Patent Application
20210281347
Fiber optics, or optical fiber, refers to the medium and the technology associated with the transmission of information as light pulses along a glass or plastic strand of fiber. Fiber optics may be used for long-distance and high-performance data networking.
This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art.
Disclosed herein is a system that may use a single fiber combining module (SFCM) that combines multiple wavelength channels of different optical technologies over a single fiber. In an example, a SFCM may include a gigabit passive optical network (GPON) port, wherein the GPON passes signals at a first wavelength range; a XGS PON port, wherein the XGS-PON port passes signals at a second wavelength range; a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) port, wherein the DWDM port passes signals at a third wavelength range, wherein the first frequency range, the second frequency range, and the third wavelength range are different; and a common port connected with a fiber, the common port simultaneously combining signals from the GPON port, XGS PON port, and the DWDM port.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to limitations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale.
A passive optical network (PON) is a fiber-optic telecommunications technology that may deliver broadband network access to end-subscribers. PON architecture may be implemented to use a point-to-multipoint topology, in which a single optical fiber serves multiple endpoints by using unpowered (passive) fiber optic splitters to divide the fiber bandwidth among multiple access points. PONs are often referred to as the last mile between an Internet service provider (ISP) and its subscribers.
Disclosed herein is a single fiber combining module (SFCM) that combines multiple wavelength channels of different optical technologies over a single fiber, such as a working passive optical network (PON) line.
With continued reference to
The disclosed SCFM allows different optical technologies to be combined on a single strand of fiber. The spectrum may be fragmented to the ranges herein (e.g., in
Low loss is a consideration with regard to the SCFM. In a first option, frequencies may be arranged to allow for a larger guard band and therefore simpler filter design, which may significantly reduce cost. For example, as shown in Table 2 and SFCM 131, there may be a 1529.55-1560.61 nm bandpass. This bandpass may support 32 channels with tunable bidirectionality. The arrangement associated with the first option allows for low insertion loss (e.g., <loss of 1.1 dbm) which may provide minimal impact on PON technology performance. In an example second option, there may be support of a 1524-1570 nm band. With this second option, there may be a short (e.g., <5 nm) guard band with XGS-PON signal, therefore a sharper filter implementation may be needed which may lead to a higher cost implementation than the first option.
Single Fiber Combining Module may be an electrically passive (e.g., non-powered) WDM device used to combine signals of different optical technologies. For example, SFCM may use 4 separate ports including a port for GPON, a port for XGS-PON, a DWDM Band port, and a common port with GPON signals, XGS-PON signals, and DWDM signals combined and connected through the fiber to the outside plant. The DWDM port may carry 32 DWDM grid channels at 100 GHz spacing for additional circuits on a connected and working fiber (e.g., an already utilized PON fiber).
In fiber routes without spare fibers (e.g., blocked routes or held orders), a system with SCFM may be faster than conventional methods or systems to build new services, which may not have the luxury of fiber cable jobs in the feeder section and may have the need to save the time that would be used splice connectivity along an entire fiber route. In an example implementation, the DWDM range extending from 1520 to 1570 nm may be reduced to allow guard bands between DWDM Bandpass and the downstream (DS) GPON and the downstream (DS) XGPON signals coexisting on the common port and fiber down the fiber route and providing higher isolation at lower SFCM device cost.
Network device 300 may comprise a processor 302 and a memory 304 coupled to processor 302. Memory 304 may contain executable instructions that, when executed by processor 302, cause processor 302 to effectuate operations associated with mapping wireless signal strength.
In addition to processor 302 and memory 304, network device 300 may include an input/output system 306. Processor 302, memory 304, and input/output system 306 may be coupled together (coupling not shown in
Input/output system 306 of network device 300 also may contain a communication connection 308 that allows network device 300 to communicate with other devices, network entities, or the like. Communication connection 308 may comprise communication media. Communication media typically embody computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, or wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, or other wireless media. The term computer-readable media as used herein includes both storage media and communication media. Input/output system 306 also may include an input device 310 such as keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, or touch input device. Input/output system 306 may also include an output device 312, such as a display, speakers, or a printer.
Processor 302 may be capable of performing functions associated with telecommunications, such as functions for processing broadcast messages, as described herein. For example, processor 302 may be capable of, in conjunction with any other portion of network device 300, determining a type of broadcast message and acting according to the broadcast message type or content, as described herein.
Memory 304 of network device 300 may comprise a storage medium having a concrete, tangible, physical structure. As is known, a signal does not have a concrete, tangible, physical structure. Memory 304, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is not to be construed as a signal. Memory 304, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is not to be construed as a transient signal. Memory 304, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is not to be construed as a propagating signal. Memory 304, as well as any computer-readable storage medium described herein, is to be construed as an article of manufacture.
Memory 304 may store any information utilized in conjunction with telecommunications. Depending upon the exact configuration or type of processor, memory 304 may include a volatile storage 314 (such as some types of RAM), a nonvolatile storage 316 (such as ROM, flash memory), or a combination thereof. Memory 304 may include additional storage (e.g., a removable storage 318 or a non-removable storage 320) including, for example, tape, flash memory, smart cards, CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, USB-compatible memory, or any other medium that can be used to store information and that can be accessed by network device 300. Memory 304 may comprise executable instructions that, when executed by processor 302, cause processor 302 to effectuate operations to map signal strengths in an area of interest.
While examples of a system in which SFCM can be used have been described in connection with various computing devices/processors, the underlying concepts may be applied to any computing device, processor, or system capable of facilitating a telecommunications system. The various techniques described herein may be implemented in connection with hardware or software or, where appropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the methods and devices may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in concrete, tangible, storage media having a concrete, tangible, physical structure. Examples of tangible storage media include floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, DVDs, hard drives, or any other tangible machine-readable storage medium (computer-readable storage medium). Thus, a computer-readable storage medium is not a signal. A computer-readable storage medium is not a transient signal. Further, a computer-readable storage medium is not a propagating signal. A computer-readable storage medium as described herein is an article of manufacture. When the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes a device for telecommunications. In the case of program code execution on programmable computers, the computing device will generally include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile or nonvolatile memory or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. The program(s) can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. The language can be a compiled or interpreted language and may be combined with hardware implementations.
The methods and devices associated with a telecommunications system as described herein also may be practiced via communications embodied in the form of program code that is transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as an EPROM, a gate array, a programmable logic device (PLD), a client computer, or the like, the machine becomes a device for implementing telecommunications as described herein. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique device that operates to invoke the functionality of a telecommunications system.
In describing preferred methods, systems, or apparatuses of the subject matter of the present disclosure—the SFCM—as illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The claimed subject matter, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. In addition, the use of the word “or” is generally used inclusively unless otherwise provided herein.
This written description uses examples to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the claimed subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Other variations of the examples are contemplated herein.
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, among other things, as described herein may provide for combining multiple optical technologies. In an example, an apparatus may include a GPON port, wherein the GPON passes signals at a first wavelength range; a XGS PON port, wherein the XGS PON port passes signals at a second wavelength range; a DWDM port, wherein the DWDM port passes signals at a third wavelength range, wherein the first frequency range, the second frequency range, and the third wavelength range are different; and a common port connected with a fiber, the common port simultaneously combining signals from the GPON port, XGS PON port, and the DWDM port. The first wavelength ranges may include 1480 nm-1500 nm (e.g., GPON downstream—From the central office to end station) and 1290-1360 (e.g., GPON upstream from end station to central office; 25 Gig PON upstream and downstream). The second wavelength ranges may include 1575-1581 nm (e.g., XGS-PON downstream), and 1260-1280 (e.g., XGS-PON upstream). See
