Optical fibre network coupling apparatus

Abstract

An optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 optically couples an optical modem to an optical fibre network. The apparatus includes an optical modem connector 102 for optically coupling the apparat

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] In traditional broadband networks, an interconnect connection would be provided to a premises by way of copper cabling which would connect a gateway device, such as a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, located within the premises to a local broadband exchange external to the premises. By way of contrast, in so-called "Fibre to the Premises" (FTTP) networks (also referred to as "full fibre" networks), optical fibre cabling is used in place of the above-described copper cabling, which advantageously provides for higher data rates, lower latency, and improved reliability, among other benefits.

[0002] In a typical FTTP connection, an optical modem disposed internally to a premises is connected to an internet service provider's (ISP's) "core network" through a so-called "optical line terminal" (OLT) external to the premises, which includes active circuitry for transmitting and receiving modulated light to and from the optical modem. The OLT would typically be connected to the optical modem through a passive optical network (PON) disposed between the OLT and the premises, and through a point of entry (PoE) box disposed e.g. on an external or internal wall of the premises in which optical fibre cabling of the PON (e.g. distribution optical fibre) is connected to an interior optical fibre cable which extends into the premises and which terminates at the optical modem.

[0003] Typically, such an interior optical fibre and optical modem are installed at a premises having an associated subscription with an ISP by a specialist engineer on behalf of the ISP, whereby the specialist engineer would, using specialist equipment, fusion splice the interior optical fibre to the distribution optical fibre of, or optically coupled to, the PON in the PoE box, feed the interior optical fibre into the interior of the premises (e.g. through a hole in the wall of the premises) if required, and optically couple the interior optical fibre to the optical modem.

[0004] When an optical modem is disconnected from the optical network, for example because the occupant has cancelled their FTTP service, there would be no way of remotely determining the integrity of the network up to and including the interior optical fibre (e.g., ahead of a future re-starting of the FTTP service) using existing techniques. That is, there would be no way of determining that such an interior optical fibre would be operational. Hence, an on-site inspection by an expert engineer may still be required prior to installation of a new optical modem in the premises to determine that such an existing interior optical fibre could successfully be used to provide a network connection.

[0005] Accordingly, there remains a need for hardware that enables optical modems (e.g. for FTTP internet connections) to be more efficiently installed. For example, there remains a need for hardware that enables optical modems to be self-installed by subscribers (e.g. without the need for specialist equipment or e.g. without the need for an on-site inspection by an expert engineer). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Examples are further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example optical fibre network coupling apparatus for optically coupling an optical modem to an optical fibre network;

[0008] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprising a hinged shutter;

[0009] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an example system for providing connectivity between an optical network and an optical modem; and

[0010] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an example system for providing connectivity between an optical network and a plurality of optical modems disposed within a multi-premises unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 for optically coupling an optical modem to an optical fibre network. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 comprises: an optical modem connector 102; and an optical reflector 104. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 may additionally comprise any one or more of: an optical fibre 106; a spool 108; a housing 110.

[0012] As will be discussed further below, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 may be locatable or located within a premises and may enable an optical fibre that is optically couplable or optically coupled to an optical fibre network (e.g. an optical fibre network external to the premises) to be quickly and easily connected to or disconnected from an optical modem (e.g. without the need for deployment of an onsite engineer or for specialist tools) while safely terminating the optical fibre when it is not connected to the optical modem.

[0013] Accordingly, once installed, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 enables a user to safely and efficiently "self-install" an optical modem e.g. upon newly subscribing to an internet service provider (ISP). As an illustrative and non-limiting example, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 may be installed in a housing premises (e.g., an apartment of an apartment building) and may enable a tenant or owner of the housing premises to selfinstall an optical modem as and when they subscribe to an ISP. For example, the tenant or owner may be a new tenant or new owner having newly occupied the housing premises and having newly subscribed to an ISP, or the tenant or owner may be an existing tenant or owner who has renewed their subscription with an ISP following a temporary pause, or who has changed ISP.

[0014] As will be discussed further below, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 also enables the integrity of the optical fibre network up to and including the optical reflector 104 and (e.g. at least a portion of) the above-mentioned optical fibre optically coupled to the optical fibre network to be remotely monitored, thereby removing the need for an on-site inspection by an expert engineer to determine if an acceptable internet connection (e.g. having a target bandwidth) is providable within the premises using the existing fibre installation.

[0015] Returning to FIG. 1, the optical modem connector 102 is for optically coupling the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 to (e.g. an optical connector of) the optical modem e.g. to thereby provide for an optical coupling between the optical modem and the optical fibre network, for example by way of an optical fibre connection.

[0016] As used herein, the expression "optical modem" may refer to circuitry configured to convert a received optical signal (e.g. comprising modulated light) into a corresponding electronic data signal, and vice versa.

[0017] As used herein, the term "light" may refer to electromagnetic radiation having any suitable wavelength, including but not limited to: visible light having a wavelength in the visible spectrum; infrared light having a wavelength in the infrared spectrum.

[0018] It may be that the optical modem connector 102 comprises a first interface 103a and a second interface 103b, wherein the first interface 103a is optically coupled to the second interface 103b. It may be that the first interface 103a and the second interface 103b comprise respective light transceiving portions (not shown) operable to transmit and receive light (e.g. downstream and upstream of the optical modem connector 102 respectively) from or into the optical fibre 106. It may be that the first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102 is optically couplable or optically coupled to an optical connector (e.g. optical input or input / output connector) of the optical modem. It may be that the second interface 103b of the optical modem connector 102 is optically couplable or optically coupled to the optical fibre network (e.g. by way of the optical fibre 106, as will be discussed further below). Hence, the optical modem connector 102 may provide for the optical coupling of the optical modem and the optical fibre network through the optical modem connector 102.

[0019] Whilst "transceiving portions" of the optical modem connector 102 are described herein which can transmit and receive light (i.e., the optical modem connector 102 is two-way, allowing light to travel from the optical fibre network to the optical modem and from the optical modem to the optical fibre network), it will be understood that the "transceiving portions" may be replaced in some examples with "transmitting" portions for transmitting light (e.g., in one direction, e.g., from the optical network to the optical modem).

[0020] As used herein, the term "upstream" may refer to a direction in which light travels from the optical fibre network coupling apparatus to the optical fibre network, and the term "downstream" may refer to a direction in which light travels from the optical fibre network to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus.

[0021] The optical modem connector 102 may be operable to engage with a corresponding connector e.g. to thereby optically couple the light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102 with the corresponding connector. It may be that the corresponding connector is optically couplable or coupled (e.g. directly or indirectly e.g. by way of one or more optical components or circuits, such as optical fibre) to the optical modem.

[0022] The optical modem connector 102 may comprise any suitable type of connector, including but not limited to: a push-pull connector; a screw-in connector.

[0023] As used herein, the term "push-pull connector" may refer to a connector comprising a push-pull latching mechanism. For example, a push-pull connector may be configured to: interlockingly engage with a corresponding connector responsive to an attractive force applied therebetween; and disengage from a corresponding connector interlockingly engaged therewith responsive to a repulsive force applied between the push-pull connector and the corresponding connector.

[0024] Utilising a push-pull connector as the optical modem connector 102 may enable a user to install (i.e. optically couple the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 to) or uninstall (i.e. optically decouple the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 from) the optical modem with particular ease and efficiency (as above, without deployment of an onsite engineer or specialist equipment).

[0025] As used herein, the term "screw-in connector" may refer to a connector configured to: connect to a corresponding connector by way of screwing into to the corresponding connector, or vice versa; and disconnect from a corresponding connector by way of unscrewing from the corresponding connector, or vice versa.

[0026] It may be that the optical modem connector 102 comprises any one of: a ferrule connector (FC connector); a straight tip (ST) connector; a Lucent connector (LC connector), which may also be referred to as a "little connector"; a subscriptor connector (SC connector), which may also be referred to as a "subscriber connector", a "square connector" or a "standard connector".

[0027] The (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 may be of any suitable polishing type, including but not limited to any one of: a flat contact polishing type; a physical contact (PC) polishing type; an ultra physical contact (UPC) polishing type; an angled physical contact (APC) polishing type.

[0028] It may be that the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 comprises a shutter. It may be that the shutter is movable between an open position and a closed position. It may be that, when in the open position, the optical modem connector (e.g. at least the light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102) is at least partially uncovered by the shutter (e.g., allowing the light transceiving portion of the optical modem connector to be optically coupled to the optical modem). It may be that, when in the closed position, the shutter (e.g., fully) covers the optical modem connector 102 (e.g., at least the light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102).

[0029] Accordingly, at least when in the closed position, the shutter may advantageously act as a shield which inhibits unwanted transmission of light from the second interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102 into the premises in which the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is disposed when the optical modem connector 102 is not optically coupled to the optical modem. Furthermore, at least when in the closed position, the shutter may advantageously prevent or reduce the aggregation of debris, such as dirt or dust, on the light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102.

[0030] The shutter may comprise any suitable type of shutter including but not limited to a hinged shutter or a sliding shutter. The shutter may be biased by a biaser (e.g. a spring or any other suitable biaser) such that it is urged towards the closed position.

[0031] In examples where the shutter comprises a hinged shutter, the shutter may be rotatable around an axis defined by the hinge between the open position and the closed position of the shutter. In such examples, it may be that the shutter comprises a hinge end located on the axis and a distal end opposite the hinge end. It may be that the optical modem connector 102 is disposed on, protrudes through, or is accessible through a downward facing surface of the housing 110 (e.g. downward facing when the housing is mounted to an interior wall of the premises). It may be that the housing 110 comprises a mounting surface (e.g. coupled to and extending substantially orthogonal to the downward facing surface) for mounting to the interior of a premises (e.g. an interior wall thereof). It may be that optical modem connector 102 is configured such that the hinge end of the shutter is further away from the mounting surface of the housing 110 than the distal end of the shutter when the shutter is in the closed position. It may be that in rotating from the closed position to the open position, the distal end of the shutter moves down and away from the mounting surface of the housing 110 to reveal or at least provide access to the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102. It may be that the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 is intersected by a plane which extends through a volume between a plane of the mounting surface and a plane of the hinged shutter when the shutter is in the open position. Such an example is shown in the schematic illustration of the example optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2.

[0032] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 comprises an optical modem connector 102 disposed on a downward facing surface 204 of the housing 110 and a hinged shutter 202, the hinged shutter 202 having a hinge end 202a and a distal end 202b opposite the hinge end 202a. The hinged shutter 202 is configured such that: the hinge end 202a is further away from a mounting surface 208 of the housing 110 (which may e.g. be mountable to an interior surface of a premises, which may be an interior wall of the premises) than the distal end 202b when the hinged shutter 202 is in the closed position (not shown); and when the hinged shutter 202 is in the open position (as shown in FIG. 2), the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 is intersected by a (e.g., vertical) plane 210 which extends through a volume between a (e.g., vertical) plane 212 of the mounting surface 208 of the housing 110 and a (e.g., vertical) plane 214 of the hinged shutter 202.

[0033] Advantageously, configuring the hinged shutter e.g. in accordance with the example shown in FIG. 2 may enable the hinged shutter to act as a shield in the open position which may protect a user's eyes from light emitted by the optical modem connector 102 e.g. while the user is connecting the optical modem to the optical modem connector 102. For example, by being "room side" of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 when in the open position as opposed to being "wall side", the hinged shutter may provide for the shield functionality described above. Thus, the shutter may protect the user's eyes from light emitted by the optical modem connector 102 not only when the shutter is closed, but also when the shutter is opened to gain access to the optical modem connector 102 of the optical network coupling apparatus 100.

[0034] Returning to FIG. 1, it may be that the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 is orientated to face downwards when the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is mounted in (e.g., to an internal wall of) a premises. Such an orientation of the optical modem connector 102 may advantageously reduce the likelihood of light emitted from the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 shining into a person's eyes when the optical modem connector 102 is not optically coupled to the optical modem (or to a corresponding connector).

[0035] The second interface 103b of the optical modem connector 102 may be optically couplable or optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of the optical fibre 106. It may be that the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 comprises the optical fibre 106. In this case, it may be that the optical fibre 106 is optically couplable or optically coupled (e.g. directly or indirectly e.g. by way of one or more optical components or circuits) to the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the second interface 103b of the) optical modem connector 102 by way of any suitable optical coupler or coupling mechanism (e.g. fusion spliced to an optical fibre optically coupled to the connector 102). Alternatively, it may be that the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 does not comprise the optical fibre 106 and instead the optical fibre 106 may be provided separately. In this case, it may be that the optical fibre 106 is optically couplable or coupled to the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the second interface 103b of the) optical modem connector 102 during an initial installation of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 by way of any suitable optical coupler or coupling mechanism (e.g. fusion spliced to an optical fibre optically coupled to the optical modem connector 102).

[0036] For the sake of brevity, the following assumes that the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 comprises the optical fibre 106. However, it is to be understood that present disclosure is not so limited.

[0037] The optical fibre 106 may comprise a first end 106a and a second end 106b. The first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 may be optically couplable or optically coupled to the optical fibre network. For example, the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 may be optically couplable or optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of optically coupling (e.g. fusion splicing) to a distribution optical fibre of, or optically coupled to, the optical fibre network. It may be that the distribution optical fibre is disposed externally to the premises and that the optical fibre 106 is for extending from inside the premises to outside the premises (e.g. through a hole in a wall of the premises, or otherwise) to optically couple to the distribution optical fibre. Alternatively, it may be that a first part of the distribution optical fibre is external to the premises and that a second part of the distribution optical fibre extends from outside the premises to inside the premises (e.g. through a hole in the wall of the premises, or otherwise). It may be that the distribution optical fibre is optically coupled to one or both of an optical test head (OTH) and an optical line terminal (OLT) of the optical fibre network. For example, the distribution optical fibre may be part of the optical fibre network, which may be optically coupled to one or both of the OTH and the OLT.

[0038] The first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 may be optically couplable or optically coupled to the distribution optical fibre by way of any suitable means, including but not limited to a fusion splice or a connector, including but not limited to any type of connector disclosed herein. It may be that the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 is optically couplable or optically coupled to the distribution optical fibre in or extending from an optical fibre network distribution box disposed externally or internally to the premises, the network distribution box comprising at least a portion of the distribution optical fibre. It may be that the network distribution box 304 is a point of entry (PoE) box disposed externally to (e.g. and adjacent, e.g. mounted to) or internally to the premises. Alternatively, the network distribution box (e.g., PoE box) may comprise any other type of network distribution box located in any other suitable position, such as a position external or internal to the premises.

[0039] The second end 106b of the optical fibre may be optically couplable or coupled (e.g. at least for light having a wavelength within a communication wavelength range) to the light transceiving portion of the second interface 103b of the optical modem connector 102 (e.g. directly or indirectly by way of one or more optical components or circuitry). Accordingly, the optical fibre 106 may form (e.g. at least part of) an optical path between the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 and the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102. For example, it may be that light (e.g. at least within the communication wavelength range) received at the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 (e.g. from the optical fibre network) can reach the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 by way of propagating along the optical path.

[0040] The optical reflector 104 is configured to (e.g., selectively) reflect light received from the optical fibre network (i.e. in the downstream direction) back to the optical network (i.e. in the upstream direction). As will be discussed further below, it may be that the optical reflector 104 is configured to (e.g., selectively) reflect light having a wavelength within a test wavelength range received from the optical fibre network (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range) and to (e.g., selectively) transmit (e.g. allow through) light having a wavelength within a communication wavelength range received from the optical fibre network (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102. Reflecting light back to the optical network (e.g. in the upstream direction) in the manner described enables the integrity of the connection to the optical fibre network up to the position of the optical reflector 104 to be determined depending on e.g. a power (e.g. a temporal power profile) of light (e.g., light having a wavelength within the test communication wavelength range) reflected back to the optical fibre network by the optical reflector 104. Accordingly, disposing the optical reflector 104 in the above-described optical path between the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 and the second end 106b of the optical fibre 106 (i.e. in the optical path beyond the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 in the direction towards the second end 106b of optical fibre 106) enables the integrity of the connection to the optical fibre network up to and including the portion of the optical fibre 106 between the first end 106a of the optical fibre and the optical reflector 104 to be remotely determined.

[0041] It may be that the optical reflector 104 is disposed in the optical path at any point between the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 and the optical modem connector 102, such as between the first end 106a and the second end 106b of the optical fibre or between the second end 106b of the optical fibre 106 and the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the second interface 103b of the) optical modem connector 102, or the reflector 104 may be provided by the connector 102 itself. For example, the second end 106b of the optical fibre 106 may be optically coupled (e.g. at least for communication wavelengths of light) to the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the second interface 103b of the) optical modem connector 102 through the optical reflector 104.

[0042] As used herein, the term "reflect" may be used in relation to the optical reflector 104 to refer to reflecting at least some of the light input to the optical reflector 104. Accordingly, the optical reflector 104 may be configured to reflect at least some (e.g. but not necessarily all) of the light received from the optical network, such as at least some light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range, back to the optical fibre network. It may be that the optical reflector 104 is configured to reflect at least a sufficient amount of the light received from the optical fibre network (e.g., light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) back to the optical fibre network to enable the integrity of the connection to the optical fibre network up to and including the portion of the optical fibre 106 between the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 and the optical reflector 104 to be determined. It may be that the optical reflector 104 is configured to reflect at least a majority of the light received from the optical fibre network within the test wavelength range back to the optical network. It may be that the optical reflector 104 is configured to reflect light within the test wavelength range back to the optical network to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range.

[0043] As used herein, the term "transmit" may be used in relation to the optical reflector 104 to refer to transmitting at least some (e.g. but not necessarily all) of the light input to the optical reflector 104. Accordingly, the optical reflector 104 may be configured to transmit at least some of the light received thereby from the optical fibre network, such as light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range, to the optical modem connector 102. It may be that the optical reflector 104 is configured to transmit at least a sufficient amount of the light received thereby from the optical fibre network (e.g., within the communication wavelength range) to the optical modem connector 102 to provide for an acceptable internet connection (e.g. having an target bandwidth). It may be that the optical reflector 104 is configured to transmit at least a majority of the light received thereby from the optical fibre network within the communication wavelength range to the optical modem connector 102. It may be that the optical reflector 104 is configured to transmit light within the communication wavelength range to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range.

[0044] It may be that the test wavelength range includes any suitable wavelength or wavelengths of light, including but not limited to one or both of a wavelength of 1625 nm and wavelength of 1650 nm. It may be that the communication wavelength range comprises any suitable wavelength or wavelengths for light, including but not limited to any one or more of: a wavelength of 1270 nm; a wavelength of 1550 nm; a wavelength of 1577 nm. It is to be understood that while the expression "communication wavelength range" refers to a single range, this is merely for simplicity and the present disclosure is not so limited. As used herein, the expression "communication wavelength range" is used to refer to any one more contiguous or non-contiguous ranges of wavelengths of light which are suitable for optical communication. It may be that the communication wavelength range (e.g. each of the one or more contiguous or non-contiguous communication wavelength ranges) is non-overlapping with the test wavelength range.

[0045] The optical reflector 104 may comprise any suitable optical componentry or optical circuitry configured to reflect light, such as light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range. It may be that the optical reflector 104 is formed from (i.e. the functionality of the optical reflector 104 results from) the configuration of the optical modem connector 102. For example, the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 may be of a flat contact polishing type e.g. wherein the light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a is substantially planar and is positioned at substantially 90 degrees with respect to the optical path adjacent the light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102. In such examples, the configuration of the light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102 may reflect (e.g. a relatively small fraction of the incident power of light of) substantially all wavelengths of light (e.g. including light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range and light having a wavelength with the communication wavelength range) received from the optical fibre network back to the optical network. Alternatively, it may be that the optical reflector 104 comprises optical circuitry or componentry configured to reflect light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range received from the optical fibre network back to the optical fibre network (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range) and to transmit light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range received from the optical network (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical mode connector 102. In such examples, the optical reflector 104 may comprise any suitable type of optical componentry or circuitry including but not limited to a fibre Bragg grating. In such examples, it may be that the optical reflector 104 is incorporated within (e.g., integrally formed with) the optical fibre 106. Alternatively, the optical reflector 104 may be a discrete component that is disposed in and optically coupled to the above-described optical path by way of any suitable means, including but not limited to any optical coupling means disclosed herein, such as by way of a fusion splice or by way of a connector, including but not limited to any type of connector disclosed herein.

[0046] Advantageously, as discussed, by being configured to reflect a portion of light received from the optical network back to the optical network and to transmit a portion of the light to the optical modem, the optical reflector 104 may allow the integrity of (e.g. at least a portion of) the optical fibre 106 to be remotely determined while providing for the communication of data to the optical modem. For example, an optical test head (OTH) of the optical fibre network may (e.g. generate and) transmit light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 and may determine the integrity of the (e.g. at least the portion of the) optical fibre 106 depending on a power (e.g. a temporal power profile) of light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test communication range) reflected by the optical reflector 104 (i.e., to the OTH). It may be that the OTH determines the integrity of the (e.g. at least the portion of the) optical fibre 106 by way of optical time-domain reflectometry, or by way of any other suitable technique. It may be that the OTH determines a first integrity indicator (e.g. value) associated with the apparatus 100 at a first time (e.g. following an initial installation of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100) based on the power (e.g., temporal power profile) of light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test communication range) reflected by the optical reflector 104 to the OTH (e.g., just after installation of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 - e.g., just after the optical modem connector 102 of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is connected to the optical network, e.g., by way of optical fibre 106). It may be that the first integrity indicator comprises data indicative of an attenuation or an optical path loss (e.g. in Decibels) associated with light travelling from the OTH to the optical reflector 104 and back to the OTH along an optical path of the optical fibre network between the OTH and the optical reflector 104 at the first time.

[0047] It may be that OTH subsequently determines one or more subsequent integrity indicators associated with the optical fibre 106 at one or more subsequent times to remotely monitor the integrity of the optical fibre 106 e.g. to determine if the 106 optical fibre is suitable for communication at a current time or e.g. to determine if the integrity of the optical fibre 106 is changing or has changed (e.g., over time, e.g., due to environmental factors such as temperature changes). For example, the OTH may periodically or intermittently determine a current integrity indicator associated with the optical fibre 106 and may compare the current integrity indicator to one or more previous integrity indicators associated with the optical fibre 106 to remotely determine if the integrity of the optical fibre 106 is changing over time or has changed.

[0048] Examples wherein the optical reflector 104 is configured to reflect light received from the optical network within the test wavelength range back to the optical network (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range) and to transmit light received from the optical network within the communication wavelength range (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the optical modem connector 102 as described above (e.g. where the optical reflector 104 comprises a fibre Bragg gating) may advantageously enable the integrity of (e.g. at least a portion of) the optical fibre 106 to be remotely determined non-invasively i.e. while providing for the communication of data to the optical modem from the optical communications network with minimal degradation to communication wavelengths of light. It will be understood that the reflector 104 also typically permits transmission of upstream data from the optical modem to the optical communications network, e.g., at least light having a wavelength within a communications wavelength range, e.g., with minimal degradation.

[0049] As discussed above, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 may comprise the optical fibre 106, which may be at least partially wound on the spool 108. It may be that the optical fibre 106 is deployable from the spool 108 by way of at least partially unwinding optical fibre from around the spool 108, and retractable onto the spool by way of at least partially winding optical fibre around the spool 108. Advantageously, the spool 108 may enable any excess length of the optical fibre 106 to be securely and conveniently stored by the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100. It may be that the spool 108 is biased (e.g. by a biaser such as spring or any other suitable biaser) to cause the optical fibre 106 to retract onto the spool. Advantageously, this may provide for the efficient installation of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 whereby a desired length of the optical fibre 106 can be conveniently deployed from the spool 108 for optical coupling to the optical fibre network (e.g., to distribution optical fibre of, or optically coupled to, the optical fibre network e.g., in the network distribution box or e.g., to distribution optical fibre extending from the network distribution box).

[0050] As discussed, it may be that the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 comprises the housing 110. The housing 110 may contain or comprise any one or more of the components or features of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 disclosed herein, or any one or more parts or portions thereof, such as the connector 102 and the reflector 104. The housing 110 may further comprise a portion of the optical fibre 106.

[0051] It may be that the housing 110 contains at least a portion of the optical fibre 106 and that the housing comprises an opening 112 through which the optical fibre 106 can extend from inside the housing 110 to outside the housing 110 to provide the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 externally to the housing 110 e.g. for optically coupling to the optical fibre network.

[0052] It may be that the housing 110 contains the optical modem connector 102 and that at least the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the) first interface 103a of the optical modem connector 102 is accessible through an opening in the housing 110 (not shown). Alternatively, the optical modem connector 102 may be disposed on a (e.g. downward facing, e.g. when the mounting surface of the housing is mounted to an interior wall of the premises) surface (e.g., external surface) of the housing 110. Alternatively, the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 may protrude through an opening in a (e.g. downward facing) surface (e.g., external surface) of the housing 110.

[0053] It is to be understood that the schematic illustration shown in FIG. 1 is merely for illustrative purposes and does not limit the present disclosure. For example, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is not limited in terms of the arrangement of any of the features shown in FIG. 1. As another example, while the cross-sectional shape of the housing 110 is shown in FIG. 1 to be substantially square, the present disclosure is not so limited, and the housing 110 may comprise any shape.

[0054] As used herein, the term "premises" may refer to either a commercial premises or a domestic premises.

[0055] As used herein, the expression "optical fibre network" may refer to a network comprising an optical test head (such as any one of the optical test heads disclosed herein) optically coupled (e.g. at least for light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range and e.g. for light having a wavelength with within the test wavelength range) to a distribution optical fibre (such as any one of the distribution optical fibres disclosed herein). The optical test head may be optically coupled to the distribution optical fibre by way of one or more other distribution optical fibres. The optical test head may be optically coupled to the distribution optical fibre by way of one or more optical components other than optical fibres, such as but not limited to one or more optical splitters. It may be that said distribution optical fibre is part of, or optically coupled to, a passive optical network (PoN). It may be that the optical fibre network additionally comprises an optical line terminal, OLT (such as any one of the OLTs disclosed herein), wherein the OLT is optically coupled (e.g. at least for light having a wavelength within the communication wavelength range and e.g. for light having a wavelength with within the test wavelength range) to the distribution optical fibre. It may that the OLT comprises the OTH. Alternatively, it may be that the OLT is separate from the OTH. It may be that the optical fibre network comprises core network circuitry (which may also be referred to as backbone network circuitry) communicatively coupled to the OLT. It may be that the optical fibre network is a fibre to the premises (FTTP) network.

[0056] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a system 300 for providing connectivity between an optical fibre network external to a premises and an optical modem internal to the premises. The system 300 comprises the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 disposed internally to a premises 302 and optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of the optical fibre 106. The system may additionally comprise any one or more of: an optical fibre network distribution box 304 (such as a point of entry box), which may be internal or external to the premises, by way of which the optical fibre network coupling apparatus may be optically coupled to the optical fibre network; an optical modem 308 optically coupled to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 inside the premises 302; an optical test head 312 (OTH) external to the premises; a portion 314 of the optical fibre network between the OTH and the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 (e.g., a portion 314 of the optical fibre network between the OTH and the distribution box 304, where the distribution box 304 is provided); an optical line terminal (not shown).

[0057] The portion 314 of the optical fibre network may comprise one or more (e.g. passive) optical components, including but not limited any combination of: one or more optical fibres; one or more optical splitters.

[0058] Advantageously, by including the optical reflector 104 in the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 as described with reference to FIGs. 1 and 2, the integrity of (e.g. at least a portion of) the optical fibre 106 can be determined remotely without the need for an expert engineer to test the optical fibre 106 on site (e.g., at least up to the position of the reflector 104). Accordingly, the integrity of the optical fibre 106 may be verified remotely and a subscriber (or someone on behalf of the subscriber, such as an installer, such as an installer of the ISP) may subsequently proceed to self-install (or install) the optical modem 308 in the knowledge that the optical fibre 106 can provide a working connection. As an alternative solution, an optical reflector could be disposed in, for example, the network distribution box 304 (when present) instead of in the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100. However, in this case, light reflected by the reflector back to the optical test head would not provide any information as to the integrity of the network downstream of the network distribution box 304, and therefore, would not provide any information as to the integrity of the optical fibre 106.

[0059] As discussed, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 may be optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of the optical fibre network distribution box 304 (e.g. as shown in Fig. 3). Alternatively, the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 may be optically coupled to the optical fibre network without an intervening optical fibre network distribution box such as the optical fibre network distribution box 304. For example, it may be that the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is optically coupled (e.g., fusion spliced, or e.g., by way of any other optical coupling means including but not limited to any other optical coupling means disclosed herein) to a distribution optical fibre of, or optically coupled to, the optical fibre network (e.g., externally or internally to the premises 302) in the absence of an optical fibre network distribution box, wherein the distribution optical fibre may be optically coupled to the OTH 312. For example, the distribution optical fibre may be part of the portion 314 of the optical fibre network optically coupled to the OTH 312. By way of example, the following assumes that the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of the optical fibre network distribution box 304. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not so limited.

[0060] The optical fibre network distribution box 304 may be disposed externally to the premises (as shown in Fig. 3). Alternatively, although shown external to the premises 302 in Fig. 3, the optical fibre network distribution box 304 may be disposed internally to the premises. The network distribution box 304 may comprise at least a portion of a distribution optical fibre of, or optically coupled to, the optical fibre network. At least a portion of the distribution optical fibre of, or optically coupled to, the optical fibre network may extend from the network distribution box 304 towards (or into) the premises. The distribution optical fibre may be optically coupled to the OTH 312. For example, the distribution optical fibre may be part of the portion 314 of the optical fibre network optically coupled to the OTH 312. In an example, the optical fibre 106 extends from inside the premises 302 to outside the premises 302 (e.g. through a hole in a wall thereof, or otherwise) such that the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 is disposed externally to the premises and the second end 106b of the optical fibre 106 is disposed internally to the premises 302. Alternatively, the optical fibre 106 may be optically coupled (e.g. fusion spliced) to the distribution optical fibre inside the premises.

[0061] The first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 is optically coupled to the network distribution box 304. For example, the first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 may be optically coupled to the distribution optical fibre inside the network distribution box or between the network distribution box 304 and the housing 110. The first end 106a of the optical fibre 106 may be optically coupled to the network distribution box 304 by way of any optical coupling means, including but not limited to any optical coupling means disclosed herein.

[0062] It may be that the network distribution box 304 is a point of entry (PoE) box disposed externally and adjacent to (or internally to) the premises 302. Alternatively, the network distribution box 304 may comprise any other type of network distribution box located in any other suitable position external or internal to the premises.

[0063] It may be that optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is mounted in the interior of the premises 302 (e.g. affixed to an interior wall of the premises 302). It may be that when the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is mounted in the interior of the premises 302, the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 is oriented to face downwards e.g. to thereby reduce the likelihood of light emitted from the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 shining into a person's eyes when the optical modem connector 102 is not optically coupled to the optical modem. For example, it may be that the housing 110 of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 is mounted in the interior of the premises (e.g. affixed to an interior wall of the 302) and that the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 is disposed on, protrudes through, or is accessible through a surface of the housing 110 (which may or may not be a downward facing surface of the housing 110) and that the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 is oriented to face downwards.

[0064] The OTH 312 may be configured to determine an integrity of an optical coupling between the OTH and the (e.g. optical reflector 104 of the) optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100. For example, the OTH may be configured to: transmit light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 by way of the portion 314 of the optical fibre network 314: receive, by way of the portion 314 of the optical fibre network, light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) reflected by the optical reflector 104 of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 to the optical test head; and determine the integrity of the optical coupling between the OTH 312 and the (e.g. optical reflector 104 of the) optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 depending on a power of the light (e.g., the power of light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) reflected by the optical reflector 104 of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 to the optical test head. The OTH 312 may be configured to determine the integrity of the optical coupling between OTH 312 and the (e.g. optical reflector 104 of the) optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 by way of any suitable technique, including but not limited to optical time-domain reflectometry.

[0065] The OTH may be part of the OLT (not shown) or may be separate from the OLT.

[0066] The OLT (not shown) may comprise active circuitry for transmitting and receiving modulated light to and from the optical modem 308. The OLT may be optically coupled to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus by way of the portion 314 of the optical fibre network (and e.g. by way of the network distribution box 304 (e.g. the distribution optical fibre thereof), when present).

[0067] It may be that the OTH is configured to determine the integrity of (e.g, at least a portion of) the optical fibre 106 in accordance with examples disclosed herein.

[0068] It may be that one or both of the OTH 312 and the OLT comprise respective optical transceivers which are El graded in accordance with the ITU-T G.9807.1 Recommendation standard (e.g. at least in accordance with the "02 / 23" ITU-T G.9807.1 standard approved in 22 February 2023), or above (e.g., E2 graded). Additionally or alternatively, it may be that the optical modem 308 comprises an optical transceiver which is El graded in accordance with the ITU-T G.9807.1 Recommendation standard (e.g. at least in accordance with the "02 / 23" ITU-T G.9807.1 Recommendation standard approved in 22 February 2023), or above (e.g., E2 graded). Using such El graded (or above, e.g., E2 graded) transceivers in the manner described may advantageously provide for an improved signal to noise ratio for communications between the optical modem 308 and the OTH or OLT. Advantageously, such an improved signal to noise ratio may mitigate against any optical power loss associated with any components of the of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100, such as, for example, the optical modem connector 102 or the optical reflector 104.

[0069] The optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 may be mounted in the interior of the premises 302 by way of a mounting surface of the housing 110 being affixed to an interior surface (e.g. a wall) of the premises 302. In examples where the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 comprises a hinged shutter, the hinged shutter may be configured such that when the shutter is in the open position, the (e.g. light transceiving portion of the first interface 103a of the) optical modem connector 102 is intersected by a (e.g., vertical) plane which extends through a volume between a (e.g., vertical) plane of the mounting surface and a (e.g., vertical) plane of the hinged shutter when the shutter is in the open position, in accordance with examples disclosed herein.

[0070] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a system 400 for providing connectivity between an optical fibre network external to a premises and a plurality of optical modems disposed within a multi-premises unit, the multi-premises unit comprising a plurality of premises.

[0071] The system 400 comprises: an optical splitter 414; a plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 101-1 to 101-n, each of which may comprise a respective one of a plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n as discussed herein, where n is any positive integer value greater than one. The optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 101-1 to 101-n are provided in respective premises 404-1 to 404-n of a multi-premises unit 402 comprising a plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n. The system 400 may additionally comprise any one or more of: the optical fibre network distribution box 304; a plurality of optical modems 308-1 to 308-n (e.g., installed in the respective premises 404-1 to 404-n); the optical test head 312 (OTH); the portion 314 of the optical fibre network; an optical fibre 416; an optical line terminal (OLT), such as any one of the optical line terminals disclosed herein (not shown).

[0072] It may be that the multi-premises unit 402 is a block of flats or apartments and the plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n are a plurality of individual flats or apartments located within the block. Alternatively, it may be that the multi-premises unit 402 is an office block and the plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n are a plurality of individual offices. Alternatively, the multi-premises unit 402 may comprise any other type of multi-premises unit comprising a plurality of any other type of premises.

[0073] Respective ones of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n are mountable or mounted internally in respective ones of the plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n of the multi-premises unit 402.

[0074] Each of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 101-1 to 101-n corresponds to a different instantiation of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100 discussed above in relation to FIGs. 1 to 3 and may therefore comprise any feature(s) thereof. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity, a full description of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n will not be described separately here.

[0075] Each of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n corresponds to the optical fibre 106 discussed above in relation to FIG. 1 and may therefore comprise any feature(s) thereof. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity, a full description of the plurality of optical fibers 106-1 to 106-n will not be described separately here.

[0076] Each of the plurality of optical modems 308-1 to 308-n corresponds to a different instantiation of the optical modem 308 discussed above in relation to FIG. 3 and may therefore comprise any feature(s) thereof. Accordingly, for the sake of brevity, a full description of the plurality of optical modems 308-1 to 308-n will not be described separately here.

[0077] Respective ones of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 101-n may be disposed internally to respective ones of the plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n.

[0078] The optical splitter 414 may comprise: an upstream facing port for optically coupling the optical splitter 414 to the optical fibre network and a plurality of n downstream facing ports for optically coupling the optical splitter 414 to the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n. The optical splitter 414 is configured to: split an incoming optical signal received at the upstream facing port into n substantially equivalent optical signals (e.g. of lower power than the incoming optical signal) and to output respective ones of the n substantially equivalent optical signals at respective ones of the plurality of n output ports. Additionally, the optical splitter 414 may be configured to output a combination (e.g. a summation) of any one or more incoming optical signals received at the plurality of n downstream facing ports from the respective optical modems 308-1 to 308-n at the upstream facing port.

[0079] The upstream facing port of the optical splitter 414 may be optically coupled to the (e.g. distribution optical fibre of the) network distribution box 304 by way of the optical fibre 416. The optical fibre 416 may be optically coupled to each of the network distribution box 304 and the optical splitter 414 by way of any suitable optical coupling means, including but not limited to any optical coupling means disclosed herein.

[0080] Respective ones of the plurality of n downstream facing ports of the optical splitter 414 may be optically coupled to respective ones of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106n. Each of the plurality of n downstream facing ports of the optical splitter 414 may be optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n by way of any suitable optical coupling means, such as by way of respective distribution optical fibres.

[0081] While the upstream facing port of the optical splitter 414 is shown in Fig. 4 to be optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of the optical fibre network distribution box 304, the present disclosure is not so limited and the upstream facing port of the optical splitter 414 may be optically coupled to the optical fibre network without an intervening optical fibre network distribution box such as the optical fibre network distribution box 304. For example, it may be that the upstream facing port of the optical splitter 414 is optically coupled (e.g., fusion spliced, or e.g., by way of any other optical coupling means including but not limited to any other optical coupling means disclosed herein) to a distribution optical fibre of, or optically coupled to, the optical fibre network in the absence of an optical fibre network distribution box, wherein the distribution optical fibre may be optically coupled to the OTH 312. For example, the distribution optical fibre may be part of the portion 314 of the optical fibre network optically coupled to the OTH 312.

[0082] Although shown external to the multi-premises unit 402, the network distribution box 304 (when present) may alternatively be provided within the multi-premises unit 402, e.g., external to the premises 404-1 to 404-n but internal to the multi-premises unit 402, for example in a communal area of the multi-premises unit 402.While not shown in Fig. 4, it may be that one or more of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n are optically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of n downstream facing ports of the optical splitter 414 by way of a respective optical fibre network distribution box downstream of the splitter 414 (e.g., which may be disposed externally to the multi-premises unit 402 or e.g. provided within the multi-premises unit 402 e.g., external to the premises 404-1 to 404-n but internal to the multipremises unit 402, for example in a communal area of the multi-premises unit 402 e.g. mounted in said communal area adjacent or above a doorway of a corresponding one of the premises 404-1 to 404-n). Alternatively, the respective network distribution boxes (where provided) may be provided internally to the respective premises 404-1 to 404-n. It may be that each such distribution box provides for a respective optical coupling between a respective first end of a respective one of said one or more of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n and a respective distribution optical fibre optically coupled (by way of any optical coupling means) to a respective one of the plurality of n downstream facing ports of the optical splitter 414. Said respective optical coupling may be inside the respective distribution box. Alternatively, said optical coupling may be external to the respective distribution box (e.g. upstream or downstream of the respective distribution box). It may be that the network distribution box(es) described herein, which may be point of entry (PoE) boxes, are provided instead of the optical fibre network distribution box 304 upstream of the splitter 414 in the system 400. For example, it may be that said one or more (e.g. each) of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n are optically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of n downstream facing ports of the optical splitter 414 by way of a respective network distribution box in examples where the upstream facing port of the optical splitter 414 is optically coupled to the optical fibre network without an intervening optical fibre network distribution box 304 upstream of the splitter 414 as described above. However, the present disclosure is not so limited and the upstream facing port of the optical splitter 414 may be optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of the optical fibre network distribution box 304 in addition to said one or more of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n being optically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of n downstream facing ports of the optical splitter 414 by way of a respective network distribution box.

[0083] While the optical splitter is shown in FIG. 4 to be disposed internally to the multipremises unit 402, the present disclosure is not so limited and the optical splitter 414 may be disposed internally or externally to the multi-premises unit 402.

[0084] In examples wherein the optical splitter 414 is disposed internally to multi-premises unit 402, the optical fibre 416 may extend from inside the multi-premises unit 402 to outside of the multi-premises unit 402 (e.g. through a hole in a wall of the multi-premises unit 402, or otherwise).

[0085] In examples wherein the optical splitter 414 is disposed externally to the multipremises unit 402, each of the plurality of optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n may extend from inside the multi-premises unit 402 to outside of the multi-premises unit 402 (e.g. through a respective hole in an exterior wall of the multi-premises unit 402, or otherwise).

[0086] The OTH may be part of the OLT or may be separate from the OLT. It may be that there are a plurality of optical couplings between the OTH and the (e.g. optical reflectors of the) plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n (e.g. provided by way of the optical network 314, the optical splitter 414, and optionally one or both of the network distribution box 304 (when present) upstream of the splitter 414 and the network distribution box(es) downstream of the splitter 414 as described herein (when present)). It may be that respective ones of the plurality of optical couplings optically couple the OTH to respective ones of the plurality optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n (e.g. to respective optical reflectors of respective ones of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n). The OTH may be configured to determine an integrity of one or more of said optical couplings by way of any suitable technique, including but not limited to optical time-domain reflectometry.

[0087] For example, the OTH may be configured to: transmit light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses by way of said optical couplings; and determine an integrity of one of said optical couplings between the OTH and one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n depending on a power (e.g. a temporal power profile) of light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflector of said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n, for example further depending on (e.g., based on a comparison of an integrity indicator depending on the power of light received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflector of said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and) predetermined integrity reference data. It may be that the predetermined integrity reference data comprises predetermined integrity reference data associated with said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, or predetermined integrity reference data associated with said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses.

[0088] The OTH may be configured to determine respective integrities of two or more of the plurality of optical couplings between the OTH and two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n depending on respective powers of light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflectors of said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, for example depending on (e.g., based on a comparison of respective integrity indicators depending on the power of light received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflectors of said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and) predetermined integrity reference data. It may be that the predetermined integrity reference data comprises predetermined integrity reference data associated with said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, or predetermined integrity reference data associated with said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses.

[0089] It may be that the predetermined integrity reference data comprises a first integrity indicator associated with said one (or first integrity indicators associated with said two or more) of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, first integrity indicators associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, or a first integrity indicator associated with said one (or first integrity indicators associated with said two or more) of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and first integrity indicators associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses. It will be assumed in the following discussion that the predetermined integrity reference data comprises first integrity indicators associated with said one (or first integrity indicators associated with said two or more) of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and first integrity indicators associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses. However, it will be understood that the disclosure is not so limited.

[0090] It may be that the OTH determines the first integrity indicators of the predetermined integrity reference data. Each of the first integrity indicators may be associated with a respective optical coupling between the splitter 414 and an optical reflector 104 of a respective optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 to 100-n. It may be that each of the first integrity indicators comprises respective data indicative of an attenuation or an optical path loss (e.g. in Decibels) associated with light travelling from the OTH to a corresponding optical reflector of a corresponding optical fibre network coupling apparatus and back to the OTH by way of a corresponding one of the plurality of optical couplings e.g. at a particular time. It may be that the plurality of first integrity indicators are determined progressively by the OTH e.g. following installation of respective ones of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n in respective ones of the plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n of the multi-premises unit 402. For example, it may be that respective optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n are installed progressively in different ones of the plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n of the multi-premises unit 402 at different times, and that each of the plurality of first integrity indicators is determined following a new installation of one of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n in one of the plurality of premises 404-1 to 404-n and prior to an installation of a next one of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 to 100-n. For example, it may be that a first optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 is the first of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n to be installed. It may be that following the installation of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 and prior to an installation of the other of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n, the OTH determines a first integrity indicator associated with the optical coupling between the OTH and the (e.g. optical reflector of the) first optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 by: transmitting light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the first optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 by way of the corresponding optical coupling; receiving, by way of the corresponding optical coupling, light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) reflected by the optical reflector of the first optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1; and determining the first integrity indicator associated with the optical coupling between the OTH and the (e.g. optical reflector of the) first optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 depending on a power (e.g. a temporal power profile) of the said received light (e.g., a power of the received light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range ).

[0091] Subsequently, a next one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n (e.g. a second optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-2) may be installed in a respective premises 404. Following installation of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-2, and prior to an installation of the remaining optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-3 to 100-n of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n, the OTH may determine a first integrity indicator associated with the optical coupling between the OTH and the (e.g. optical reflector of the) second optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-2 by: transmitting light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to each of the first and second optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 and 100-2 by way of their respective optical couplings; receiving, by way of said optical couplings, light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) reflected by the respective optical reflectors of the first and second optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 and 100-2; and determining the first integrity indicator associated with the optical coupling between the OTH and the (e.g. optical reflector of the) second optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-2 depending on both a power (e.g. a temporal power profile) of the said received light (e.g., a power of the received light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) and the first integrity indicator associated with the optical coupling between the OTH and the first optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1. For example, the OTH may disregard (e.g. factor out) light (e.g., contributions to the temporal power profile) received at the OTH having been reflected from the reflector of the first optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-1 depending on (e.g., identified based on) the determined first integrity indicator associated therewith to thereby determine the first integrity indicator associated (e.g. individually) with the optical coupling between the OTH and the second optical fibre network coupling apparatus 100-2. This process may be repeated for each of the remaining ones of the plurality of optical fire network coupling apparatus 100-1 to 100-n factoring out light having been reflected from the reflectors of the previously installed optical fibre network coupling apparatuses in each case based on their associated first integrity indicators. In this way, the OTH can determine respective first integrity indicators associated (e.g. individually) with each of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n (e.g. associated with each of the optical couplings between the OTH and the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n) even when light is reflected back to the OTH from reflectors of a plurality of optical fibre networking apparatuses.

[0092] As an alternative method of obtaining the plurality of first integrity indicators, it may be that the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n are installed in the premises 404-1 to 404-n of the multi-premises unit 402. Next, light (e.g., having a wavelength in the test wavelength range), such as an optical pulse, may be transmitted from the OTH to the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n. The reflectors 104 of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n then reflect light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) back to the OTH. The OTH may detect a plurality of indicators (e.g., peaks) corresponding to light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) reflected from the respective optical fibre network coupling apparatuses. In order to associate respective peaks with respective optical fibre network coupling apparatuses (in order to determined respective integrity indicators for the respective optical fibre network coupling apparatuses), each of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses may be disconnected (e.g., at the splitter or at the PoE box) from the optical fibre network in turn and, each time a respective optical fibre network coupling apparatus is disconnected from the optical network, light (e.g., having a wavelength in the test wavelength range), such as an optical pulse, may be transmitted from the OTH to those optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n still connected to the optical fibre network. The reflectors 104 of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n still connected to the optical fibre network then reflect light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) back to the OTH. The OTH may detect a plurality of indicators (e.g., peaks) corresponding to light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) reflected from the respective optical fibre network coupling apparatuses still connected to the optical fibre network. By comparison of the light received when all of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses are connected to the optical fibre network to the light received when a respective one of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses is disconnected from the optical fibre network (with the others still connected), the indicator (e.g., peak) in the light received when all of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses are connected to the optical fibre network which is associated with the now disconnected optical fibre network coupling apparatus can be identified and associated that that optical fibre network coupling apparatus. The disconnected optical fibre network coupling apparatus may then be reconnected to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus before a different one of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is disconnected from the optical fibre network. In this way, first integrity indicators associated with the respective optical fibre network coupling apparatuses (e.g., corresponding to the indicators (e.g., peaks) associated with the respective optical fibre network coupling apparatuses) may be obtained for each of the optical fibre networking apparatuses.

[0093] Following determination of the plurality of first integrity indicators as described above, it may be that the OTH subsequently determines one or more subsequent integrity indicators at one or more subsequent times for one, some, or each of the optical couplings between the OTH and the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n. In doing so, the OTH may remotely monitor the integrity of one, some or each of the said optical couplings e.g. to determine if the said optical coupling(s) is suitable for communication at a current time or e.g. to determine if the integrity of the said optical coupling(s) is changing or has changed. For example, the OTH may periodically or intermittently (or on demand when an occupier of a premises wishes to self-install an optical modem as part of a new subscription, a renewal of a previous subscription, or a change of ISP) determine a subsequent integrity indicator associated with a said optical coupling and may compare the subsequent integrity indicators to one or more corresponding previously obtained integrity indicators (e.g., the first integrity indicator obtained at installation, one or more previously obtained subsequent integrity indicators, or both the first integrity indicator obtained at installation and one or more previously obtained subsequent integrity indicators) associated with the same optical coupling to remotely determine if the integrity of the said optical coupling is changing or has changed, for example to remotely determine if the optical coupling is (e.g., still) of sufficient quality to provide a connection to the optical network meeting a target quality of service (e.g., to provide data services at a target bandwidth).

[0094] It may be that the OTH is configured to determine subsequent integrity indicators associated with said optical coupling(s) by: transmitting light (e.g. having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n by way of their respective optical couplings; receiving, by way of said optical couplings, light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) reflected by the respective optical reflectors of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n; and determining respective subsequent integrity indicators associated with respective ones of the optical couplings between the OTH and the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n depending on a power (e.g. a temporal power profile) of the said received light (e.g., a power of the received light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) and (e.g. at least some of) the first (or previously determined subsequent) integrity indicators associated with the said optical couplings. For example, in determining a subsequent integrity indicator associated with a given one of the said optical couplings, the OTH may disregard (e.g. factor out) received light associated the other ones of the said optical couplings depending on the determined first (or previously determined subsequent) integrity indicator associated with the given one of the couplings, the determined first (or previously determined subsequent) integrity indicators associated with the other couplings of the plurality of couplings, or the determined first (or previously determined subsequent) integrity indicator associated with the given one of the couplings and the determined first (or previously determined subsequent) integrity indicators associated with the other couplings of the plurality of couplings.

[0095] Thus, advantageously, the system 400 enables the integrity of each of the optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n to be individually determined remotely at least up to the reflector 104 of the corresponding optical fibre coupling apparatus 100, for example by detecting the optical path loss of a pulse transmitted from and reflected back to the OTH by the reflector 104.

[0096] Accordingly, individual subscribers of the respective premises 404-1 to 404-n may be able to self-install respective ones of the plurality of optical modems 308-1 to 308-n in the knowledge that a working connection can be obtained using the optical fibre coupling apparatus. As an alternative solution, an optical reflector could be disposed in, for example, the network distribution box 304 (when present) instead of in each of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses 100-1 to 100-n. However, in this case, light reflected by the reflector back to the optical test head would not provide any information as to the integrity of the network downstream of the network distribution box 304, and therefore, would not provide any information as to the integrity of any one of the optical fibres 106-1 to 106-n.

[0097] Each of the integrity indicators described herein may be determined by way of any suitable technique, including but not limited to optical time-domain reflectometry.

[0098] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to", and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components, integers or operations. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context demands otherwise. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context demands otherwise. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and all of the elements of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or operations are mutually exclusive. Implementations are not restricted to the details of any foregoing examples.

[0099] The present disclosure also extends to the following numbered examples.

[0100] Example 1. Optical fibre network coupling apparatus (e.g., installed or installable within a premises) for optically coupling an optical modem to an optical fibre network, the apparatus comprising: an optical modem connector for optically coupling the apparatus to the optical modem; and an optical reflector configured to reflect light (e.g. at least light having a wavelength within a test wavelength range) received from the optical fibre network back to the optical fibre network.

[0101] Example 2. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 1, wherein the optical reflector is configured to reflect light having a wavelength within a test wavelength range received from the optical fibre network (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within a communication wavelength range) and to transmit light having a wavelength within a communication wavelength range received from the optical network to the optical modem connector (e.g., to a greater degree than light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range).

[0102] Example 3. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 1 or Example 2, further comprising: an optical fibre having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the optical fibre is optically couplable or optically coupled to the optical fibre network; wherein the optical modem connector is optically couplable or optically coupled to the second end of the optical fibre, the optical fibre for thereby forming an optical path between the first end of the optical fibre and the optical modem connector; and wherein the optical reflector is disposed in the optical path.

[0103] Example 4. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 2, wherein the optical reflector is incorporated into (e.g., integrally formed with) the optical fibre (e.g., the optical reflector may comprise a fibre Bragg grating).

[0104] Example 5. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of any preceding Example, wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a shutter movable between a closed position in which the shutter (e.g., fully) covers the optical modem connector (e.g., at least an optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector) and an open position in which the optical modem connector (e.g., at least an optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector) is at least partially uncovered by the shutter (e.g., allowing the optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector to be optically coupled to the optical modem).

[0105] Example 6. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of any preceding Example, wherein the optical modem connector comprises: a push-pull connector (e.g., comprising a push-pull latching mechanism); or a screw-in connector.

[0106] Example 7. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of any preceding Example, wherein the optical modem connector comprises any one of: a ferrule connector; a straight tip ST connector; a Lucent connector; a subscriptor connector.

[0107] Example 8. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 3 or any one of Examples 4 to 7 as dependent on Example 3, further comprising a spool, wherein the first end of the optical fibre is deployable from the spool by way of at least partially unwinding optical fibre from around the spool, and wherein the optical fibre is retractable onto the spool by way of at least partially winding optical fibre around the spool.

[0108] Example 9. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 8, wherein the spool is biased to urge the optical fibre to retract onto the spool.

[0109] Example 10. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 3 or any one of Examples 4 to 9 as dependent on Example 3, further comprising a housing containing part of the optical fibre, wherein the optical fibre extends through an opening in the housing such that the first end of the optical fibre is external to the housing.

[0110] Example 11. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 10, wherein: the optical modem connector is disposed on a (e.g., external) surface of the housing; or wherein the optical modem connector protrudes through a (e.g., external) surface of the housing; or wherein the optical modem connector is contained within the housing and is accessible through an opening in a (e.g., external) surface of the housing.

[0111] Example 12. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 11, wherein the surface is a first surface and wherein the housing further comprises a mounting surface (e.g. extending orthogonally or substantially orthogonally or at least in a direction having a component orthogonal to the first surface) coupled to the first surface, wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is mountable internally in a premises by way of the mounting surface; wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a hinged shutter rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the shutter (e.g., fully) covers the optical modem connector (e.g., at least an optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector) when the shutter is in the closed position and the optical modem connector (e.g., at least an optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector) is at least partially uncovered by the shutter (e.g., allowing the optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector to be optically coupled to the optical modem) when the shutter is in the open position; wherein the hinged shutter is disposed on a downward facing surface of the housing of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus (i.e., a surface of the housing of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus which can face downwards when the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is mounted internally in a premises, e.g,. to an internal wall thereof, by way of the mounting surface); and wherein the optical modem connector is intersected by a (e.g., vertical) plane which extends through a volume between a (e.g., vertical) plane of the mounting surface and a (e.g., vertical) plane of the hinged shutter when the hinged shutter is in the open position.

[0112] Example 13. A system for providing connectivity between an optical fibre network and an optical modem, the system comprising: the optical fibre network coupling apparatus of Example 3 or any one of Examples 4 to 12 as dependent on Example 3 mounted internally in a premises; wherein the first end of the optical fibre of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is optically coupled to the optical fibre network (e.g., by way of an optical fibre network distribution box).

[0113] Example 14. The system of Example 13, further comprising an optical fibre network distribution box (e.g. disposed externally or internally to the premises), wherein the first end of the optical fibre of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is optically coupled (e.g. fusion spliced) to a distribution optical fibre of, or extending from, the optical fibre network distribution box.

[0114] Example 15. The system of Example 13 or Example 14 when dependent on Example 11 wherein: the surface is a downward facing surface.

[0115] Example 16. The system of any one of Examples 13 to 15, wherein the system further comprises an optical test head optically coupled to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus (e.g., by way of the network distribution box), the optical test head configured to transmit light (e.g., light within the test wavelength range) to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus (e.g. by way of the network distribution box) and to determine an integrity of the optical fibre of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus depending on a power (e.g. a temporal power profile) of light (e.g., light within the test wavelength range) reflected by the optical reflector of the optical network coupling apparatus to the optical test head.

[0116] Example 17. The system of Example 16, wherein one or both of the optical test head and the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a respective transceiver having an El grading or above (e.g., an E2 grading) in accordance with the ITU-T G.9807.1 Recommendation standard (e.g. at least in accordance with the "02 / 23" ITU-T G.9807.1 Recommendation standard approved in 22 February 2023 which can be found here: https: / / www.itu .int / rec / T-REC-G.9807.1 / e n).

[0117] Example 18. The system of any one of Examples 13 to 17, wherein the housing of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a downward facing surface and a mounting surface (e.g. extending orthogonally or substantially orthogonally or at least in a direction having a component orthogonal to the downward facing surface), wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is mounted internally in the premises by way of the mounting surface; wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a hinged shutter rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the shutter (e.g., fully) covers the optical modem connector (e.g., at least an optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector) when the shutter is in the closed position and wherein the optical modem connector (e.g., at least an optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector) is at least partially uncovered by the shutter (e.g., allowing the optical transceiving portion of the optical modem connector to be optically coupled to the optical modem) when the shutter is in the open position; wherein the optical modem connector is disposed on, protrudes through or is accessible by way of a port extending through the downward facing surface of the housing of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus; and wherein the optical modem connector is intersected by a (e.g., vertical) plane which extends through a volume between (e.g., a vertical plane of) the mounting surface and (e.g., a vertical plane of) the hinged shutter when the hinged shutter is in the open position.

[0118] Example 19. A system for providing connectivity between an optical fibre network and a plurality of optical modems disposed within a multi-premises unit (e.g., each optical modem of said plurality of optical modems to be disposed in a respective premises of the multi-premises unit), the multi-premises unit comprising a plurality of premises, the system comprising: a plurality of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of Example 3 or any one of Examples 4 to 12 as dependent on Example 3; wherein respective ones of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses are mounted internally in respective ones of the plurality of premises of the multi-premises unit; and wherein the respective first end of the respective optical fibre of each of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses is optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of an optical splitter.

[0119] Example 20. The system of Example 19, further comprising an optical test head (OTH) of the optical fibre network optically coupled to each of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, the optical test head configured to: transmit light (e.g., having a wavelength within the test wavelength range) to the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses; and determine an integrity of an optical coupling between the OTH and one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses depending on a power of light received at the optical test head (e.g., a power of light having a wavelength within the test wavelength range received at the optical test head) having been reflected by the optical reflector of said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses.

[0120] Example 21. The system of Example 20, wherein the optical test head is further configured to determine said integrity of said optical coupling depending on (e.g., based on a comparison of an integrity indicator depending on the power of light received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflector of said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and) predetermined integrity reference data.

[0121] Example 22. The system of Example 21, wherein the optical test head is configured to determine said integrity of said optical coupling by factoring out light (e.g., factoring out contributions to said power of light) received at the optical test head having been reflected from the respective reflectors of the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses (e.g., by identifying light received from the reflector of said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses) depending on the predetermined integrity reference data (e.g., depending on predetermined integrity reference data associated with said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, or predetermined integrity reference data associated with said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses).

[0122] Example 23. The system of any one of Examples 19 to 22, wherein the optical test head is configured to determine respective integrities of a plurality of optical couplings between the OTH and two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses depending on respective powers of light received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflectors of said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses.

[0123] Example 24. The system of Example 23, wherein the optical test head is further configured to determine said integrities of said optical couplings depending on (e.g., based on a comparison of respective integrity indicators depending on the power of light received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflectors of respective ones of said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and) predetermined integrity reference data.

[0124] Example 25. The system of Example 24, wherein the optical test head is configured to determine said integrities of each of said two or more optical couplings by factoring out light received at the optical test head (e.g., contributions to said power of light received at the optical test head) having been reflected from the respective reflectors of the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses (e.g., by identifying light received from the reflectors of respective ones of said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses) depending on the predetermined integrity reference data (e.g., depending on predetermined integrity reference data associated with said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, or predetermined integrity reference data associated with said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses and predetermined integrity reference data associated with the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses).

Claims

1. Optical fibre network coupling apparatus for optically coupling an optical modem to an optical fibre network, the apparatus comprising:an optical modem connector for optically coupling the apparatus to the optical modem; andan optical reflector configured to reflect light received from the optical fibre network back to the optical fibre network.

2. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical reflector is configured to reflect light having a wavelength within a test wavelength range received from the optical fibre network back to the optical fibre network and to transmit light having a wavelength within a communication wavelength range received from the optical fibre network to the optical modem connector.

3. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising: an optical fibre having a first end and a second end;wherein the first end of the optical fibre is optically couplable or optically coupled to the optical fibre network;wherein the optical modem connector is optically couplable or optically coupled to the second end of the optical fibre, the optical fibre for thereby forming an optical path between the first end of the optical fibre and the optical modem connector; andwherein the optical reflector is disposed in the optical path.

4. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the optical reflector is incorporated into the optical fibre.

5. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a shutter movable between a closed position in which the shutter covers the optical modem connector and an open position in which the optical modem connector is at least partially uncovered by the shutter.

6. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the optical modem connector comprises: a push-pull connector; or a screw-in connector.

7. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the optical modem connector comprises any one of: a ferrule connector; a straight tip, ST, connector; a Lucent connector; a subscriptor connector.

8. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 7 as dependent on claim 3, further comprising a spool, wherein the first end of the optical fibre is deployable from the spool by way of at least partially unwinding optical fibre from around the spool, and wherein the optical fibre is retractable onto the spool by way of at least partially winding optical fibre around the spool.

9. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spool is biased to urge the optical fibre to retract onto the spool.

10. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 9 as dependent on claim 3, further comprising a housing containing part of the optical fibre, wherein the optical fibre extends through an opening in the housing such that the first end of the optical fibre is external to the housing.

11. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the optical modem connector is disposed on a surface of the housing; or wherein the optical modem connector protrudes through a surface of the housing; or wherein the optical modem connector is contained within the housing and is accessible through an opening in a surface of the housing.

12. The optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the surface is a first surface and wherein the housing further comprises a mounting surface coupled to the first surface, wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is mountable internally in a premises by way of the mounting surface;wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a hinged shutter rotatable between an open position and a closed position,wherein the shutter covers the optical modem connector when the shutter is in the closed position and the optical modem connector is at least partially uncovered by the shutter when the shutter is in the open position;wherein the hinged shutter is disposed on a downward facing surface of the housing of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus;and wherein the optical modem connector is intersected by a plane which extends through a volume between a plane of the mounting surface and a plane of the hinged shutter when the hinged shutter is in the open position.

13. A system for providing connectivity between an optical fibre network and an optical modem, the system comprising:the optical fibre network coupling apparatus of claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 12 as dependent on claim 3 mounted internally in a premises;wherein the first end of the optical fibre of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is optically coupled to the optical fibre network.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an optical fibre network distribution box, wherein the first end of the optical fibre of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is optically coupled to a distribution optical fibre of, or extending from, the optical fibre network distribution box.

15. The system of claim 13 or claim 14 when dependent on claim 11 wherein: the surface is a downward facing surface.

16. The system of any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising an optical test head optically coupled to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus, the optical test head configured to transmit light to the optical fibre network coupling apparatus and to determine an integrity of the optical fibre of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus depending on a power of light reflected by the optical reflector of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus to the optical test head.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein one or both of the optical test head and the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a transceiver or a respective transceiver having an El grading or above in accordance with the ITU-T G.9807.1 Recommendation standard.

18. The system of any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the housing of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a downward facing surface and a mounting surface, wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus is mounted internally in the premises by way of the mounting surface;wherein the optical fibre network coupling apparatus comprises a hinged shutter rotatable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the shutter covers the optical modem connector when the shutter is in the closed position and wherein the optical modem connector is at least partially uncovered by the shutter when the shutter is in the open position;wherein the optical modem connector is disposed on, protrudes through or is accessible by way of a port extending through the downward facing surface of the housing of the optical fibre network coupling apparatus;and wherein the optical modem connector is intersected by a plane which extends through a volume between the mounting surface and the hinged shutter when the hinged shutter is in the open position.

19. A system for providing connectivity between an optical fibre network and a plurality of optical modems disposed within a multi-premises unit, the multi-premises unit comprising a plurality of premises, the system comprising:a plurality of the optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of claim 3 or any one of claims 4 to 12 as dependent on claim 3;wherein respective ones of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses are mounted internally in respective ones of the plurality of premises of the multi-premises unit; andwherein the respective first end of the respective optical fibre of each of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses is optically coupled to the optical fibre network by way of an optical splitter.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising an optical test head (OTH) of the optical fibre network optically coupled to each of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses, the optical test head configured to:transmit light to the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses; and determine an integrity of an optical coupling between the OTH and one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses depending on a power of light received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflector of said one of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the optical test head is further configured to determine said integrity of said optical coupling depending on predetermined integrity reference data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the optical test head is configured to determine said integrity of said optical coupling by factoring out light received at the optical test head having been reflected from the respective reflectors of the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses depending on the predetermined integrity reference data.

23. The system of any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the optical test head is configured to determine respective integrities of a plurality of optical couplings between the OTH and two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses depending on respective powers of light received at the optical test head having been reflected by the optical reflectors of said two or more of the plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the optical test head is further configured to determine said integrities of said optical couplings depending on predetermined integrity reference data.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the optical test head is configured to determine said integrities of each of said two or more optical couplings by factoring out light received at the optical test head having been reflected from the respective reflectors of the other optical fibre network coupling apparatuses of said plurality of optical fibre network coupling apparatuses depending on the predetermined integrity reference data.

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