Fiber Broadband Service Restoration via Self-Service ONT Policy Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The dispatching of human technicians to configure optical network terminals (ONTs) for fiber broadband service restoration is costly and time-consuming when service is discontinued, leading to delays in service provision.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a default policy at the broadband network gateway that allows outbound traffic from the ONT to a dedicated application server, enabling self-service subscription and automatic configuration upon customer approval, thereby restoring fiber broadband service without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human technicians are dispatched to configure optical network terminals for service restoration, then service can be restored, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where customers can independently subscribe to fiber broadband service through a self-service portal. The system automatically detects network traffic from endpoint devices, delivers service plan information, receives selections, configures customer policies, and delivers policies to broadband network gateways without requiring human technician intervention. This eliminates the need for manual dispatching and configuration by technicians.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a default policy at the broadband network gateway that allows outbound traffic from optical network terminals to a dedicated application server before actual service activation. This preliminary configuration enables the system to prepare and validate service restoration parameters in advance, allowing automatic policy configuration and service activation without waiting for manual technician intervention.
2Reliability
If human technicians are dispatched to configure optical network terminals, then service restoration can be achieved, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive human technician dispatches with an automated self-service portal that handles service restoration. The processing system automatically detects network traffic, delivers service plan information, receives customer selections, configures policies, and communicates with broadband network gateways, eliminating the need for paid technician labor while maintaining service restoration reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical process of human technician dispatching and manual configuration with an automated electronic system. The processing system uses network traffic detection, automated policy configuration, and digital communication protocols to replace the physical presence and manual operations of human technicians, thereby reducing operational costs.
3Productivity
If automated self-service configuration is implemented, then service restoration speed increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional processing system that performs multiple operations including network traffic detection, service plan information delivery, customer selection reception, policy configuration, and gateway communication through a single integrated system. This universal approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems and manual processes into one automated platform, managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated application server as an intermediary component that facilitates communication between the processing system and the broadband network gateway. This intermediary handles the complex tasks of policy configuration and traffic routing, absorbing system complexity into a dedicated component while presenting simplified interfaces to both customers and network elements.
Data Source
AI summary
One example of a method for providing automated delivery of fiber broadband service includes detecting network traffic from an endpoint device connected to an optical network terminal for which a fiber broadband service has been discontinued, wherein the network traffic has been rerouted by a broadband network gateway, delivering, to the endpoint device, information associated with at least one communication service plan that is available to a customer site associated with the optical network terminal, receiving a selection of the at least one communication service plan from the endpoint device, configuring a customer policy for the customer site in accordance with the selection, and delivering the customer policy to the broadband network gateway with an instruction to replace a default policy associated with the customer site with the customer policy.