Ring-In-Ring PON System Reducing Fiber Infrastructure Costs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional GPON architectures require significant investment in new fiber infrastructure to extend broadband services to homes, failing to utilize existing fiber networks and resulting in inefficient bandwidth management and increased infrastructure costs.
Innovation Solution
A ring-in-ring passive optical network system that utilizes mini-optical line terminations (OLTs) and distributed passive optical network cards in a weather-hardened device, reducing the number of fibers needed by configuring them in a ring structure to serve multiple subscribers, thereby minimizing the need for new fiber installations and leveraging existing infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional GPON architecture is used to extend fiber to home, then broadband service coverage is improved, but infrastructure investment cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional centralized OLT into multiple distributed mini-OLTs, each serving a specific neighborhood or building cluster. This segmentation allows fiber deployment to be broken into smaller, more manageable units that can be implemented incrementally, reducing upfront infrastructure investment while expanding service coverage gradually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical network structure where mini-OLTs are nested within existing cable company infrastructure. The mini-OLTs connect to each other and to the central office through a mesh topology, creating nested layers of network organization that leverage existing assets while adding fiber capability.
2Reliability
If new fiber infrastructure is deployed to provide fiber to home, then service quality is improved, but construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mini-OLTs are designed as universal nodes that can be deployed in multiple configurations - they can serve as endpoint OLTs, intermediate routing nodes, or both simultaneously. This multi-functionality simplifies construction by using standardized components throughout the network rather than requiring different equipment types for different deployment scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic path selection and load balancing capabilities in the mini-OLTs, allowing the network to adapt traffic routing based on current conditions. This dynamic behavior simplifies construction by providing built-in redundancy and fault tolerance that automatically activates when needed, rather than requiring complex manual configuration.
3Quantity of substance
If existing fiber infrastructure is utilized, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but bandwidth capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple wavelength channels on existing fiber infrastructure using WDM technology. By merging multiple communication channels onto the same physical fiber, the system achieves higher aggregate bandwidth capacity without requiring additional fiber deployment, thus reducing infrastructure costs while meeting capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-channel fiber communication to multi-dimensional communication by implementing wavelength division multiplexing. This adds the wavelength dimension to the existing fiber infrastructure, allowing multiple data streams to coexist on the same physical medium, thereby increasing capacity without increasing physical infrastructure.
4Device complexity
If centralized OLT architecture is used, then network control is simplified, but fiber length requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized OLT function into distributed mini-OLTs located closer to customer premises. This segmentation reduces the average fiber length required to reach customers while maintaining network control through standardized protocols and centralized management software that oversees the distributed nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The mini-OLTs act as intermediary nodes between the central office and customer premises. They perform local signal processing, routing, and management functions, reducing the burden on long-haul fiber links and allowing the network to scale without proportionally increasing fiber length requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A mini-optical line termination (OLT) includes at least one management card for providing control and management functions. A plurality of network cards having a predetermined number of ports are configured to support a predetermined number of subscribers by providing a gigabit passive optical network to the subscribers. At least one network device is coupled to an upstream device and the plurality of network cards. The at least one network device is configured to control the forwarding of data between the upstream device and the subscribers.