the method for claim 4, wherein said action identifier identification microcode section paging is operated.

11. an optical transceiver comprises following:

At least one processor; And

Be configured to hold the system storage of microcode;

Wherein said at least one processor is configured to carry out described microcode in described system storage, described microcode is configured to when being performed, make described optical transceiver based on from one of the input of the host computing system that is coupled to optical transceiver environment or default configuration, write down information about the running environment of described optical transceiver.

12. optical transceiver according to claim 11, wherein the described input from described host computing system comprises record type identifier, which optical transceiver information it identifies will be recorded, and wherein said microcode is configured to make described optical transceiver determine the operation information that will be recorded based on described record type identifier when being carried out by described at least one processor.

13. optical transceiver according to claim 11, wherein the described input from described host computing system comprises log location identification, at least one memory location of the described information that will be recorded of its sign storage, and wherein said microcode is configured to when being carried out by described at least one processor, and the described operation information that makes described optical transceiver to be recorded stores in described at least one memory location specified in the described log location identification.

14. optical transceiver according to claim 11, wherein the described input from described host computing system comprises action identifier, at least one action that its sign will be performed when described information is recorded, and wherein said microcode is configured to when being carried out by described at least one processor, make described optical transceiver when the described operation information that will be recorded of record, carry out described at least one action specified in described action identifier.

15. according to the optical transceiver of claim 12, wherein said record type identifier identifies the total run time of described optical transceiver, the number of times that described optical transceiver is activated, average operating time between the startup, the sum of the error situation that runs into, the sign of the one or more error situations that run into, the classification of the number of the error situation that runs into being carried out at a plurality of different type of errors, the laser wavelength approximation, the laser temperature measured value, the supply voltage measured value, the transceiver temperature measured value, the laser bias current measured value, the TEC current measurement value, the transmitting power measured value, one or more in received power measured value and the acceleration measurement.

16. according to the optical transceiver of claim 13, the permanent memory on the wherein said log location identification sign transceiver, the memory of described host computing system or utilize procotol to be coupled to one or more in the remote evaluation center of described host computing system.

17. according to the optical transceiver of claim 14, one or more in wherein said action identifier sign optical transceiver self-diagnostic test and the microcode section paging.

18. according to the optical transceiver of claim 11, wherein said optical transceiver is one of in 1G laser transceiver, 2G laser transceiver, 4G laser transceiver, 8G laser transceiver or the 10G laser transceiver.

19. according to the optical transceiver of claim 11, wherein said optical transceiver is the laser transceiver that is fit to greater than the optical fiber link of 10G.

20. according to the optical transceiver of claim 11, wherein said optical transceiver is one of XFP laser transceiver, SFP laser transceiver or SFF laser transceiver.

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