Multi-Transport Optical Network Terminal Upgrade Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Upgrading optical network terminals (ONTs) from legacy ATM transport to next-generation Ethernet transport is labor-intensive and costly, requiring physical replacement of ONTs at subscriber premises, which is time-consuming and expensive due to the need for technicians to visit multiple locations.
Innovation Solution
ONTs are designed with both legacy and next-generation transport engines, allowing them to selectively switch between ATM and Ethernet transports, enabling remote configuration and auto-detection of transport protocols, thus eliminating the need for physical upgrades and reducing hardware costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ONTs are upgraded from legacy ATM transport to next-generation Ethernet transport by physical replacement, then transport capability is improved, but labor cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ONT device is designed to support multiple transport modes (ATM and Ethernet) within a single device. The system includes both a first transport engine for ATM and a second transport engine for Ethernet, allowing the same physical ONT to adapt to different transport protocols without requiring replacement. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling transport capability improvement while eliminating the need for physical replacement and associated time losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The ONT is configured to dynamically select between different transport engines based on the required transport mode. The system can switch between ATM and Ethernet transport protocols as needed, providing adaptability without physical changes. This dynamic capability allows the ONT to improve transport capability while avoiding the time-consuming physical replacement process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ONTs are upgraded from legacy ATM transport to next-generation Ethernet transport by physical replacement, then transport capability is improved, but labor cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing the ONT to universally support both ATM and Ethernet transport modes within a single device, the system eliminates the need for separate legacy and next-generation ONTs. This universality reduces deployment costs by avoiding the purchase, installation, and configuration of multiple different device types, while still providing improved transport capability through the Ethernet engine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of legacy ATM transport and next-generation Ethernet transport into a single ONT device. By combining both transport engines in one unit, the system reduces overall deployment costs compared to replacing all ONTs with separate next-generation devices, while achieving the transport capability improvement through the integrated Ethernet functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If ONTs are upgraded from legacy ATM transport to next-generation Ethernet transport by physical replacement, then next-generation transport is achieved, but hardware cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ONT is designed as a universal device that contains both ATM and Ethernet transport engines, eliminating the need to deploy separate hardware for legacy and next-generation transports. This reduces the total quantity of hardware required while achieving next-generation transport protocol support through the integrated Ethernet capability within the same device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines legacy ATM transport functionality and next-generation Ethernet transport functionality into a single integrated ONT hardware unit. This merging reduces the overall quantity of hardware needed compared to deploying separate legacy and next-generation ONTs, while still providing full next-generation transport protocol support through the combined architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to devices and methods for facilitating the upgrade of optical networks. An optical network terminal (ONT) that terminates an optical fiber link of an optical network comprises two or more transport engines that each converts data transmitted via different transports to data corresponding to a service. For example, the ONT may include a first transport engine and a second transport engine. The first transport engine converts data received over the optical network via a first transport, e.g., a legacy transport, into data corresponding to a service for one or more subscriber devices. The second transport engine converts the data received over the optical network via a second transport, e.g., a next generation transport, into the data corresponding to the service for the subscriber devices. The ONT is selectively configurable to select one of the first and second transport engines, thereby making the ONT upgrade-resilient.