Fiber access architecture capable of being seamlessly upgraded

• US 7,394,984 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Woodward, Sheryl Leigh
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US11/376,843
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 398 68- 72
• US Class Current: 398/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0201 Add-and-drop multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0226 Fixed carrier allocation, e.g. according to service
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0246 using one wavelength per ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0247 Sharing one wavelength for at least a group of ONUs
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/025 using one wavelength per ONU, e.g. for transmissions from-ONU-to-OLT or from-ONU-to-ONU
• 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 14/028 WDM bus architectures

Abstract

Disclosed is an architecture enabling premium services to be provided over fiber to high-end users/customers. This architecture has a plurality of nodes and a passive optical device inserted prior to one of the nodes. The optical device allows wavelengths provisioned for original service(s) to pass through with minimal loss, while other wavelengths provisioned for the premium services are diverted onto a new fiber. This new fiber may be installed at the time of the upgrade, but, sometimes, dark fiber is available. Dark fiber is fiber that carries no optical signals.

Claims

1. A distribution network, for connecting a plurality of customer sites to a core optical network, comprising:

a first segment, wherein said first segment is coupled to said core optical network;

a second segment, wherein said second segment further comprises a first fiber, a second fiber, and a third fiber;

a wavelength partition, wherein said first segment is further coupled to said wavelength partition, and further wherein said second segment is coupled to said wavelength partition;

at least one node, wherein said first fiber carries optical signals from said wavelength partition to a plurality of customer sites via said at least one node, and wherein said second fiber carries optical signals from said plurality of customer sites to said wavelength partition via said at least one node; and

at least one customer'"'"'s transceiver (CTx), wherein said third fiber carries optical signals in both directions between said wavelength partition and said at least one customer'"'"'s transceiver (CTx).

2. The network according to claim 1, wherein said wavelength partition allows for provisioning wavelengths for new services.

3. The network according to claim 1, wherein said at least one node comprises a plurality of nodes.

4. The network according to claim 1, wherein said at least one customer'"'"'s transceiver (CTx) is connected to the wavelength partition via a passive optical network.

5. The network according to claim 1, wherein said first segment further comprises:

a first fiber carrying signals from said core optical network to said wavelength partition; and

a second fiber carrying signals from said wavelength partition to said core optical network.

6. The network according to claim 5, wherein said signals carried on said first fiber of said first segment are optically amplified.

7. The network according to claim 5, wherein said signals carried on said second fiber of said first segment are optically amplified.

8. The network according to claim 1, wherein signals arriving at said wavelength partition partitioned from said core optical network are routed to one of said first fiber and said third fiber of said second segment based on a wavelength of light carrying said signals.

9. The network according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of customer sites are coupled to said at least one node via coaxial cable.