Wireless Drop Terminal for FTTH Network Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of fiber drops in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks is costly and time-consuming, requiring physical access to customers' homes and reducing the efficiency of broadband bandwidth provision due to the need for digging and burying fiber cables, and existing wireless technologies are not optimized for fixed, directional links.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a wireless drop terminal and wireless optical network terminal (W-ONT) that use fixed directional wireless links over high-bandwidth wireless technology, optically coupled to the FTTH network, allowing for efficient communication between the optical line terminal and customer premises equipment without the need for physical fiber installation, using technologies like 3G/4G cellular protocols, WiMAX, and IEEE 802.11 standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fiber drops are installed using traditional methods, then reliable broadband connectivity is provided, but installation costs and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical installation process of burying fiber optic cables with a wireless communication system. Instead of physically laying fiber drops from the street to customer premises, the invention uses wireless optical communication (W-ONT) to establish connectivity through the air interface, eliminating the need for excavation and physical cable installation while maintaining reliable broadband connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless optical network terminal (W-ONT) as an intermediary device that converts optical signals to wireless signals and vice versa. This intermediary enables the transition from fiber-based communication to wireless communication, allowing fiber optic infrastructure to connect to customer premises without physical fiber drops, thereby reducing installation time and costs.
2Reliability
If fiber drops are installed using traditional methods, then broadband connectivity is established, but capital expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the costly mechanical installation process of fiber drop deployment with a wireless system. By eliminating the need for excavation, cable laying, and physical termination at customer premises, the invention significantly reduces capital expenses while maintaining the reliability of broadband connectivity through wireless optical communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a wireless copy of the fiber drop functionality through the W-ONT device. Instead of physically installing fiber cables, the system uses wireless optical signals to replicate the connectivity function, providing the same broadband service without the associated installation costs of traditional fiber drop deployment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cellular networks use omnidirectional antennas, then mobile coverage is provided, but bandwidth efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using directional antennas instead of omnidirectional antennas for the fixed wireless drop application. The directional antennas focus transmission and reception in specific directions toward the W-ONT, creating asymmetric beam patterns that concentrate energy and improve bandwidth efficiency compared to the symmetric omnidirectional coverage of cellular networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by optimizing the antenna radiation pattern for the specific application of fixed wireless drops. Instead of providing uniform omnidirectional coverage, the system uses directional antennas that concentrate energy locally in the direction of the W-ONT, improving signal quality and bandwidth efficiency for the specific point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless drop connection.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is directed to a wireless drop terminal (WDT) for use in a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network. The wireless drop terminal comprises a fiber interface to optically couple the wireless drop terminal to an optical line terminal (OLT) of the FTTH network via at least one optical fiber and a wireless interface communicatively coupled to the fiber interface. The wireless interface is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless optical network terminal (W-ONT) over a directional wireless drop. Other embodiments are disclosed.