# US 2014/0153889 A1 · Hardware and Methods for Secure Alarmed Armored Protective Distribution Systems and Management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153889 A1 - Document ID: US20140153889A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/043,326 - Filed: 2013-10-01 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-01 - Assignees: Network Integrity Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Network Integrity Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Cary R. Murphy; Mark K. Bridges; Joseph Giovannini; David Thompson; David E. Vokey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153889A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/44: Mechanical structures for providing tensile strength and external protection for fibres, e.g. optical transmission cables (cables incorporating electric conductors and optical fibres {where features relating to the optical fibres are not of interest} H01B11/22) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A fiber optic network has alarmed fiber optic lines in the cables connecting a secured junction box to plural user lock boxes. An outgoing alarm line and return alarm line in each cable connect the junction box to each user box. The outgoing alarm line is looped to the return alarm line inside the user lock box. The return alarm line is looped to the outgoing alarm line of a different cable inside the junction box to interconnect a plurality of alarm lines passing through a plurality of user boxes. A detector detects an alarm signal in the connected alarm lines to trigger an intrusion alarm. Power to the components in the box is disconnected when the box is opened and ventilation openings to the box are closed when the box is closed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective distribution system for fiber optic cables, comprising: a fiber optic cable including at least one optical fiber; the fiber optic cable having at least one of said at least one optical fiber which acts as a monitoring fiber; a monitoring system arranged to transmit signals into said at least one monitoring fiber and to detect changes in the signals indicative of movement of the monitoring fiber; a box connected to said fiber optic cable containing a component for acting on the fiber optic cable; the cable being connected to the box so as to enter the box; the box having a door which can be closed to enclose the box; wherein there is provided a connection of at least one monitoring fiber to the door of the box whereby opening the door of the box causes the monitoring fiber to be moved and the monitoring system being arranged to detect changes in the signal in the monitoring fiber indicative of movement of the fiber caused by opening of the door. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein the component comprises one or more of a jumper, mechanical or optical splice, or loopback device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a distribution panel in a secured location and a plurality of fiber optic cables each connected to the distribution panel at one end and to a respective user at an opposed end where each user is associated with a respective box forming a user lock box. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a first monitoring fiber for detecting manipulation of the cable at a location remote from the box and a second monitoring fiber for detecting opening of the door so that the detection of the opening of the door is analyzed as an independent event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring fiber is arranged for detecting manipulation of the cable at a location remote from the box and a for detecting opening of the door so that the detection of the opening of the door is combined with the information that the fiber has been accessed so that the same monitoring fiber is used for both, with the combined information used to influence response to an alarm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring fiber also carries data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring fiber does not carry data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein the component in the box is powered through a power cord by an outside power source and wherein the box is arranged such that power to the component is disconnected if the box is opened. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the power is disconnected by magnetic or mechanical containment of an electrical connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system according to claim 8 wherein the connection to the power cord is shielded from emanations when the power is disconnected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein the box is designed such that ventilation occurs only when the box is open. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11 wherein a sliding door covers ventilation holes when the box is closed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1 wherein the box contains battery cells which are charged when primary electronics internal to the box are inactive, wherein power is disconnected from mains and applied from the battery cells for intended network use so as to decouple mains power from data equipment that potentially carries controlled access information. ### Claim 14 A protective distribution system for fiber optic cables, comprising: a fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers; the fiber optic cable having at least one monitoring fiber of the plurality of fibers; a monitoring system arranged to transmit signals into said at least one monitoring fiber and to detect changes in the signals indicative of movement of the monitoring fiber; a box connected to said fiber optic cable containing a component for acting on the fiber optic cable; the cable being connected to the box so as to enter the box; the box having a door which can be closed to enclose the box; wherein the component in the box is powered through a power cord by an outside power source and wherein the box is arranged such that power to the component is disconnected if the box is opened. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14 wherein the power is disconnected by magnetic or mechanical containment of an electrical connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14 wherein connection to the power cord is shielded from emanations when the power is disconnected. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14 wherein the box contains battery cells which are charged when primary electronics internal to the box are inactive, wherein power is disconnected from a power source and applied from the battery cells for intended network use so as to decouple the power source from data equipment that potentially carries controlled access information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14 wherein the box is designed such that ventilation occurs only when the box is open. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18 wherein a sliding door covers ventilation holes when the box is closed. ### Claim 20 A protective distribution system for fiber optic cables, comprising: a fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers; the fiber optic cable having at least one monitoring fiber of the plurality of fibers; a monitoring system arranged to transmit signals into said at least one monitoring fiber and to detect changes in the signals indicative of movement of the monitoring fiber; a box connected to said fiber optic cable containing a component for acting on the fiber optic cable; the cable being connected to the box so as to enter the box; the box having a door which can be closed to enclose the box; wherein the box is designed such that ventilation occurs only when box is open. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system according to claim 20 wherein a sliding door covers ventilation holes when the box is closed.