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US 8,428,465 B2Granted
Return path for uspstream communications originating from optical node
AssigneeCalix, Inc.
InventorsMark R. Biegert, Peter Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure describes techniques for providing a communication path for upstream communications originating from a node of an optical network. In particular, methods and devices are described for combining upstream communications originating from the node of the optical network with upstream communications originating from subscriber devices coupled to the node. The upstream communication originating from the node may, for example, include status information about the node. The upstream communication, which may include status information about the node, essentially piggy-backs onto upstream communication originating from the subscriber devices coupled to the node.
Claims39
A method comprising:
- receiving, with a node of an optical network, a first upstream communication originating from a subscriber device coupled to the node, wherein the first upstream communication comprises an upstream radio frequency (RF) communication, and wherein the optical network comprises a radio frequency over glass (RFOG) network;
- responsive to receiving the first upstream communication, combining, with the node, the first upstream communication received from the subscriber device with a second upstream communication originating from the node to generate a combined upstream communication for an optical line terminal (OLT) positioned between the node and a headend system, wherein the combined upstream communication is separable at the OLT such that the headend system cannot detect that the first upstream communication has been combined with the second upstream communication;
- transparently converting, with the node, the combined upstream communication to an upstream optical signal;
- and
- transmitting, with the node, during a timeslot assigned to the subscriber device to communicate the first upstream communication to the headend system, the upstream optical signal via a fiber optical cable included within the RFOG network to the OLT for separation of the second upstream communication from the combined upstream communication.
2 more elements
A device of an optical network comprising:
- a signal combiner that, in response to receiving a first upstream communication from a subscriber device to which the device is coupled, transparently combines the first upstream communication with a second upstream communication originating from the device to generate a combined upstream communication for an optical line terminal (OLT) positioned between the device and a headend system, wherein the combined upstream communication is separable at the OLT such that the headend system cannot detect that the first upstream communication has been combined with the second upstream communication, wherein the first upstream communication comprises an upstream radio frequency (RF) communication, wherein the optical network comprises a radio frequency over glass (RFOG) network;
- and
- an electrical-to-optical conversion module that transparently converts the combined upstream communication to an upstream optical signal,
- wherein the electrical-to-optical conversion module includes a laser that transmits, during a timeslot assigned to the subscriber device to communicate the first upstream communication to the headend system, the combined upstream communication as the upstream optical signal via a fiber optical cable included within the RFOG network to the OLT for separation of the second upstream communication from the combined upstream communication.
1 more element
A device of an optical network comprising:
- means for receiving a first upstream communication originating from a subscriber device coupled to the node, wherein the first upstream communication comprises an upstream radio frequency (RF) communication, wherein the optical network comprises a radio frequency over glass (RFOG) network;
- means, responsive to receiving the first upstream communication, for combining the upstream communication received from the subscriber device with a second upstream communication originating from the device to generate a combined upstream communication for an optical line terminal (OLT) positioned between the node and a headend system, wherein the combined upstream communication is separable at the OLT such that the headend system cannot detect that the first upstream communication has been combined with the second upstream communication;
- and
- means for transparently converting the combined upstream communication to an upstream optical signal;
- means for transmitting, during a timeslot assigned to the subscriber device to communicate the first upstream communication to the headend system, the combined upstream communication as the upstream optical signal via a fiber optical cable included within the RFOG network to the OLT for separation of the second upstream communication from the combined upstream communication.
2 more elements
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to:
- receive, with a node of an optical network, a first upstream communication originating from a subscriber device coupled to the node, wherein the first upstream communication comprises an upstream radio frequency (RF) communication, and wherein the optical network comprises a radio frequency over glass (RFOG) network;
- responsive to receiving the first upstream communication, combine, with the node, the first upstream communication received from the subscriber device with a second upstream communication originating from the node to generate a combined upstream communication for an optical line terminal (OLT) positioned between the node and a headend system, wherein the combined upstream communication is separable at the OLT such that the headend system cannot detect that the first upstream communication has been combined with the second upstream communication;
- transparently convert, with the node, the combined upstream communication to an upstream optical signal;
- and
- transmit, with the node, during a timeslot assigned to the subscriber device to communicate the first upstream communication to the headend system, the upstream optical signal via a fiber optical cable included within the RFOG network to the OLT for separation of the first upstream communication from the combined upstream communication.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.