Fault analysis and monitoring applications using out-of-band based modules

Abstract

One example embodiment includes a testing device. The testing device comprises a signal reception element, an out-of-band detector and testing logic. The signal reception element is configured to receive a physical layer signal from a communication module via a physical link and to produce an incoming double modulated signal, the incoming double modulated signal including a high-speed data signal and an out-of-band data signal. The out-of-band data signal comprises diagnostic data of the communication module. The out-of-band detector is coupled to the signal reception element and is configured to extract the out-of-band data signal from the incoming double modulated signal. The testing logic is coupled to the out-of-band detector and is configured to extract and analyze the diagnostic data from the out-of-band data signal.

1 . A testing device, comprising:
 a signal reception element configured to receive a physical layer signal from a communication module via a physical link and to produce an incoming double modulated signal, the incoming double modulated signal including a high-speed data signal and an out-of-band data signal, the out-of-band data signal comprising diagnostic data of the communication module;   an out-of-band detector that is coupled to the signal reception element and is configured to extract the out-of-band data signal from the incoming double modulated signal; and   testing logic that is coupled to the out-of-band detector and is configured to extract and analyze the diagnostic data from the out-of-band data signal.   
   
   
       2 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication module comprises a first communication module, the testing device further comprising a second communication module that includes the signal reception element and the out-of-band detector. 
   
   
       3 . The testing device of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second communication modules each comprise an optoelectronic transceiver or an optoelectronic transponder. 
   
   
       4 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the testing device further comprises a rover. 
   
   
       5 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the testing device further comprises an analyzer. 
   
   
       6 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the testing device further comprises a probe. 
   
   
       7 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the signal reception element comprises an optical detector. 
   
   
       8 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the testing logic is further configured to identify one or more physical conditions of the physical link using the diagnostic data. 
   
   
       9 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic data includes one or more of: a temperature of the communication module, a supply voltage of the communication module, a bias current of an optical transmitted included in the communication module, a receive power of an optical detector included in the communication module, an error indicator for the communication module, or a power on time for the communication module. 
   
   
       10 . The testing device of  claim 1 , wherein the diagnostic data comprises first diagnostic data, the out-of-band data signal further comprising second diagnostic data that includes one or more of a control signal from a host to which the communication module is coupled or a firmware update. 
   
   
       11 . A system for collecting physical layer data for a physical link, the system comprising
 a first communication module configured to emit a physical layer signal onto a first physical link for reception by a second communication module, the physical layer signal comprising a double modulated signal modulated with a high-speed data signal and an out-of-band data signal, the out-of-band data signal comprising diagnostic data of the first communication module; and   means for receiving the physical layer signal, the means for receiving being coupled to the first physical link;   means for extracting the out-of-band data signal from the physical layer signal, the means for extracting being coupled to the means for receiving; and   means for extracting and analyzing the diagnostic data from the out-of-band data signal to identify one or more physical conditions of the first physical link, the means for extracting and analyzing being coupled to the means for extracting.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a tap coupled between the first physical link and the means for receiving, the tap configured to split a percentage of the double modulated physical layer signal from the first physical link to direct to the means for receiving. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the means for receiving comprises an optical detector. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for extracting comprises an out-of-band detector. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for extracting and analyzing comprises one or more of: testing logic, a processor, a microprocessor, a controller, or a microcontroller. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the means for receiving, means for extracting, and means for extracting and analyzing are included in one or more of: a rover, a probe, an analyzer, or a diagnostic module. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a rover configured to rove a plurality of physical links including the first physical link such that the means for receiving receives each of a plurality of physical layer signals transmitted on the plurality of physical links, the means for extracting extracts an out-of-band data signal from each of the physical layer signals, and the means for extracting and analyzing extracts and analyzes diagnostic data from each of the out-of-band data signals to identify one or more physical conditions of each of the plurality of physical links. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a probe coupled to the means for receiving. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising an analyzer coupled to the means for extracting and analyzing. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a repeater that includes the first communication module, the repeater comprising:
 a receiver adapted to receive a data signal;   a signal processor coupled to the receiver, the signal processor being adapted to perform processing tasks on the data signal;   a transmitter coupled to the signal processor, the transmitter adapted to receive the data signal from the processor and to transmit the data signal; and   out-of-band logic coupled to the signal processor, the out-of-band logic configured to:
 extract out-of-band data from the data signal, wherein the out-of-band data includes diagnostic data from at least one remote repeater; 
 concatenate data corresponding to diagnostic data for the repeater to the out-of-band data such that the out-of-band data includes the diagnostic data for the repeater and the at least one remote repeater; and 
 insert the out-of-band data including the data corresponding to diagnostic data for the repeater and the at least one remote repeater onto the data signal; 
   wherein:
 the means for receiving is further configured to receive the data signal; 
 the means for extracting is further configured to extract the out-of-band data from the data signal; and 
 the means for extracting and analyzing is further configured to extract and analyze the diagnostic data for the repeater and the at least one remote repeater from the out-of-band data to identify one or more physical conditions of a physical link between the repeater and the at least one repeater.