Network interface device for optical premises signals and networks

• US 10,057,668 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rollins, William E., Forbes, Eric S., Mallya, Arvind Ramdas
• Primary Examiner(s): Woldekidan, Hibret
• Application Number:
  US15/075,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20160205452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 398 66- 72, 398115-117
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2581 Multimode transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/808 Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0071 Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface

Abstract

A network interface device (NID) demarcates an access network and a premises network. The NID receives a broadband signal via an access network and transmits optical device signals to pieces of premises equipment. The broadband signal may be a single-mode fiber (SMF) optical signal transmitted over an SMF cable. In these embodiments, the NID may include a transponder including a first stage to convert the SMF signal to an intermediate electrical signal and a second stage to convert the intermediate electrical signal to a premises optical signal. In other embodiments, the broadband signal may be a very high bit rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) or other type of electrical signal and the NID'"'"'s transponder may convert the VDSL signal to the premises optical signal. The NID may further include a multiplexer to multiplex the premises optical signal into the optical device signals for delivery to premises devices via corresponding premises device ports and plastic optical fiber cables.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

an access network adapter for receiving a premises specific broadband signal from a multiplexer of an access network node, wherein the premises specific broadband signal includes at least one of;

voice information specific to a first subscriber premises and data information specific to the first subscriber premises;

an optical transponder in communication with the access network adapter, wherein the optical transponder is configured to receive the premises specific broadband signal, convert the premises specific optical signal to an intermediate electrical signal, and convert the intermediate electrical signal to the premises optical signal;

a de-multiplexer in communication with the optical transponder, wherein the de-multiplexer is configured to separate the premises optical signal into a plurality of device optical signals, wherein the plurality of device optical signals includes a voice optical signal including voice content, a video optical signal including video content, and a data optical signal including data content; and

a premises network adapter including a plurality of premises network ports, wherein each premises network port is configured for coupling one of the plurality of device optical signals from the de-multiplexer to a premises fiber connecting a premises device installed at the customer premises.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the premises specific broadband signal includes voice information specific to the premises and data information specific to the premises.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the premises specific broadband signal is a single-mode fiber optical signal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a wavelength of the single-mode fiber optical signal is a 1310 nm.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the de-multiplexer employs code division de-multiplexing to generate the plurality of device optical signals.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the premises optical fiber comprises a 650 nm plastic optical fiber.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the premises specific broadband signal is an electrical broadband signal.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a battery backup unit configured to provide backup power for a predetermined duration in an event of an interruption of power supplied to the premises.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, via an access network adapter, a premises specific broadband signal from a multiplexer of an access network node, wherein the premises specific broadband signal includes at least one of;

voice information specific to a first subscriber premises and data information specific to the first subscriber premises;

receiving, via an optical transponder in communication with the access network adapter, the premises specific broadband signal, convert the premises specific broadband signal to an intermediate electrical signal, and converting the intermediate electrical signal to the premises optical signal;

de-multiplexing, by a de-multiplexer in communication with the optical transponder, the premises optical signal into a plurality of device optical signals, wherein the plurality of device optical signals includes a voice optical signal including voice content, a video optical signal including video content, and a data optical signal including data content; and

coupling, via a plurality of premises network ports of a premises network adapter, each of the plurality of device optical signals from the de-multiplexer to a corresponding premises fiber coupling a premises device installed at the customer premises.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the premises specific broadband signal is selected from:

a fiber optical signal and a digital subscriber line signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the premises specific broadband signal is a single-mode fiber optical signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a wavelength of the single-mode fiber optical signal is a 1310 nm.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a wavelength of the premises specific broadband signal and a wavelength of premises optical signal are different.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the de-multiplexing of the premises optical signal further comprises:

a code division de-multiplexing to generate the plurality of device optical signals.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the coupling of the device optical signals to the corresponding subscribers devices comprises providing the device optical signals via corresponding premises fibers, wherein the premises fibers comprise plastic optical fiber.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the premises fiber comprises a 650 nm plastic optical fiber.

17. A system, comprising:

a processing system including a processor;

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising;

receiving, via an access network adapter, a premises specific broadband signal from a multiplexer of an access network node, wherein the premises specific broadband signal includes at least one of;

voice information specific to a first subscriber premises and data information specific to the first subscriber premises;

receiving, via an optical transponder in communication with the access network adapter, the premises specific broadband signal, convert the premises specific broadband signal to an intermediate electrical signal, and converting the intermediate electrical signal to the premises optical signal;

de-multiplexing, by a de-multiplexer in communication with the optical transponder, the premises optical signal into a plurality of device optical signals, wherein the plurality of device optical signals includes a voice optical signal including voice content, a video optical signal including video content, and a data optical signal including data content; and

coupling, via a plurality of premises network ports of a premises network adapter, each of the plurality of device optical signals from the de-multiplexer to a corresponding premises fiber coupling a premises device installed at the customer premises.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the premises specific broadband signal comprises a single-mode fiber optical signal and wherein a wavelength of the single-mode fiber optical signal is a 1310 nm.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein a wavelength of the premises specific broadband signal and a wavelength of the premises optical signal are different.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein providing the device optical signals to corresponding subscriber devices comprises providing the device optical signals to the corresponding subscriber devices via corresponding premises fibers, wherein each of the premises fiber comprises a 650 nm plastic optical fiber.