Richard E Downs

US Patent:

7283743, Oct 16, 2007

Filed:

Jan 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/350338

Inventors:

Bret Allen Matz - Mechanicsburg PA, US
Michael S. Cohen - Enola PA, US
Richard Charles Downs - Elizabethtown PA, US

Assignee:

NeSTRONIX, Inc. - Chantilly VA

International Classification:

H04B 10/08
H04B 17/00
H04K 1/00

US Classification:

398 25, 380256

Abstract:

Systems and methods for actively monitoring and managing the integrity of an optical fiber communications link. The optical fiber link integrity is monitored to guard against intrusions and other security breaches. In one embodiment, a local and a remote active monitoring system are coupled by four fiber paths that provide primary and back-up transmit and receive paths between communication equipment. In one embodiment, a security light signal is transmitted using a secondary wavelength that differs from the wavelength used to transmit a user data light signal and travels in an opposite direction relative to the user data light signal. An active monitoring system monitors both administrative information contained within the security light signal and the intensity of the security light signal to manage the integrity of the fiber optic link. Methods are provided to characterize events impacting the fiber optic link integrity.

US Patent:

20040037556, Feb 26, 2004

Filed:

Feb 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/372710

Inventors:

Bret Matz - Mechanicsburg PA, US
Michael Cohen - Enola PA, US
Richard Downs - Elizabethtown PA, US

International Classification:

H04B010/12

US Classification:

398/040000

Abstract:

Systems and methods for actively monitoring and managing the integrity of an optical fiber communications link. The optical fiber link integrity is monitored to guard against intrusions and other security breaches. In one embodiment, a local and a remote active monitoring system are coupled by four fiber paths that provide primary and back-up transmit and receive paths between communication equipment. In one embodiment, a security light signal is transmitted using a secondary wavelength that differs from the wavelength used to transmit a user data light signal and travels in an opposite direction relative to the user data light signal. An active monitoring system monitors both administrative information contained within the security light signal and the intensity of the security light signal to manage the integrity of the fiber optic link. Methods are provided to characterize events impacting the fiber optic link integrity.

US Patent:

58256180, Oct 20, 1998

Filed:

Feb 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/608737

Inventors:

William John Schnoor - Hummelstown PA
Bret Allen Matz - Mechanicsburg PA
Keith James McKechnie - Harrisburg PA
Richard Charles Downs - Elizabethtown PA

Assignee:

The Whitaker Corporation - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

H05K 500

US Classification:

361686

Abstract:

A hub for a communications network, a base hub (10), multiple communications ports (64) on the base hub (10), a motherboard (13) on which is mounted circuitry (62) for operation in a communications network, an expansion port opening (101) in the base hub (10), an interconnection board (42) in the base hub (10) carrying circuitry for operation in a communications network, the interconnection board (42) pointing toward the expansion port opening (101) for electrical connection to an expansion module (20) containing additional communication ports (64), and containing a mating interconnection board (121) for connection to the interconnection board (42) in the base hub (10).