MediaLink interconnection box

• US 9,742,172 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elford, Michael L., Unser, Diana L., Kawamoto, Pete A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S
• Application Number:
  US14/971,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20160226231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 361752, 361814, 361807, 361809, 361810, 361800, 361825, 361826
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0493 Service poles
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/02 laid directly in or on the ground, river-bed or sea-bottom; Coverings therefor, e.g. tile

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing MediaLink Interconnection Boxes (“MIBs”). In some embodiments, a plurality of MediaLink Interconnection Boxes (“MIBs”) or media interconnection devices, which may be disposed throughout a recreational vehicle (“RV”) park or other bulk service provider application sites, or the like, may serve as demarcation units designed to each provide an accessible indoor or outdoor interface where long-term or temporary/transient customers can directly connect to land line service (e.g., POTS service), video or television service, and/or Ethernet or Internet services provided by one or more service providers. Fiber-to-Drop-Point (“FTDP”) and/or point-to-point fiber insertion within a passive optical network (“PON”) communications system may be implemented using apical conduit systems in conjunction with the MIBs. Alternatively, traditional ground-based or buried line interconnections (or a combination of the apical conduit system and such traditional interconnections) may be implemented in conjunction with the MIBs.

Claims

1. A media interconnection device, comprising:

a waterproof and weather-resistant container comprising an external housing and an external lid;

an inner compartment disposed within the external housing, the inner compartment comprising an inner lid;

a first set of media connectors disposed within the external housing, the first set of media connectors comprising a first set of output ports;

a second set of media connectors disposed within the external housing, the second set of media connectors comprising a second set of output ports; and

a set of input cables disposed within the inner compartment and communicatively coupled to each of the first set of media connectors and the second set of media connectors, wherein the first set of media connectors and the second set of media connectors are demarcation points between one or more service provider networks and at least two separate customer networks communicatively coupled to the first set of output ports and the second set of output ports, respectively,

wherein the set of input cables comprises one or more telephone cables, wherein the first set of output ports comprises a telephone output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first telephone cable of the one or more telephone cables, wherein the second set of output ports comprises a telephone output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second telephone cable of the one or more telephone cables, and

wherein each of the first and second telephone cables is communicatively coupled with a private branch exchange (“

PBX”

) that tracks local and long-distance usage over at least one of the first and second telephone cables by a corresponding user associated with at least one of the at least two separate customer networks corresponding to the at least one of the first and second telephone cables.

2. The media interconnection device of claim 1, wherein the set of input cables further comprises one or more video cables and one or more Internet cables, wherein the first set of output ports further comprises a video output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first video cable of the one or more video cables and an Internet output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first Internet cable of the one or more Internet cables, wherein the second set of output ports further comprises a video output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second video cable of the one or more video cables and an Internet output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second Internet cable of the one or more Internet cables.

3. The media interconnection device of claim 2, wherein the one or more Internet cables are communicatively coupled to an optical network terminal (“

ONT”

), which is communicatively coupled via at least one optical fiber line that is associated with one of a passive optical network (“

PON”

) service, a gigabit PON (“

GPON”

) service, an Ethernet fiber line service, an Ethernet PON (“

EPON”

) service, a next generation PON (“

NGPON”

) service, or a second generation NGPON or 40 Gigabit-capable PON (“

NGPON2”

) service.

4. The media interconnection device of claim 3, wherein the at least one optical fiber line communicatively couples via a signal distribution device with one or more lines of an apical conduit system that are disposed in one or more channels in a ground surface.

5. The media interconnection device of claim 3, wherein the ONT is located within the external housing.

6. The media interconnection device of claim 3, wherein the ONT is located within a second external housing between the media interconnection device and a signal distribution device servicing the ONT, wherein the second external housing is one of disposed above ground or disposed underground.

7. The media interconnection device of claim 2, wherein each of the first and second video cables is communicatively coupled with a video signal decoder, wherein the video signal decoder decodes a scrambled video signal from a video service provider and sends a decoded video signal through one of the first video cable or the second video cable when a user associated with a corresponding one of the at least two separate customer networks in communication with the one of the first video cable or the second video cable subscribes to video service.

8. The media interconnection device of claim 7, wherein the video signal decoder is located within the external housing.

9. The media interconnection device of claim 7, wherein the video signal decoder is located within a separate housing located within a video signal distribution hub that is located at a local site.

10. The media interconnection device of claim 1, wherein the PBX is located at a local site.

11. The media interconnection device of claim 1, wherein the set of input cables comprises at least two of one or more video cables, one or more telephone cables, or one or more Internet cables.

12. The media interconnection device of claim 1, wherein the set of input cables comprises one or more Internet cables that provides Internet service and at least one of Internet-based video service or Voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) service to one or more of the at least two separate customer networks.

13. The media interconnection device of claim 1, wherein the external housing is mounted on a post that is set in the ground between two adjacent parking slots of a recreational vehicle (“

RV”

) park.

14. The media interconnection device of claim 13, wherein a first customer network of the at least two separate customer networks comprises a first local area network (“

LAN”

) located within a first RV that is parked in one of the two adjacent parking slots, and wherein a second customer network of the at least two separate customer networks comprises a second LAN located within a second RV that is parked in the other one of the two adjacent parking slots.

15. A communications system, comprising:

an apical conduit system, comprising;

one or more first sets of lines disposed in one or more first channels in a first ground surface, the one or more first sets of lines being associated with at least one of one or more service providers or one or more services;

one or more second sets of lines disposed in one or more second channels in a second ground surface, at least two sets of lines of the one or more second sets of lines serving each media interconnection device of a plurality of media interconnection devices located at a first site; and

a filler material disposed around at least one of the one or more first sets of lines in at least a portion of the one or more first channels or around at least one of the one or more second sets of lines in at least a portion of the one or more second channels; and

a signal distribution device, comprising;

a container disposed in a third ground surface, a top portion of the container being one of substantially level with a top portion of the third ground surface or below the top portion of the third ground surface; and

a cable distribution device disposed within the signal distribution device and configured to communicatively couple each of at least one first set of lines of the one or more first sets of lines with each of the one or more second sets of lines; and

the plurality of media interconnection devices located at the first site, each media interconnection device comprising;

a waterproof and weather-resistant container comprising an external housing and an external lid;

an inner compartment disposed within the external housing, the inner compartment comprising an inner lid;

a first set of media connectors disposed within the external housing, the first set of media connectors comprising a first set of output ports;

a second set of media connectors disposed within the external housing, the second set of media connectors comprising a second set of output ports; and

a set of input cables disposed within the inner compartment and communicatively coupled to each of the first set of media connectors and the second set of media connectors, wherein the first set of media connectors and the second set of media connectors are demarcation points between one or more service provider networks and at least two separate customer networks communicatively coupled to the first set of output ports and the second set of output ports, respectively, wherein the set of input cables communicatively couples with the at least two sets of lines of the one or more second sets of lines.

16. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the set of input cables comprises one or more video cables, one or more telephone cables, and one or more Internet cables, wherein the first set of output ports comprises a video output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first video cable of the one or more video cables, a telephone output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first telephone cable of the one or more telephone cables, and an Internet output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first Internet cable of the one or more Internet cables, wherein the second set of output ports comprises a video output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second video cable of the one or more video cables, a telephone output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second telephone cable of the one or more telephone cables, and an Internet output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second Internet cable of the one or more Internet cables.

17. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the signal distribution device comprises a fiber distribution hub (“

FDH”

), wherein the one or more first sets of lines communicatively couple at least one of a central office or a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (“

DSLAM”

) of a telecommunications service provider with the FDH, wherein the one or more second sets of lines communicatively couple the FDH with a network access point (“

NAP”

).

18. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the fiber distribution hub comprises a pedestal disposed above the top portion of the container, and wherein at least one of the first cable distribution device or the second cable distribution device is disposed within one of the container or the pedestal.

19. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the signal distribution device comprises a network access point (“

NAP”

), wherein the one or more first sets of lines communicatively couple the NAP with a fiber distribution hub (“

FDH”

), wherein the one or more second sets of lines communicatively couple the NAP with one or more media interconnection devices of the plurality of media interconnection devices.

20. The communications system of claim 19, wherein the NAP comprises a direct bury NAP disposed below the top portion of the third ground surface.

21. The communications system of claim 19, wherein the NAP comprises a NAP disposed within one of a hand hole or a flowerpot hand hole that is at least partially disposed below the third ground surface.

22. The communications system of claim 19, wherein the one or more media interconnection devices comprise at least one optical network terminal (“

ONT”

).

23. The communications system of claim 15, wherein each of the one or more first sets of lines is associated with one of a passive optical network (“

PON”

) service, a gigabit PON (“

GPON”

) service, an Ethernet fiber line service, an Ethernet PON (“

EPON”

) service, a next generation PON (“

NGPON”

) service, or a second generation NGPON or 40 Gigabit-capable PON (“

NGPON2”

) service.

24. The communications system of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the first ground surface is a roadway surface, wherein at least a portion of the second ground surface is one of a roadway surface or a non-roadway surface, and wherein at least a portion of the third ground surface is a non-roadway surface.

25. The communications system of claim 15, wherein at least one channel of the one or more first channels and at least one channel of the one or more second channels is the same channel.

26. The communications system of claim 15, wherein each media interconnection device is mounted on a post that is set in the ground between two adjacent parking slots of a recreational vehicle (“

RV”

) park.

27. A method, comprising:

connecting one of a video cable, a telephone cable, or an Internet cable into a corresponding port in one of a first set of output ports or a second set of output ports in a media interconnection device, the media interconnection device comprising;

a waterproof and weather-resistant container comprising an external housing and an external lid;

an inner compartment disposed within the external housing, the inner compartment comprising an inner lid;

a first set of media connectors disposed within the external housing, the first set of media connectors comprising the first set of output ports;

a second set of media connectors disposed within the external housing, the second set of media connectors comprising the second set of output ports; and

a set of input cables disposed within the inner compartment and communicatively coupled to each of the first set of media connectors and the second set of media connectors, wherein the first set of media connectors and the second set of media connectors are demarcation points between one or more service provider networks and at least two separate customer networks communicatively coupled to the first set of output ports and the second set of output ports, respectively, wherein the set of input cables communicatively couples with the at least two sets of lines of the one or more second sets of lines; and

connecting the one of the video cable, the telephone cable, or the Internet cable into a corresponding port in a panel in a recreational vehicle (“

RV”

).

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the set of input cables comprises one or more video cables, one or more telephone cables, and one or more Internet cables, wherein the first set of output ports comprises a video output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first video cable of the one or more video cables, a telephone output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first telephone cable of the one or more telephone cables, and an Internet output port communicatively coupled via the first set of media connectors to a first Internet cable of the one or more Internet cables, wherein the second set of output ports comprises a video output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second video cable of the one or more video cables, a telephone output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second telephone cable of the one or more telephone cables, and an Internet output port communicatively coupled via the second set of media connectors to a second Internet cable of the one or more Internet cables.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more Internet cables are communicatively coupled to an optical network terminal (“

ONT”

), which is communicatively coupled via at least one optical fiber line that is associated with one of a passive optical network (“

PON”

) service, a gigabit PON (“

GPON”

) service, an Ethernet fiber line service, an Ethernet PON (“

EPON”

) service, a next generation PON (“

NGPON”

) service, or a second generation NGPON or 40 Gigabit-capable PON (“

NGPON2”

) service.