System and method for communicating optical signals to multiple subscribers having various bandwidth demands connected to the same optical waveguide

• US 20070292133A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Solutions, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enablence USA Fttx Networks, Inc. (Enablence Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Farmer, James, Vella, Emmanuel, Whittlesey, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1682 Allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users, e.g. concentrated multiplexers, statistical multiplexers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/40 Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 Adaptations for optical transmission

Abstract

The present invention is generally drawn to optical network architecture that can include a multi-subscriber optical interface that can service a plurality of subscribers that are located in close proximity relative to one another. For example, the multi-subscriber optical interface can service multiple dwelling units such as an apartment complex that has many different subscribers to the optical network system. Further, the invention can also service subscribers over the same optical waveguide who may have different bandwidth needs, such as businesses, personal/home users and the like.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. An optical network system comprising:

a data service hub for producing downstream optical signals comprising video information;

at least one optical tap;

at least one multi-subscriber optical interface connected to the optical tap for servicing two or more subscribers, the multi-subscriber optical interface comprising an analog optical receiver for converting the downstream optical signals from the data service hub into downstream electrical signals destined for subscribers, an RF splitter for dividing the downstream electrical signals between at least two electrical waveguides, a service disconnect switch coupled to each electrical waveguide for controlling video service for respective subscribers, each multi-subscriber optical interface further comprising a processor and a first routing device for managing upstream and downstream electrical signals, and the first routing device using a first look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals;

a laser transceiver node disposed between and coupled to the data service hub and the optical tap, for communicating optical signals between the data service hub and the optical tap, the laser transceiver node comprising a second routing device for apportioning bandwidth in an electrical domain between subscribers of the optical network system and using a second look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals, and

one or more optical waveguides connected between that at least one optical tap, the laser transceiver node, and the least one multi-subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and the downstream optical signals, whereby optical bandwidth for subscribers is controllable by at least one of the laser transceiver node and multi-subscriber optical interface in response to subscriber demand.

44. The optical network system of claim 43, further comprising a tilt network for increasing signal strength across a frequency range suitable for coaxial cable transmissions.

45. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein the multi-subscriber optical interface further comprises an RF return path.

46. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein the laser transceiver node comprises passive cooling devices in order to operate in a temperature range between -40 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius.

47. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein the laser transceiver node is mountable on a strand in an overhead plant environment.

48. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein the laser transceiver node is housed within a pedestal in an underground plant environment.

49. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein a distance between the laser transceiver node and the data service hub comprises a range between zero and eighty kilometers.

50. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein the laser transceiver node comprises at least one optical transmitter, each optical transmitter comprises one of a Fabry-Perot laser, a distributed feedback laser, and a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL).

51. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein one of the protocols comprises a time division multiple access protocol.

52. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein data bit rates for the upstream and downstream optical signals are substantially symmetrical.

53. The optical network system of claim 43, wherein each optical tap comprises at least one optical splitter.

54. An optical network system comprising:

a data service hub for producing downstream optical signals comprising video information;

at least one optical tap;

a least one single-subscriber optical interface connected to the optical tap for servicing a subscriber;

at least one multi-subscriber optical interface connected to the optical tap for servicing two or more subscribers, the multi-subscriber optical interface comprising an analog optical receiver for converting the downstream optical signals from the data service hub into downstream electrical signals destined for subscribers, a tilt network coupled to the analog optical receiver for increasing signal strength across a frequency range suitable for coaxial cable transmissions, an RF splitter coupled to the tilt network for dividing the downstream electrical signals between at least two electrical waveguides, each multi-subscriber optical interface further comprising a processor and a first routing device for managing upstream and downstream electrical signals, and the first routing device using a first look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals;

a laser transceiver node disposed between the data service hub and the optical tap, for communicating optical signals between the data service hub and the optical tap, and the laser transceiver node comprising a second routing device for apportioning bandwidth in an electrical domain between subscribers of the optical network system and using a second look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals, and

one or more optical waveguides connected between respective optical taps, the laser transceiver node, the at least one single-subscriber optical interface, and the at least one multi-subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and the downstream optical signals, whereby optical bandwidth for subscribers is controllable by one of a laser transceiver node and the at least one multi-subscriber optical interface in response to subscriber demand.

55. The optical network system of claim 54, wherein the multi-subscriber optical interface comprises a service disconnect switch coupled to each electrical waveguide for controlling video service for respective subscribers.

56. The optical network system of claim 54, wherein the multi-subscriber optical interface further comprises an RF return path.

57. The optical network system of claim 54, wherein the at least one optical tap comprises an optical splitter.

58. The optical network system of claim 54, wherein the at least one optical tap services a particular group of subscribers and is connected to another optical tap.

59. An optical network system comprising:

a data service hub for producing downstream optical signals comprising video information;

at least one optical tap;

at least one multi-subscriber optical interface connected to the optical tap for servicing two or more subscribers, the at least one multi-subscriber optical interface comprising an analog optical receiver for converting the downstream optical signals from the data service hub into downstream electrical signals destined for subscribers, an RF splitter for dividing the downstream electrical signals between at least two electrical waveguides, each multi-subscriber optical interface further comprising a processor and a first routing device for managing upstream and downstream electrical signals, and the first routing device using a first look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals;

a laser transceiver node disposed between the data service hub and the optical tap, for communicating optical signals between the data service hub and the optical tap, and the laser transceiver node comprising a second routing device for apportioning bandwidth in an electrical domain between subscribers of the optical network system and using a second look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals, and

one or more optical waveguides connected between respective optical taps and the laser transceiver node, and the at least one multi-subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and the downstream optical signals, whereby optical bandwidth for subscribers is controllable by one of the laser transceiver node and a multi-subscriber optical interface in response to subscriber demand.

60. The optical network system of claim 59, the multi-subscriber optical interface comprising a tilt network coupled to the analog optical receiver and RF splitter for increasing signal strength across a frequency range suitable for coaxial cable transmissions.

61. The optical network system of claim 59, wherein the multi-subscriber optical interface comprises a service disconnect switch coupled to each electrical waveguide for controlling video service for respective subscribers.

62. The optical network system of claim 59, wherein the multi-subscriber optical interface comprises an RF return path that includes at least one of a diplexer and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter.