SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A SUBSCRIBER-POWERED NETWORK ELEMENT
First Claim
1. A network element of a wide area network, the network element having at least one optical port for coupling respectively to at least one optical fiber for communicating with a service provider and having at least one electrical port for coupling respectively to at least one electrical wire pair or cable for communicating with a subscriber, and the network element having at least one electrical coupling device coupled to an electrical port for separating an electrical power signal and an electrical data communications signal from a combined electrical WAN signal, and the network element having at least one communication device coupled respectively to an electrical coupling device for receiving and transmitting the electrical data communication signals, and the network element having at least one power converter coupled respectively to an electrical coupling device for accepting the electrical power signal and for converting the electrical power signal for use by the network element, a method for electrically powering the network element comprising the steps of:
- (a) accepting through at least one electrical wire pair or cable the combined electrical WAN signal including the electrical power signal and the electrical data communication signal;
(b) decoupling the electrical power signal and the electrical data communication signal from the combined electrical WAN signal by the electrical coupling device;
(c) providing the decoupled electrical data communication signal to the communication device;
(d) providing the decoupled electrical power signal to the power converter;
(e) converting the electrical power signal to electrical power by the power converter for use by the network element; and
(f) transmitting a Dying Gasp message responsive to loss of the electrical power signal, wherebythe network element is capable of communicating with the service provider over the optical fiber and the network element is capable of being electrically powered over the electrical wire pair or cable by a subscriber and the network element is capable of communicating with the subscriber over the same electrical wire pair or cable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for powering a network element of a fiber optic wide area network is disclosed. When communication data is transferred between a central office (CO) and a subscriber terminal using a network element to convert optical to electrical (O-E) and electrical to optical (E-O) signals between a fiber from the central office and twisted wire pair, coaxial cable or Ethernet cable transmission lines from the subscriber terminal, techniques related to local powering of a network element or drop site by the subscriber terminal or subscriber premise remote powering device are provided. Certain advantages and/or benefits are achieved using the present invention, such as freedom from any requirement for additional meter installations or meter connection charges and does not require a separate power network.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A network element of a wide area network, the network element having at least one optical port for coupling respectively to at least one optical fiber for communicating with a service provider and having at least one electrical port for coupling respectively to at least one electrical wire pair or cable for communicating with a subscriber, and the network element having at least one electrical coupling device coupled to an electrical port for separating an electrical power signal and an electrical data communications signal from a combined electrical WAN signal, and the network element having at least one communication device coupled respectively to an electrical coupling device for receiving and transmitting the electrical data communication signals, and the network element having at least one power converter coupled respectively to an electrical coupling device for accepting the electrical power signal and for converting the electrical power signal for use by the network element, a method for electrically powering the network element comprising the steps of:
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(a) accepting through at least one electrical wire pair or cable the combined electrical WAN signal including the electrical power signal and the electrical data communication signal; (b) decoupling the electrical power signal and the electrical data communication signal from the combined electrical WAN signal by the electrical coupling device; (c) providing the decoupled electrical data communication signal to the communication device; (d) providing the decoupled electrical power signal to the power converter; (e) converting the electrical power signal to electrical power by the power converter for use by the network element; and (f) transmitting a Dying Gasp message responsive to loss of the electrical power signal, whereby the network element is capable of communicating with the service provider over the optical fiber and the network element is capable of being electrically powered over the electrical wire pair or cable by a subscriber and the network element is capable of communicating with the subscriber over the same electrical wire pair or cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A subscriber terminal of a wide area network, the wide area network having a network element with at least one optical port for coupling respectively to at least one optical fiber for communicating with a service provider and at least one electrical port for coupling respectively to at least one electrical wire pair or cable for communicating with the subscriber terminal, the subscriber terminal having a power source for producing an electrical power signal having a current and a voltage, and the subscriber terminal having a communication device for transmitting and receiving electrical data communications signals, and the subscriber terminal having an electrical coupling device for coupling to the electrical wire pair or cable and for coupling to the power source and for coupling to the communication device and for combining the electrical power signal with the electrical data communications signal as a combined electrical WAN signal onto the electrical wire pair or cable for transmission to the network element, a method for transmitting electrical power and data communication signals from the subscriber terminal at the subscriber premise to the network element of the wide area network comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the electrical power signal having a current and a voltage derived from subscriber premise mains power at the subscriber premise; (b) coupling the electrical power signal with the electrical data communications signal from the communication device as the combined electrical WAN signal by the electrical coupling device at the subscriber premise; (c) transmitting the combined electrical WAN signal to the network element through at least one electrical wire pair or cable coupled between the subscriber terminal and the network element; and (d) transmitting a Dying Gasp message responsive to loss of subscriber premise mains power, whereby the subscriber terminal is capable of providing electrical power derived from the subscriber premise mains power to the network element over the electrical wire pair or cable and the subscriber terminal is capable of electrical data communications with the network element over the same electrical wire pair or cable. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A network element of a wide area network, the network element having at least one optical port for coupling respectively to at least one optical fiber for communicating with a service provider and having at least one electrical port for coupling respectively to at least one electrical wire pair or cable for communicating with a subscriber terminal at a subscriber premise, and including at the subscriber premise, the subscriber terminal having a power source for producing an electrical power signal having a current and a voltage, and the subscriber terminal having a first communication device for transmitting and receiving electrical data communication signals, and the subscriber terminal having a first electrical coupling device for coupling to the electrical wire pair or cable and for coupling to the power source and for coupling to the first communication device and for combining the electrical power signal of the power source with the electrical data communication signals of the first communication device as a combined electrical WAN signal onto the electrical wire pair or cable for transmission to the network element, and including at the network element a second electrical coupling device for coupling to the electrical wire pair or cable and for separating the electrical power signal and the electrical data communication signals from the combined electrical WAN signal, and including at the network element a second communication device coupled to the second electrical coupling device and for receiving and transmitting electrical data communication signals, and including at the network element a power converter coupled to the second electrical coupling device and for accepting the electrical power signal and for providing electrical power for use by the network element, and wherein the network element is capable of communicating with the service provider over an optical fiber, a method for electrically powering the network element comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing at the subscriber terminal the electrical power signal having a current and a voltage derived from the subscriber premise mains power; (b) coupling at the subscriber terminal the electrical power signal with the electrical data communication signals from the first communication device as the combined electrical WAN signal; (c) transferring the combined electrical WAN signal to the network element through at least one electrical wire pair or cable coupled between the subscriber terminal and the network element, (d) accepting at the network element the combined electrical WAN signal through at least one electrical wire pair or cable coupled between the subscriber terminal and the network element; (e) decoupling at the network element the electrical power signal and the electrical data communication signals from the combined electrical WAN signal; (f) providing at the network element the decoupled electrical data communication signals to the second communication device; (g) providing at the network element the decoupled electrical power signal to the power converter; (h) converting at the network element by the power converter the electrical power signal to electrical power for use by the network element; and (i) transmitting a Dying Gasp message responsive to loss of the electrical power signal, whereby the network element is capable of communicating with the service provider over the optical fiber and the network element is capable of being electrically powered over the electrical wire pair or cable from the subscriber terminal and the network element is capable of communicating with the subscriber terminal over the same electrical wire pair or cable.
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21. A network element of a wide area network comprising:
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at least one optical port for coupling respectively to at least one optical fiber for communicating with a service provider, at least one electrical port for coupling respectively to at least one electrical wire pair or cable for communicating with a subscriber, at least one electrical coupling device coupled to an electrical port for separating an electrical power signal and an electrical data communications signal from a combined electrical WAN signal, at least one communication device coupled respectively to an electrical coupling device for receiving and transmitting the electrical data communication signals and coupled respectively to an optical port for receiving and transmitting communications with the service provider and for transmitting a Dying Gasp message to the service provider responsive to loss of the electrical power signal, and at least one power converter coupled respectively to an electrical coupling device for accepting the electrical power signal and for converting the electrical power signal for use by the network element.
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22. A subscriber terminal of a wide area network, the wide area network having a network element with at least one optical port for coupling respectively to at least one optical fiber for communicating with a service provider and at least one electrical port for coupling respectively to at least one electrical wire pair or cable for communicating with the subscriber terminal, the subscriber terminal comprising:
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a power source for producing an electrical power signal having a current and a voltage, a communication device for transmitting and receiving electrical data communications signals for communication with the network element and for transmitting a Dying Gasp message as an electrical data communication signal to the network element responsive to loss of ability to produce the electrical power signal, and an electrical coupling device for coupling to the electrical wire pair or cable and for coupling to the power source and for coupling to the communication device and for combining the electrical power signal with the electrical data communications signals as a combined electrical WAN signal onto the electrical wire pair or cable for transmission to the network element.
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Specification