Optical Network Terminal Gateway Segmentation for Installation Simplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of optical network terminals (ONTs) is cumbersome and costly due to the need for multiple cable runs through walls for connecting subscriber devices and power supplies, making installation, replacement, and protocol changes time-consuming and inflexible.
Innovation Solution
Relocating gateway and MAC layer functionality from the ONT to a subscriber gateway device within the premises, allowing for a single cable connection and enabling the ONT to support multiple optical network protocols, reducing the need for truck rolls and hardware upgrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple cable runs through walls are used to connect ONT to subscriber devices and power supplies, then reliable service delivery is achieved, but installation complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gateway and MAC layer functionality from the ONT and relocates it to a separate subscriber gateway device positioned inside the premises. This separation allows the ONT to be mounted outside without requiring multiple cable runs through walls, as only a single cable connection is needed to the gateway device, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining service reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The subscriber gateway device acts as an intermediary between the ONT (mounted outside) and the subscriber devices (located inside). It receives optical signals from the ONT via a single cable run through the wall, then distributes signals to various subscriber devices using existing indoor wiring infrastructure, thus eliminating the need for multiple external cable penetrations
2Ease of repair
If ONT is mounted outside premises for easy access, then maintenance and replacement are simplified, but multiple cable runs through walls are required increasing installation cost and time
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting gateway functionality from the ONT and placing it in a separate indoor gateway device, the system requires only a single cable connection through the wall. This reduces the technical work involved in installation (skilled technician time) while maintaining easy external access to the ONT for maintenance purposes
3Reliability
If industrial temperature rated components are used in outdoor ONT, then reliability in environmental variations is improved, but hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two distinct parts: the ONT (outdoor unit with industrial temperature components) and the subscriber gateway device (indoor unit). This segmentation allows the expensive industrial components to be confined only to the outdoor ONT where environmental exposure occurs, while the indoor gateway device can use less expensive commercial-grade components, thereby reducing overall hardware costs while maintaining environmental reliability at the critical outdoor interface
4Ease of operation
If single cable connection is used between ONT and gateway device, then installation is simplified and costs reduced, but protocol flexibility may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The subscriber gateway device incorporates a reconfigurable optical MAC unit that can be dynamically reconfigured to support different optical network protocols (GPON, BPON, GEPON, active Ethernet). This dynamic capability allows a single cable connection to maintain protocol flexibility, as the gateway device can adapt to different protocols without requiring physical reconfiguration or additional cable runs
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises an optical network terminal (ONT) that terminates an optical fiber link of an optical network to provide an optical network interface. The ONT may include an optical module that receives optical signals via the optical fiber link and converts the optical signals to electrical signals and an optical media access control (MAC) unit that converts at least some of the electrical signals to data units. The optical MAC unit may be selectively configurable to support a plurality of optical network protocols. For example, the optical MAC unit is selectively configurable to support two or more of BPON protocol, a GPON protocol, a GEPON protocol and an active Ethernet protocol. In one instance, the optical MAC unit is selectively configurable to support at least one active optical network protocol and at least one passive optical network protocol.