Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Ranging a Device in a Point-to-Multipoint Network

• US 20080292313A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: El Houmaidi, Mounire, Torab, Homayoun, Mahony, Glenn Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/753,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20080292313A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0226 Fixed carrier allocation, e.g. according to service
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0227 Operation, administration, maintenance or provisioning [OAMP] of WDM networks, e.g. media access, routing or wavelength allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0238 Wavelength allocation for communications one-to-many, e.g. multicasting wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0239 in WDM-PON sharing multiple downstream wavelengths for groups of optical network units [ONU], e.g. multicasting wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0247 Sharing one wavelength for at least a group of ONUs
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0252 Sharing one wavelength for at least a group of ONUs, e.g. for transmissions from-ONU-to-OLT or from-ONU-to-ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0282 WDM tree architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0298 with sub-carrier multiplexing [SCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0079 Operation or maintenance aspects

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for ranging a device in a point-to-multipoint network. According to embodiments, a method for ranging a device in a point-to-multipoint network is provided. According to the method, a device identifier representing a drop in the point-to-multipoint network where the device is installed is received. The device identifier is associated with the device. The device identifier and a unique identifier associated with the device are transmitted over the point-to-multipoint network to a central unit for ranging the device in the point-to-multipoint network.

Claims

1. A method for ranging a device in a point-to-multipoint network, comprising:

receiving a device identifier representing a drop in the point-to-multipoint network where the device is installed;

associating the device identifier with the device; and

transmitting the device identifier and a unique identifier associated with the device over the point-to-multipoint network to a central unit for ranging the device in the point-to-multipoint network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an optical network termination (ONT), wherein the point-to-multipoint network comprises a passive optical network (PON), and wherein the device identifier comprises an ONT identifier representing the drop in the PON where the ONT is installed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identifier is received from a plurality of dual inline package (DIP) switches associated with the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identifier is received from a user interface associated with the device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a total number of device identifiers is at least equal to a total number of devices in the point-to-multipoint network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device identifier and the unique identifier are transmitted over the point-to-multipoint network in an allocated time slot managed under a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the device identifier to an optical signal prior to transmitting the device identifier and the unique identifier over the point-to-multipoint network.

8. A system for ranging a device in a point-to-multipoint network, comprising:

a memory for storing a program containing code for ranging the device in the point-to-multipoint network, comprising;

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and operative to;

receive a device identifier representing a drop in the point-to-multipoint network where the device is installed;

associate the device identifier with the device; and

transmit the device identifier and a unique identifier associated with the device over the point-to-multipoint network to a central unit for ranging the device in the point-to-multipoint network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the device comprises an optical network termination (ONT), wherein the point-to-multipoint network comprises a passive optical network (PON), and wherein the device identifier comprises an ONT identifier representing the drop in the PON where the ONT is installed.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of dual inline package (DIP) switches associated with the device operative to provide the device identifier.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface associated with the device that is configured for a user to enter the device identifier.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein a total number of device identifiers is at least equal to a total number of devices in the point-to-multipoint network.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the device identifier and the unique identifier are transmitted over the point-to-multipoint network in an allocated time slot managed under a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol.

14. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for ranging a device in a point-to-multipoint network, the method comprising:

receiving a device identifier representing a drop in the point-to-multipoint network where the device is installed;

associating the device identifier with the device; and

transmitting the device identifier and a unique identifier associated with the device over the point-to-multipoint network to a central unit for ranging the device in the point-to-multipoint network.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the device comprises an optical network termination (ONT), wherein the point-to-multipoint network comprises a passive optical network (PON), and wherein the device identifier comprises an ONT identifier representing the drop in the PON where the ONT is installed.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the device identifier is received from a plurality of dual inline package (DIP) switches associated with the device.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the device identifier is received from a user interface associated with the device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein a total number of device identifiers is at least equal to a total number of devices in the point-to-multipoint network.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the device identifier and the unique identifier are transmitted over the point-to-multipoint network in an allocated time slot managed under a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

converting the device identifier to an optical signal prior to transmitting the device identifier and the unique identifier over the point-to-multipoint network.