Switchable optical network unit

A switchable optical network unit comprising:

• an optical/electrical interface for coupling to at least one optical fiber;
• a multiplexer/demultiplexer electrically coupled to the optical/electrical interface;
• a line card for providing a two-way communications interface between the multiplexer/demultiplexer and one customer drop line port;
• a first customer drop cable wiring terminal for connection to a primary drop cable wiring circuit extending to a customer premise;
• a second customer drop cable wiring terminal for connection to an auxiliary drop cable wiring circuit extending to the customer premise;
• a switch coupled between the customer drop line port of the line card and the terminals, for providing selective connections between the customer drop line port of the line card and the terminals;
• and
• a controller for automatically activating the switch.

A switchable optical network unit comprising:

• an optical/electrical interface for coupling to at least one optical fiber;
• a multiplexer/demultiplexer electrically coupled to the optical/electrical interface;
• a first line card for providing a two-way communications interface between the multiplexer/demultiplexer and one customer drop line port in accord with a first service protocol;
• a second line card for providing a two-way communications interface between the multiplexer/demultiplexer and one customer drop line port in accord with a second service protocol that is different from the first service protocol;
• a customer drop cable wiring terminal for connection to a drop line extending to a customer premise;
• a switch coupled between the customer drop line ports of the first and second line cards and the terminal, for providing selective connections between the customer drop line ports of the first and second line cards and the terminal;
• and
• a controller for automatically activating the switch.

In an optical network unit providing a two-way interface between a multi-channel fiber optic communication link to a central office and a plurality of drop cables extending to a plurality of customer premises, a method comprising the steps of:

• coupling communication signals for one customer premise to and from an assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link through a switch in a first state from and to a first circuit in a drop cable extending to the one customer premise, wherein said switch is an element of the optical network unit;
• in response to a control signal, automatically activating the switch to a second state;
• and
• coupling communication signals for the one customer premise to and from the assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link through the switch in the second state from and to a second circuit in the drop cable extending to the one customer premise.

In an optical network unit providing a two-way interface between a multi-channel fiber optic communication link to a central office and a plurality of drop cables extending to a plurality of customer premises, a method comprising the steps of:

• coupling communication signals for one customer premise to and from an assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link through a switch in a first state from and to a first circuit in a drop cable extending to the one customer premise, wherein said switch is an element of the optical network unit;
• in response to a control signal, automatically activating the switch to a second state;
• coupling communication signals for the one customer premise to and from the assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link through the switch in the second state from and to a second circuit in the drop cable extending to the one customer premise;
• transmitting another control signal to a network interface device at the one customer premise;
• and
• in response to said another control signal, disconnecting customer premises wiring from the first circuit in the drop cable extending to the one customer premise, and connecting the customer premises wiring to the second circuit in the drop cable extending to the one customer premise.

In an optical network unit providing a two-way interface between a multi-channel fiber optic communication link to a central office and a plurality of drop cables extending to a plurality of customer premises, said optical network unit including a plurality of line cards for providing a plurality of different types of services and a switch for selectively coupling line ports of the line cards to circuits in the drop cables, a method comprising the steps of:

• coupling communication signals relating to a first type of service for one customer premise to and from an assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link to and from a first line card providing a first type of service;
• routing signals relating to the first type of service to and from the line port of the first line card through the switch in a first state from and to a circuit in a drop cable extending to the one customer premise;
• in response to a control signal, automatically activating the switch to a second state;
• and
• coupling communication signals relating to a second type of service for the one customer premise to and from an assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link to and from a second line card providing a second type of service;
• routing signals relating to the second type of service to and from the line port of the second line card through the switch in the second state from and to the circuit in the drop cable extending to the one customer premise.

In an optical network unit providing a two-way interface between a multi-channel fiber optic communication link to a central office and a plurality of drop cables extending to a plurality of customer premises, said optical network unit including a plurality of line cards for providing service to line circuits and a switch for selectively coupling line ports of the line cards to line circuits in the drop cables, a method comprising the steps of:

• providing a primary line circuit and an auxiliary line circuit in a drop cable extending from the optical network unit to one customer premise;
• coupling first communication signals for the one customer premise to and from a first assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link to a first line card assigned to provide a first service to the one customer premise;
• routing signals relating to the first service to and from the line port of the first line card through the switch in a first state from and to the primary line circuit in the drop cable extending to the one customer premise;
• in response to a control signal, automatically activating the switch to a second state and automatically assigning a second line card to provide a second service to the one customer premise;
• coupling second communication signals for the one customer premise to and from a second assigned channel on the fiber optic communication link to the second line card;
• routing signals relating to the second service to and from the line port of the second line card through the switch in the second state from and to the auxiliary line circuit in the drop cable extending to the one customer premise.

A switchable optical network unit comprising:

• an optical/electrical interface for coupling to at least one optical fiber of a communication network;
• a multiplexer/demultiplexer electrically coupled to the optical/electrical interface;
• a plurality of line cards, each line card for providing a two-way communications interface between the multiplexer/demultiplexer and one customer line port;
• a plurality of terminals for electrical connection to a plurality of wire lines to customer premises;
• a switch coupled between the customer line ports of the line cards and the terminals, for providing selective electrical connections between the customer line ports of the line cards and the terminals;
• and
• a controller for receiving control signals via the optical/electrical interface and the multiplexer/demultiplexer and for automatically activating the switch in response to the received control signals.

A switchable optical network unit comprising:

• an optical/electrical interface for coupling to at least one optical fiber of a communication network;
• a multiplexer/demultiplexer electrically coupled to the optical/electrical interface;
• a first line card for providing a two-way communications interface between the multiplexer/demultiplexer and a first customer line port in accord with a first service protocol;
• a second line card for providing a two-way communications interface between the multiplexer/demultiplexer and a second customer line port in accord with a second service protocol that is different from the first service protocol;
• a customer drop cable wiring terminal for electrical connection to a wire line extending to a customer premise;
• a switch coupled between the customer line ports of the first and second line cards and the terminal, for providing selective electrical connections between the customer line ports of the first and second line cards and the terminal;
• and
• a controller for receiving control signals via the optical/electrical interface and automatically activating the switch in response to the received control signals.