Universal apparatus for incorporating intelligence into an optical fiber distribution frame
First Claim
1. A communications system, comprising:
- a distribution frame, the distribution frame includinga system controller,at least one shelf,a shelf controller corresponding to the at least one shelf, wherein the shelf controller is operably coupled to the system controller, andat least one interconnection panel within the at least one shelf, the interconnection panel including a plurality of termination ports for cross-connecting signal channels; and
an intelligent fiber distribution operations administration and maintenance apparatus coupled to the distribution frame external to the at least one shelf and operably coupled between the interconnection panels and the shelf controller for operating the distribution frame and monitoring and indicating cross-connections between the interconnection panels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include a universal apparatus for incorporating intelligence into the distribution frame of an optical communication system. The communication system includes a distribution frame with one or more distribution shelves having one or more interconnection panels, and a universal operations, administration and maintenance (OA&M) apparatus attached to the distribution frame. The OA&M apparatus, which is operably connected to the interconnection panels and the distribution frame'"'"'s system controller through an interface, monitors current interconnection panel connections including cross-connections and can indicate future possible cross-connections between interconnection panels. The OA&M apparatus also is useful for jumper routing, circuit administration, and other features associated with the distribution frame and its fiber connections.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A communications system, comprising:
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a distribution frame, the distribution frame including a system controller, at least one shelf, a shelf controller corresponding to the at least one shelf, wherein the shelf controller is operably coupled to the system controller, and at least one interconnection panel within the at least one shelf, the interconnection panel including a plurality of termination ports for cross-connecting signal channels; and an intelligent fiber distribution operations administration and maintenance apparatus coupled to the distribution frame external to the at least one shelf and operably coupled between the interconnection panels and the shelf controller for operating the distribution frame and monitoring and indicating cross-connections between the interconnection panels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An intelligent fiber distribution operations administration and maintenance apparatus for operably coupling to a distribution frame, wherein the distribution frame has a system controller, at least one distribution shelf, the distribution shelf having a shelf controller and a plurality of interconnection panels, wherein the shelf controller is coupled to the system controller, and wherein the interconnection panels include a first plurality of termination ports for connecting to a first signal channel and a second plurality of termination ports for cross-connecting to a second signal channel from a different interconnection panel, the intelligent fiber distribution operations administration and maintenance apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of signal buttons corresponding to the plurality of interconnection panels, wherein the signal buttons are attached to the distribution frame and operably connected to the interconnection panels; a plurality of indicators corresponding to the plurality of signal buttons; and an interface operably connecting the plurality of signal buttons to the shelf controller, wherein the signal buttons energize their corresponding indicator and, based on information from the shelf controller, the indicators identify termination ports that are connected, to be connected or that need maintenance, and wherein the intelligent fiber distribution operations administration and maintenance apparatus is configured to be operably coupled to the distribution frame external to the at least one distribution shelf. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification