A system and method for identifying one or more characteristics of an optical
signal,
in which a transmitter is operable to transmit an optical signal and a receiving
unit is operable to receive the optical signal. The transmitter has a laser for
generating the optical signal and an encoding unit adapted to control the laser
to activate and deactivate the optical signal during a laser shutdown state based
on a predetermined code. The receiving unit has an optical receiver optically coupled
to the transmitter by a light transmission medium and is operable to receive the
optical signal from the transmitter. The receiving unit also has a decoder measuring
at least one of an active time of the optical signal and the inactive time between
active times of the optical signal. The decoder determines at least one of the
one or more characteristics of the optical system based on at least one of the
active time or the inactive time.
