Fiber Optic Access Network Deployment with Pedestal Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fiber optic access network deployments in brown field environments require extensive upfront costs and disruptions, as they involve installing fiber optic cables to all pedestals regardless of customer demand for high data rate services, leading to inefficiencies and increased expenses.
Innovation Solution
The deployment of a fiber optic based access network using a daisy-chain topology with disjoint fiber optic cable segments and distributors at pedestals, allowing incremental installation based on customer demand, with each pedestal connected to an optical access head-end via unique fiber optic cable segments and drop cables, enabling efficient routing of user data and reducing upfront costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fiber optic cables are installed to all pedestals regardless of customer demand, then communication services can be provided to all customer premises, but upfront costs and disruptions increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber optic network is divided into discrete cable segments that can be independently deployed between specific pedestals. Each segment serves a specific group of customer premises, allowing the network to be built incrementally based on demand rather than deploying infrastructure to all locations simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial deployment by installing fiber optic cables only to pedestals where customers have expressed demand for high data rate services. This avoids the excessive action of deploying infrastructure to all pedestals regardless of need, thereby reducing upfront costs while still providing service coverage where required.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fiber optic cables are installed to all pedestals regardless of customer demand, then communication services can be provided to all customer premises, but disruptions increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the network deployment into discrete cable segments between specific pedestals, the patent minimizes the scope of disruptions at any given time. Work is confined to specific locations rather than city-wide infrastructure disruption, allowing normal operations to continue in unaffected areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Partial deployment to only those pedestals with customer demand reduces the overall disruption footprint. Fewer construction sites, fewer affected customers, and shorter installation timelines result from deploying only where needed rather than universally.
3Quantity of substance
If a single fiber optic cable is used to provide services from a pedestal to multiple customer premises, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but the ability to route user data efficiently decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single cable approach into multiple discrete cable segments, each serving specific pedestals and customer groups. This segmentation enables independent routing control at each segment boundary through distributors and switches, simplifying data routing decisions compared to a single complex shared cable system.
Solution Approach 2:
Distributors and switches are introduced as intermediary devices at pedestal locations to manage data routing between cable segments. These intermediaries simplify the routing function by localizing decision-making at each network node rather than requiring complex centralized control for a single shared cable system.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to deploy fiber optic based access networks are disclosed. An example access network comprises a first fiber optic cable segment to couple an optical access head-end to a first pedestal and to transport user data, a second fiber optic cable segment to couple the first pedestal to a second pedestal and to transport a first portion of the user data to the second pedestal, a drop cable segment to couple the first pedestal to a customer premises and to transport a second portion of the user data to the customer premises, and a switch at the first pedestal to route the first portion of the user data between the first and second fiber optic cable segments and to route the second portion of the user data between the first fiber optic cable segment and the drop cable segment.