Mesh-Based PON Fault Detection for Geographic Fiber Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passive optical networks (PON) face challenges in accurately locating fiber cuts or faults, leading to inefficient dispatch of technicians to multiple locations without knowing the systemic extent of the issue, as the Network Operations Center (NOC) lacks comprehensive knowledge of the fault's geographical impact.
Innovation Solution
A wireless mesh network overlays the PON, allowing in-common nodes to transmit signals indicative of optical connectivity loss, enabling back-end servers to localize faults based on component interconnections and received signals, even when parts of the network are unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the NOC dispatches technicians to multiple locations based on per-LMTU loss of service notifications, then technicians can investigate potential faults, but the technicians cannot efficiently locate the actual fault location and must manually coordinate their efforts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fault localizer as an intermediary system that receives loss of service notifications from multiple LMTUs, processes this information, and determines the geographic location of the fiber cut. This intermediary automatically performs the fault localization function that would otherwise require manual coordination by multiple technicians, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing coordination complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fault localizer system performs self-service by automatically processing loss of service notifications and determining fault locations without requiring manual intervention from technicians. The system independently analyzes data from multiple LMTUs and generates location information that can be directly used for technician dispatch, eliminating the need for manual coordination efforts.
2Reliability
If multiple technicians are dispatched to multiple locations to investigate service loss, then comprehensive coverage of potential faults is achieved, but the time required for fault localization increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fault localizer performs preliminary action by continuously monitoring and processing loss of service notifications from multiple LMTUs before technicians are dispatched. The system pre-determines the geographic location of the fiber cut based on the pattern of service losses, so that when technicians arrive, the fault location is already identified, significantly reducing the time required for fault localization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of multiple technicians manually investigating and coordinating their findings with an automated electronic system. The fault localizer uses electronic processing of loss of service notifications to determine fault locations, substituting the manual mechanical coordination process with automated information processing, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining reliability.
3Measurement precision
If technicians manually coordinate investigative efforts in the field, then they can narrow down the fault location, but this manual coordination process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical coordination process with an automated electronic system. The fault localizer electronically processes loss of service notifications from multiple LMTUs and automatically determines fault locations, substituting the time-consuming manual coordination efforts with efficient automated information processing, thereby improving productivity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The fault localizer performs self-service by automatically analyzing loss of service patterns and determining fault locations without requiring manual coordination. The system independently processes information from multiple LMTUs and generates location data, eliminating the need for technician coordination and significantly improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A PON system includes both a PON via which optical services are delivered and a wireless network overlaying the PON. The wireless network may be a self-organizing wireless mesh network, and may generally operate as a logical signaling pathway via which information regarding optical states/statuses of PON components and/or related information is delivered from the field to back-end servers of the PON system. Accordingly, the system may include multiple in-common nodes (e.g., OLTs, LMTUs, etc.) which are included in both the PON and the wireless network. Based on optical information received via the wireless network, the servers can localize the physical location of a PON fault to a particular geographical region of multiple regions serviced by the PON (in some cases narrowing the fault's physical location to a particular span, FDH, or optical terminal), and may dispatch a technician directly to the localized physical location to address the fault.