Multi-functional device for communications networks and methods and systems utilizing same

A system for communication service, comprising:

• a first communication network;
• a second communication network;
• a communication device on the first network, wherein the communication device comprises a plurality of ports connected to circuitry having a plurality of input amplifiers, a plurality of output amplifiers, and a plurality of retimers;
• a plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant devices connected in the plurality of ports;
• a communication service interfaced to each of the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant devices;
• wherein the system is adapted to aggregate communication services from a plurality of lower service capacity connectors and interfaces to a single higher capacity connector and interface;
• and
• a demarcation point established by the communication device.

A method for communication service, comprising:

• providing a communication device comprising a plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SPF variant ports, a single Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port, and circuitry connected to the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant ports and the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port, wherein the circuitry includes a plurality of input amplifiers, a plurality of output amplifiers, and a plurality of retimers;
• interfacing first network communication equipment with the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant ports by inserting a Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant device into each of the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant ports, and connecting each of the Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant devices to the first network communication equipment;
• interfacing second network communication equipment with the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port by inserting a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant device into each of the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port, and connecting the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant device to the second network communication equipment;
• aggregating communication services from a plurality of lower service capacity connectors and interfaces to a single higher capacity connector and interface;
• and
• establishing a demarcation point with the communication device.

A system for communication service, comprising:

• a first communication network;
• a second communication network;
• a communication device on the first network, wherein the communication device comprises a plurality of ports connected to circuitry having a plurality of input amplifiers, a plurality of output amplifiers, and a plurality of retimers;
• a plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant devices connected in the plurality of ports;
• a communication service interfaced to each of the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant devices;
• wherein the system is adapted to aggregate communication services from a plurality of lower service capacity connectors and interfaces to a single higher capacity connector and interface;
• and
• wherein the system is adapted to extend communication services established by the communication device.

A method for communication service, comprising:

• providing a communication device comprising a plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SPF variant ports, a single Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port, and circuitry connected to the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant ports and the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port, wherein the circuitry includes a plurality of input amplifiers, a plurality of output amplifiers, and a plurality of retimers;
• interfacing first network communication equipment with the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant ports by inserting a Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant device into each of the plurality of Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant ports, and connecting each of the Small Form-factor Pluggable SFP variant devices to the first network communication equipment;
• interfacing second network communication equipment with the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port by inserting a Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant device into each of the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant port, and connecting the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable QSFP variant device to the second network communication equipment;
• aggregating communication services from a plurality of lower service capacity connectors and interfaces to a single higher capacity connector and interface;
• and
• extending communication services with the communication device.