Optical network interface devices and methods
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an optical network terminal (ONT) that converts optical signals representing information packets received from a passive optical network (PON) via an optical fiber link to electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits; and
a subscriber gateway device coupled to the ONT via at least one cable, the subscriber gateway device including;
an optical media access control (MAC) unit that receives the electrical signals from the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in the cable and converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals representing the information packets; and
a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices,wherein the ONT converts the optical signals received from the PON to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any MAC layer functions including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system comprises an optical network terminal (ONT) that provides an interface to a passive optical network (PON). The ONT is coupled to a subscriber gateway device via at least one cable. The ONT may be located outside a subscriber premises while the subscriber gateway device may be located within the subscriber premises. The ONT converts optical signals received from PON to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any MAC layer functions. The subscriber gateway device includes an optical media access control (MAC) unit that converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals and a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices. In this manner the MAC and gateway layer functions are relocated from the ONT to the subscriber gateway device.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an optical network terminal (ONT) that converts optical signals representing information packets received from a passive optical network (PON) via an optical fiber link to electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits; and a subscriber gateway device coupled to the ONT via at least one cable, the subscriber gateway device including; an optical media access control (MAC) unit that receives the electrical signals from the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in the cable and converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals representing the information packets; and a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices, wherein the ONT converts the optical signals received from the PON to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any MAC layer functions including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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receiving, with an optical network terminal (ONT) that is connected to a passive optical network (PON) via an optical fiber link, optical signals representing information packets via the optical fiber link; converting, with the ONT, the optical signals to electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits; sending the electrical signals from the ONT to a subscriber gateway device coupled to the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in at least one cable without performing any media access control (MAC) layer functions with the ONT, including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device; converting, with the subscriber gateway device, the electrical signals into MAC layer signals representing the information packets; and distributing, with the subscriber gateway device, the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices coupled to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An optical network terminal (ONT) connected to a passive optical network (PON) via an optical fiber link, the ONT comprising:
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an optical physical layer (PHY) component that receives optical signals representing information packets from the optical network; a media converter that converts the optical signals to drive signals; and an electrical physical layer (PHY) component that transmits electrical signals to a subscriber gateway device coupled to the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in at least one cable in accordance with the drive signals, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits, and wherein the ONT transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any media access control (MAC) layer functions with the ONT, including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method comprising:
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receiving, with an optical network terminal (ONT) that is connected to a passive optical network (PON) via an optical fiber link, optical signals representing information packets via the optical fiber link; converting, with the ONT, the optical signals to electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits; and sending, with the ONT, the electrical signals to a subscriber gateway device coupled to the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in at least one cable without performing any media access control (MAC) layer functions with the ONT, including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An optical network terminal (ONT) connected to a passive optical network (PON) via an optical fiber link, the ONT comprising:
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means for receiving optical signals representing information packets via the optical fiber link; means for converting the optical signals to electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits; and means for sending the electrical signals to a subscriber gateway device coupled to the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in at least one cable, wherein the ONT sends the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any media access control (MAC) layer functions with the ONT, including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A subscriber gateway device coupled to an optical network terminal (ONT) of a passive optical network (PON) via at least one cable, the subscriber gateway device comprising:
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an optical media access control (MAC) unit that receives electrical signals from the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in the cable, and converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals representing information packets, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits, and wherein the optical MAC unit receives the electrical signals without any MAC layer functions performed on the electrical signals by the ONT, including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device; and a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices coupled to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method comprising:
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receiving, with a subscriber gateway device, electrical signals from an optical network terminal (ONT) of a passive optical network (PON) via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in at least one cable, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits, and wherein the electrical signals are received without any media access control (MAC) layer functions performed on the electrical signals by the ONT, including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device; converting, with the subscriber gateway device, the electrical signals into MAC layer signals representing information packets; and distributing, with the subscriber gateway device, the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices coupled to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A subscriber gateway device coupled to an optical network terminal (ONT) of a passive optical network (PON) via at least one cable, the subscriber gateway device comprising:
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means for receiving electrical signals from the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in the at least one cable, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits, and wherein the electrical signals are received without any media access control (MAC) layer functions performed on the electrical signals by the ONT, including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device; means for converting the electrical signals into MAC layer signals representing information packets; and means for distributing the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices coupled to the subscriber gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification