PON Waypoint Devices for Fiber Path Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passive optical networks (PONs) face challenges in managing fiber paths and verifying changes without disrupting existing subscriber services, due to inefficiencies in tracking and manual updating of network connections, leading to potential service disruptions and increased anxiety for field technicians.
Innovation Solution
A system with transmitter and receiver units, waypoint devices equipped with reflective elements that embed addresses in return signals, allowing for the identification of optical path distances and network waypoints, enabling accurate mapping and validation of network changes without disrupting service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking and labelling methods are used to manage fiber paths, then implementation complexity is low, but measurement precision and reliability of fiber path verification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces waypoint devices as intermediary elements placed at specific locations along fiber paths. These devices act as mediators between the monitoring system and the fiber infrastructure, embedding address information that enables precise tracking and verification of fiber connections without requiring complex manual documentation or invasive testing procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation or copy of the physical fiber network topology through electronic records and database mappings. This digital twin approach allows the monitoring system to track and verify fiber paths by referencing stored address information and connection data, eliminating the need for complex physical tracing while maintaining high verification accuracy.
2Reliability
If field technicians perform extensive verification checks before making changes, then service disruption risk decreases, but productivity and operation speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary mapping and documentation of fiber paths, connections, and waypoint addresses before any network changes are made. This advance preparation creates a baseline record that enables rapid verification during and after changes, allowing technicians to quickly confirm service continuity without performing extensive real-time checks that would slow down operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system provides real-time feedback by comparing current network state against stored baseline information. When changes are made, the system automatically detects and verifies the new configuration, providing immediate confirmation of service continuity. This automated feedback loop eliminates the need for manual verification checks, maintaining high reliability while accelerating productivity.
3Measurement precision
If network documentation is manually updated after changes, then automation level is low, but measurement precision and accuracy of network maps deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system performs self-service by automatically detecting, recording, and updating network topology information and fiber path data when changes occur. The system uses the embedded address information from waypoint devices to autonomously maintain accurate documentation without requiring manual intervention, ensuring both high precision and full automation of the documentation update process.
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 field technicians to validate optical pathways and map PONs accurately, reducing the risk of service disruptions and improving operational efficiency by providing real-time confirmation of network components and changes.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitter configured to transmit a probe signal into the passive optical network
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of waypoint devices each including one or more reflective elements configured to embed an address of the waypoint device in the return signal
Implementation Method 3
a receiver configured to receive a return signal from the passive optical network
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and device for monitoring a passive optical network (PON). A probe signal is transmitted into the PON. A waypoint device located in the PON proximate to a network waypoint reflects one or more portions of the probe signal in a manner that embeds an address of the waypoint device in a return signal. The address is extracted from the return signal and used to identify the network waypoint associated with the waypoint device. The waypoint device may be selectively perturbed, and the perturbation detected based on changes in the reflected signal to validate the physical identity of the waypoint device.