Hybrid Optical Fiber Metallic Access Network Architecture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid fiber-copper access networks face limitations in data transmission rates due to the length of copper cables, with existing solutions like FTTP being costly and FTTC networks offering variable data rates depending on cable length.

Innovation Solution

Moving the modem from the customer premises to the distribution point and using multiple copper pairs to transmit phantom modes or additional data signals, allowing for increased data transmission capacity without requiring extensive network upgrades.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If FTTP (Fiber to the Premises) networks are installed to provide high data rates, then data transmission rates are improved, but network investment cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidnetwork investment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into optical fiber segments (from exchange to cabinet) and metallic cable segments (from cabinet to premises). This allows the expensive fiber infrastructure to be shared across multiple users while only requiring shorter, cheaper metallic drops to individual premises, reducing overall investment cost while maintaining high data rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The optical fiber infrastructure serves multiple customers simultaneously through the cabinet architecture, making the expensive fiber investment universally utilized across many users rather than requiring dedicated fiber to each premises, thereby reducing per-user investment cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Area of stationary object

If copper cable length is increased to extend network coverage, then network coverage area is improved, but data transmission rate deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoiddata transmission rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The copper cable connection is segmented into two parts: a short drop wire from the cabinet to the premises (maintaining high data rates), and the longer fiber optic backbone from the exchange to the cabinet (providing coverage extension). This segmentation allows coverage area to be extended without compromising the data transmission rate over the copper segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If G.fast transmission technology is used to increase data rates, then data transmission rate is improved, but sensitivity to copper cable length increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidtolerance to cable length variation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the transmission path so that the G.fast technology operates only over the short copper drop wire segment where high data rates are achievable, while the longer distance coverage is handled by fiber optic transmission in the backbone segment, thus maintaining both high data rates and tolerance to total connection length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11843416B2Hybrid optical fiber metallic access network

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 BRITISH TELECOM PLC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a network architecture in which the modem in a hybrid metallic-optical fiber access network is moved from the customer premises to the distribution point. Multiple copper pairs can be used to transmit phantom modes over the copper pairs to the distribution point. Alternatively, or in addition, multiple data signals can be transmitted to a single customer premises with the modem collating the multiple data signals at the distribution point.