PON On-Ramp Facility Qualification for Service-Aware Network Provisioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for connecting new service locations to passive optical networks (PON) are manual, time-intensive, and rely heavily on technician expertise, often failing to consider critical factors like network equipment, loading, and redundancies, leading to inefficient resource usage and potential service gaps.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses processors to obtain geospatial data and filter candidate on-ramp facilities based on required services, selecting the optimal facility for service delivery via a PON, automating the process to ensure efficient and reliable network connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual technician-based methods are used to determine splice points and connect new service locations, then flexibility in handling various field conditions is maintained, but the process becomes time-intensive, costly, and inconsistent across different technicians

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFlexibility in handling field conditionsVSAvoidConnection speed and cost efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically determining optimal splice points and connection paths without requiring manual technician intervention. The processor-based system queries the PON database, filters on-ramp facilities based on geospatial coordinates and service requirements, and autonomously generates connection recommendations, eliminating the need for technicians to physically travel to prospect locations while maintaining consistent, data-driven decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical field-based assessment process with an automated information processing system. Instead of technicians physically evaluating locations and making manual decisions, the system uses processors to query databases, analyze geospatial data, filter candidate on-ramp facilities, and generate connection recommendations automatically, substituting human manual work with automated computational processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If technicians rely on convenience or proximity to determine splice points, then the connection process is simplified, but critical factors such as network equipment capabilities, loading conditions, and redundancies are overlooked

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSimplicity of splice point selectionVSAvoidService delivery reliability and resource optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary filtering and evaluation of on-ramp facilities before final connection decisions are made. The processor queries the PON database to obtain information about candidate on-ramp facilities, filters them based on geospatial coordinates and service requirements, and pre-identifies optimal connections before field deployment, ensuring that all critical factors are considered in advance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by querying the PON database for information about network equipment, capabilities, and loading conditions of candidate on-ramp facilities. This feedback loop allows the system to evaluate multiple factors including redundancies and service capabilities, ensuring that connection decisions are based on comprehensive data rather than simple proximity alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional manual techniques are used for on-ramp facility qualification, then individual technician expertise can be applied, but the process becomes highly manual, cost-intensive, and time-intensive requiring physical travel to prospect locations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTechnician expertise applicationVSAvoidTime for field investigation and connection setup
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual representation of the physical network by querying the PON database for information about on-ramp facilities, their geospatial coordinates, and their connection to serving offices. This digital model allows the system to simulate and evaluate connection paths without requiring physical travel to prospect locations, replicating the information-gathering process in a virtual environment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automated system as an intermediary between the prospect service location and the physical network infrastructure. Instead of technicians directly traveling to and assessing physical locations, the automated system acts as an intermediary that queries databases, filters candidates, and generates recommendations, eliminating the need for physical field investigation while maintaining comprehensive evaluation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Area of stationary object

If conventional techniques are used that do not consider external network providers, then the network footprint is reduced, but service locations may require larger paths and extended footprints to connect to the network

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNetwork footprintVSAvoidConnection path length
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds a new dimension to the connection evaluation process by incorporating external network providers into the analysis. Instead of only considering internal PON resources, the processor queries the PON database to identify on-ramp facilities that may connect to external providers, creating a multi-dimensional evaluation that considers both internal and external connection options to optimize the balance between footprint and path length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12483814B1Systems and methods for qualifying on-ramp facilities in networking systems
Publication Date: 2025.11.25 FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS LLC
  • US12483814B1 patent drawing
  • US12483814B1 patent drawing
  • US12483814B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Techniques for qualifying on-ramp facilities of a networking system in which a PON is included include obtaining indications of a new service location and a set of required services to be provided via the PON at the new service location, and filtering, based on geospatial coordinates of the location, a set of on-ramp facilities to obtain a group of candidate on-ramp facilities for the new service location, where each candidate on-ramp facility is optically connected to a respective serving office via a respective physical polyline route within the PON. The techniques additionally include selecting, from among the group of candidate on-ramp facilities and based on the required services, an on-ramp facility for providing the required services to the new service location, and optionally causing one or more services to be delivered from a serving office of the PON to the new service location via the selected on-ramp facility.