Abstract
An optical switching system and method. The method includes tapping a first portion of an incoming data beam from an incoming source; and transferring the incoming data beam from the incoming source to a first path provided by a first MEMS based switching fabric. The method also transfers a monitoring source to monitor a second path of provided by second MEMS based switch fabric, while the second path of the second MEMS based switch fabric is in a stand by mode. A step of tapping a second portion of an outgoing data beam provided by the first MEMS based switching fabric is also included. The method determines if a process condition of the first path by at least the second portion of the outgoing data beam.
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