FIBER TO THE CURB AND FIBER TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD POWER ARCHITECTURE

• US 20030123648A1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: PHILLIPS, BRUCE A., FINK, RICHARD H., FERRY, ROBERT C., GODBY, JIMMY G., ASHTON, CURTIS L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

A system and method of powering a fiber optic communication network are provided which transmits communication data between a telephone company central office and remote user device. The system includes a power source configured to provide an electrical supply voltage to a digital subscriber line access multiplexer. The power source having an AC power feed for providing power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a DC power feed for providing power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer when the AC power feed is not supplying power. Further, an electrical conducting medium configured to conduct the electrical supply voltage and the communication data from the digital subscriber line access multiplexer to the remote user device is provided. Therefore, the present invention provides a system and method for reliably powering a fiber optic communication network with AC power under normal operating conditions and DC backup power when the AC power is interrupted, thus providing lifeline telephony service while, reducing maintenance costs by having a limited number of centralized remote power sites.

Claims

1. A system for powering a fiber optic communication network which transmits communication data between a telephone company central office and a remote user device, the system comprising:

a digital subscriber line access multiplexer for converting the communication data from a digital optical state to a digital electrical state;

a fiber optic communication medium configured to transfer the communication data between the telephone central office and the digital subscriber line access multiplexer;

a power source configured to supply an electrical supply voltage to power the digital subscriber line access multiplexer, the power source having an AC power feed for providing power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a DC power feed for providing power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer when the AC power feed is not supplying power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer; and

an electrical conducting medium configured to conduct the electrical supply voltage and the communication data from the digital subscriber line access multiplexer to a network interface device in electrical communication with the remote user device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a serving area interface configured to provide an access point to connect a plurality of communication signals from the digital subscriber line access multiplexer to the electrical conducting medium.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a digital loop carrier for providing a plurality of digital communication data to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is located proximate to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is remote from the digital subscriber line access multiplexer and supplies power to a plurality of digital subscriber line access multiplexers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is located proximate to the telephone company central office.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source is located proximate to a digital loop carrier.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user device is a telephone.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user device is a computer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote user device is a television.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a plurality of rectifiers, a plurality of converters, a plurality of current limiters, and a plurality of batteries configured to a supply DC voltage to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises an alarm system configured to monitor the operation of the power source and relay operation information to the telephone company central office.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of conducting mediums configured to connect the alarm system in the power source to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer for relaying power source operation information to the telephone company central office.

14. A method for powering a fiber optic communication network which transmits communication data between a telephone company central office and a user device, the method comprising:

converting communication data from an optical state to an electrical state using a digital subscriber line access multiplexer;

transferring the communication data between the telephone central office and the digital subscriber line access multiplexer;

transmitting an electrical supply voltage from a power source configured to supply an electrical supply voltage to power the digital subscriber line access multiplexer, the power source having an AC power feed for providing power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer and a DC power feed for providing power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer when the AC power feed is not supplying power to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer to the digital subscriber line access multiplexer; and

conducting the electrical supply voltage and the communication data from the digital subscriber line access multiplexer to a network interface device in electrical communication with the remote user device.