Sycamore Networks, Inc.

Howard C Reeve, Iii

James T Francis, Jr

Douglas Edward Smith

A system and method is provided for using a first data channel to pass working data and a second data channel to pass error correction information. For example, this second data channel may be defined along a redundant data path. For example, this error correction information may be forwarded error correction (FEC) information such as Hamming code information or any other type of error correction information. Use of the redundant path to forward FEC information provides several advantages: 1) the FEC information can be used to correct bit errors that occur within the system, making the system high-quality and more reliable and 2) use of the protected path provides an efficient method to constantly monitor the quality of both the working and redundant path. Monitoring is accomplished by using the FEC information on the redundant path in conjunction with the information on the working path to accurately count the number of errors that occur on the working and redundant paths. Information provided by monitoring can then be used to diagnose problems on the working path, so that the problems can be fixed before there is a need for the communication system to switch over to the redundant path.

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North Andover, MA, United States of America

Howard C Reeve, Iii