Optical Network Unit Remote Service Switching via Latching Relay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Service providers face significant operational expenses due to the need for frequent 'truck rolls' to disconnect and reconnect data services at customer premises, which could be minimized by enabling remote management and configuration of Optical Network Units (ONUs).

Innovation Solution

A remotely managed switching element within the ONU, powered from the customer premises, allows for centralized management using SNMP, OMCI, or CLI messages, enabling remote switching between central office and local services through an Ethernet operations and management layer protocol, with a latching relay that maintains state without power and uses flash memory for state preservation during outages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If service providers manually visit customer premises to disconnect and connect data services, then service configuration can be performed, but operational expenses increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice configurationVSAvoidoperational expenses

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of physical truck rolls with an automated electronic control system. The ONU includes a processor that receives control messages via communication interfaces and automatically configures service ports, substituting human technicians with electronic automation to reduce operational expenses while maintaining service configuration capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The ONU is designed to autonomously configure service ports based on received control messages without requiring external human intervention. The device self-manages service activation, deactivation, and port configuration through automated processing of management system commands, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring external service providers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If remote management is implemented, then operational expenses decrease, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational expensesVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ONU integrates multiple functions into a single device including service port configuration, power management, communication with management systems, and customer premises equipment control. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems, managing complexity through functional integration rather than proliferation of separate components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces standardized communication interfaces and protocols as intermediaries between the management system and the ONU. These standardized messaging mechanisms simplify the interaction complexities by providing uniform methods for control and status reporting, making the remote management system easier to implement and maintain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If power is lost at customer premises, then reverse powered ONU cannot operate, but service state must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidservice state maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The latching relay is designed to maintain its switched state without continuous power application. The relay sets and maintains service port connections based on previously received control messages, preserving the service state through mechanical latching that requires no continuous energy input, thereby maintaining reliability during power outages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces electronic memory systems that would require continuous power with a mechanical latching relay system. This mechanical approach uses physical latching mechanisms to maintain service port configuration without power, substituting an energy-dependent electronic system with an energy-independent mechanical system for state preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9065588B1Communications system having remotely managed and configured optical network unit

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 ADTRAN INC

AI summary

An optical network unit includes a central office interface configured to connect to a central office local loop and customer premises and provide a central office source service. A switch and a switch device is connected to the switch and has at least one service port to provide a local source service. A relay switch is connected to the at least one service port and the central office interface. A processor is connected to the switch and relay switch and configured to receive a command message and in response switch into either the central office interface and provide the central office source service or switch into the service port and provide the local source service.