# US 10,374,746 B1 · Single mode fiber distribution design to maximize capacity and resilience in GPON deployments and use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,746 B1 - Document ID: US10374746B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/729,340 - Filed: 2017-10-10 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-10 - Assignees: Frontier Communications Corporation - Applicants: Frontier Communications Corporation - Inventors: Jonathan Gordon Lawrence - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374746B1 ## CPC - H04B 10/071: using a reflected signal, e.g. using optical time domain reflectometers [OTDR] - H04J 14/0282: {WDM tree architectures} - G02B 6/448: {Ribbon cables} - H04B 10/25: Arrangements specific to fibre transmission - H04B 10/27: Arrangements for networking - H04B 10/272: Star-type networks {or tree-type networks} - H04L 5/14: Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex - H04Q 11/0067: {Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring} - G02B 6/4454: {with splices} - H04Q 2011/0081: {Fault tolerance; Redundancy; Recovery; Reconfigurability} - H04Q 2011/0083: {Testing; Monitoring} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A gigabit passive optical network (GPON) includes: at least one strand of optical fiber optically coupled to a fiber distribution hub and terminating at a termination port, the strand optically coupled to another termination port, the strand thus configured to provide a full duplex optical path for the GPON. A method of communication, a method of testing and a method of configuring a network are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gigabit passive optical network (GPON) comprising: at least one strand of a plurality of strands of optical fiber optically connected to a first fiber distribution hub and an access terminal, the same at least one strand optically connected to a second fiber distribution hub and the same access terminal, the at least one strand thus providing a full duplex optical path in a first direction from the first fiber distribution hub to the access terminal and in a second direction from the second fiber distribution hub to the same access terminal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 1, wherein the strand of optical fiber comprises a single-mode optical fiber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 1, wherein the optical connecting of the strand comprises a splice to the strand. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 3, wherein the splice comprises one of a fiber loop back plug and an optical fiber jumper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 3, wherein the splice comprises an optical connection to a pigtail of the strand. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 1, further comprising at least another fiber distribution hub optically linked to at least one of the fiber distribution hubs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 6, wherein the fiber distribution hub optically linked to at least one of the fiber distribution hubs are configured in an East West distribution design. ### Claim 8 A method for providing communications service using a gigabit passive optical network (GPON), the method comprising: configuring the GPON with a plurality of strands of optical fiber that are optically connected to at least a first fiber distribution hub and an access terminal, and optically connecting each one of the strands to a second fiber distribution hub and the same access terminal, each of the strands thus providing a full duplex optical path in a first direction from the first fiber distribution hubs to the access terminal and in a second direction from the second fiber distribution hub to the same access terminal; communicating optical signals through the plurality of strands of optical fiber; and upon loss of service to a subscriber on a communications pathway of a strand of the plurality of strands of optical fiber, switching communication from the first fiber distribution hub to the second fiber distribution hub to restore service on the same strand to the subscriber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method for providing communications service using a gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 8, further comprising switching communication at a splitter of the GPON. ### Claim 10 A method for evaluating performance of a gigabit passive optical network (GPON), the method comprising: configuring the GPON with a plurality of strands of optical fiber that are optically connected to at least a first fiber distribution hub and an access terminal, and optically connecting each one of the strands to a second fiber distribution hub and the same access terminal, each of the strands thus providing a full duplex optical path in a first direction from the first fiber distribution hubs to the access terminal and in a second direction from the second fiber distribution hub to the same access terminal; performing optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR) measurements at least one fiber distribution hub. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method for evaluating performance of a gigabit passive optical network (GPON) as in claim 10, wherein optically connecting the strands of optical fiber comprises splicing each strand to one of a fiber loop back plug and an optical fiber jumper. ### Claim 12 A method for configuring a gigabit passive optical network (GPON), the method comprising: optically connecting at least one strand of optical fiber to a first fiber distribution hub and optically connecting the at least one strand at an access terminal; and optically connecting the same at least one strand to a second fiber distribution hub and optically connecting the at least one strand at the same access terminal, the at least one strand thus providing a full duplex optical path in a first direction from the first fiber distribution hubs to the access terminal and in a second direction from the second fiber distribution hub to the same access terminal. ### Claim 13 A gigabit passive optical network (GPON) comprising: a plurality of strands of optical fiber optically connected to a first fiber distribution hub and an access terminal, each of the strands of the plurality of strands optically connected to a second fiber distribution hub and the same access terminal, the plurality of strands thus providing a full duplex optical path in a first direction from the first fiber distribution hub to the access terminal and in a second direction from the second fiber distribution hub to the same access terminal; wherein one strand of the plurality of strands provides services to a plurality of subscribers on the GPON.