Active equipment protection methods and apparatus
AssigneeAurora Networks, Inc.
InventorsGuy Sucharczuk, Wanda Wolodkowicz, Krzysztof Pradzynski
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for communications networks. A method, includes deploying a communication link, at least a portion of which is protected against active equipment failure, that includes a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled between a data drop/add device and a headend. The systems and methods provide advantages because a communication network can be protected, at least in-part, against active equipment (e.g., data drop/add device) failure, passive equipment (e.g., optical fiber) failure, and/or equipped for non-intrusive expansion of the network.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising a communications link, said communications link including
- a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled to a headend, said splitter-combiner including:
- a signal splitter communicatively coupled to a headend input and communicatively coupled to a downstream output;
- and
- signal combiner coupled via a shunt to said signal splitter, communicatively coupled to an upstream input, and communicatively coupled to a headend output;
- and
- a data drop/add device communicatively coupled to said downstream output and communicatively coupled to said upstream input,
- wherein, if the data drop/add device fails, the splitter-combiner will switch to detecting a shunt signal on the shunt.
An apparatus, comprising a communications link, said communications link including
- a first splitter-combiner communicatively coupled to a headend, said first splitter-combiner including:
- a first signal splitter communicatively coupled to a first headend input and communicatively coupled to a first downstream output;
- and
- a first signal combiner coupled via a shunt to said first signal splitter, communicatively coupled to a first upstream input, and communicatively coupled to a first headend output;
- a data drop/add device communicatively coupled to said first downstream output and communicatively coupled to said first upstream input;
- a second splitter-combiner communicatively coupled between said first headend input and said headend, said second splitter-combiner including:
- a second signal splitter communicatively coupled to said headend and communicatively coupled to a second downstream output;
- and
- a second signal combiner communicatively coupled to said second signal splitter, communicatively coupled to a second upstream input, and communicatively coupled to said first headend input,
- wherein, if the data drop/add device fails, the first splitter-combiner will switch to detecting a shunt signal on the shunt.
A method, comprising deploying a communication link, at least a portion of which is protected against active equipment failure, that includes a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled between a data drop/add device and a headend, wherein, if the data drop/add device fails, the splitter-combiner will switch to detecting a shunt signal on a shunt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.