Fiber optic cable with radio frequency identification devices

Abstract

A loop back connector and methods for testing lines in a fiber optic network are disclosed. The loop back connector includes a ferrule having an interface side constructed for optical connection to a multifiber optical cable. The loop back connector also includes first and second optical loop back paths, each having first and second terminal ends positioned at the interface side. The terminal ends of each loop back path are adapted to be aligned to fibers in the multifiber optical cable. The method includes injecting a signal on a first optical path at a first location, looping back the signal at a second location onto a second optical path, and receiving the signal on the second optical path at the first location.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A fiber optic cable comprising:
 a main cable having a first end and an oppositely disposed second end, the main cable defining a plurality of breakout locations intermittently disposed between the first and second ends; and   a plurality of radio frequency identification devices positioned at the breakout locations.   
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 18 , wherein the main cable includes an over-mold formed at each breakout location, and wherein the radio frequency identification devices are embedded at the over-molds. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 18 , wherein a plurality of factory integrated terminations are provided at the breakout locations, and wherein the radio frequency identification devices are coupled to the factory integrated terminations. 
     
     
         21 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 20 , wherein an over-mold is formed around a portion of each factory integrated termination. 
     
     
         22 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 20 , wherein the factory integrated terminations include connectors. 
     
     
         23 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 22 , wherein the factory integrated terminations include MT connectors. 
     
     
         24 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 20 , wherein the factory integrated terminations include receptacles. 
     
     
         25 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 18 , wherein the radio frequency identification devices are encoded with information about the breakout locations. 
     
     
         26 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 25 , wherein the radio frequency identification devices store information pertaining to geographical locations of the breakout locations. 
     
     
         27 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 25 , wherein the radio frequency identification devices store information pertaining to subscribers connected to the breakout locations. 
     
     
         28 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 18 , wherein the radio frequency identification devices include passive RFID tags. 
     
     
         29 . The fiber optic cable of  claim 18 , wherein the radio frequency identification devices include active RFID tags.