Optical Fiber Display System for Efficient Changeover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing optical fiber changeover process is inefficient as it requires workers to communicate and confirm disconnections and connections of optical fibers within a communication building, leading to potential errors and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An optical fiber display system with core wire identification terminals that allow workers to confirm and manage optical fiber changes without being in the communication building, using bent part formation units to leak optical signals, analysis units to acquire identification numbers, and communication units to update and share information via a database.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If workers monitor optical fiber disconnection and connection within the communication building using OTDR tests, then service continuity is ensured, but work efficiency is reduced and communication coordination becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidwork efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A portable terminal device is introduced as an intermediary between the OTDR test system and workers. The terminal receives test results wirelessly and displays them on-site, eliminating the need for workers to physically coordinate within the communication building while maintaining service continuity monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical coordination system (workers physically communicating in the building) with a wireless information transmission system. Test results are transmitted via wireless communication to portable terminals, substituting human coordination with automated digital information delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If workers physically coordinate in the communication building to confirm fiber changes, then accuracy is improved, but device complexity and coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber identification accuracyVSAvoidcoordination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The portable terminal provides self-service functionality by automatically receiving, processing, and displaying OTDR test results on-site. The system serves itself by eliminating the need for external coordination, as the terminal independently presents fiber identification information to workers at the work location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If real-time monitoring is performed from the communication building, then service safety is maintained, but response time and workflow efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice safetyVSAvoidworkflow time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the information display function from the fixed spatial dimension of the communication building to the mobile dimension of portable terminals. Workers can access test results at any location along the optical cable route, adding the dimension of spatial mobility to the monitoring system and eliminating travel time to the building

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient optical fiber changeover by allowing workers to specify, disconnect, and reconnect fibers accurately and efficiently without the need for on-site communication building presence, reducing errors and improving workflow.

Implementation Method 1

bent part formation units configured to form a bent part at an optional position of an optical fiber and to leak optical signals propagating through the optical fiber from the bent part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical signal leakage from bent fiber: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11711144B2Optical fiber display system and optical fiber switching method

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

There are provided an optical fiber display system and an optical fiber changeover method each enabling an efficient optical fiber changeover work. The optical fiber display system according to the present invention includes a plurality of core wire identification terminals 101. Each of the core wire identification terminals 101 includes: bent part formation units 11 configured to form a bent part at an optional position of an optical fiber 50 and to leak optical signals propagating through the optical fiber 50 from the bent part; analysis units 12 configured to acquire identification numbers of communication apparatuses (51 and 52) included in the leaked optical signals, the communication apparatuses (51 and 52) being connected to respective ends of the optical fiber 50; a communication unit 13 configured to inquire of a database 201 storing relationship between the optical fiber and the communication apparatuses about the acquired identification numbers of the communication apparatuses, and to receive an identification number of the optical fiber 50 corresponding to the acquired identification numbers of the communication apparatuses, from the database 201; and a display unit 14 configured to display the acquired identification numbers of the communication.