# US 2013/0156430 A1 · Device for using a broadband network at a customer's premises, method of operating such a device and broadband network system utilizing such a device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0156430 A1 - Document ID: US20130156430A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/575,714 - Filed: 2011-01-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-01-28 - Assignees: Genexis B.V. - Inventors: Maarten Egmond; Gerard Nicolaas Van Den Hoven; Paulus Ferdinand Joseph Schepers; Maurice Martinus De Laat; Jori Pieter Andre Spaa; Jacob Hendrik Martin Berends - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156430A1 ## CPC - H04B 10/27: Arrangements for networking - H04Q 1/028: {Subscriber network interface devices} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract The invention relates to a piece of customer premises equipment (CPE) comprising a physical connector (21) for linking to a broadband network and a distributing structure (NTU, 24) that is connected to said physical connector for distributing broadband elements over one or more service modules (RGUs A, B, C, D) for associated customer modules (CUEs E, F, G, H). According to the invention, said distributing structure (NTU, 24) comprises a plurality of mechanically modularly arranged connector facilities (25) at an interface between the distributing structure and the service modules so as to provide a repeatedly mechanically exchangeable connection for a service module (RGU) belonging to one service provider from a range of mutually distinct service providers each time. The distributing structure (NTU, 24) is further provided with means (26, 27) for making said mutually distinct service providers indiscriminately exchangeable among said connector facilities (25). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device (CPE) for using a broadband network at a customer's premises comprising a physical connector (21) for linking to the broadband network and a distributing structure (NTU, 24) that is connected to said physical connector for distributing broadband elements over one or more service modules (RGUs A, B, C, D) for associated customer modules (CUEs E, F, G, H), characterized in that said distributing structure (NTU) comprises a plurality of mechanically modularly arranged connector facilities (25) at an interface between said distributing structure and said service modules so as to provide a repeatedly mechanically exchangeable connection for a service module (RGU) belonging to one service provider from a range of mutually distinct service providers, and in that said distributing structure (NTU, 24) is provided with means (26, 27) for making said mutually distinct service providers indiscriminately exchangeable among said connector facilities (25). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributing structure is provided with means (26, 27) for rendering both service modules (RGU) and respective expansion modules (EXU) exchangeable, without regard to differences in service applications, by means of mechanical connection to said connector facilities. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a combining module (86) is provided for joining together different services at media/user ports through connection of a plurality of connector facilities of respective service modules (RGU). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector facilities are operative by means of an abutment element (122) that acts in one direction and a plug-in connector (108/120) that acts in a second direction transverse to the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said physical connection is provided with a glass fiber termination unit (FTU, 20). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributing structure (NTU) and the one or more service modules (RGU) are each provided with a separate processor, the processor of the NTU being preferably orthogonally oriented. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector facilities are included with parallel operation in a chain (76) and are preferably connected in parallel to a central switching unit (93) of said distributing structure (NTU). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, provided with optical communication means (46) between the distributing structure (NTU, 24) and the service modules (RGU). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1 and accommodated in an enveloping housing (100/102) with plug-in connectors for service modules (RGUs, 106) and/or expansion modules (EXUs, 115). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a service module (RGU) on the distributing structure (NTU) is provided with a fixed address and a fixed coupling between service module (RGU) identification and service provider. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributing structure (NTU) and the service modules (RGUs) directly exchange information locally so as to achieve an optimum distribution of the available bandwidth. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the customer can provide input to the distributing structure (NTU), which input is used for setting the service modules (RGUs). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A broadband network system using a device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the broadband network is preferably implemented as a glass fiber communication system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method of operating a device as claimed in claim 1, wherein two processes are carried out in the broadband network, comprising a first process in which data are transported from the central unit to the customer's premises and a second process in which the data are converted into services useful to the customer, the first process being carried out in the distributing structure (NTU) and the second process being carried out in the service module (RGU). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the customer connects the service module (RGU) to a port of the distributing structure (NTU), the distributing structure (NTU) requests an input from the customer after acknowledging the connection, the customer provides the input, and the distributing structure (NTU) couples the input to configuration data and applies these to the connected port via which the broadband network realizes the connection between a service provider and the connected service module (RGU), and thus to the customer.