Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090016713 | METHOD, APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM TO DEBUG AN OPTICAL NETWORK TERMINAL USING DIAGNOSTIC OPTICAL NETWORK TERMINAL - A method of detecting a problem in a communication network that supports at least one communication service communication service is provided. The method includes disconnecting a suspect component from the network, and replacing the suspect component with a diagnostic component configured to have the same network identification information as the suspect component. The method also includes determining if the problem still exists, and identifying the suspect component as defective if the problem no longer exists. In addition, the method includes identifying the problem as being caused by another part of the network besides the suspect component, if the problem still exists. An apparatus, system, and computer program are also provided for carrying out the method. | 01-15-2009 |
20090059933 | VALIDATING CUSTOMER IN-HOME NETWORK CONNECTIVITY USING MOCA BRIDGE MODE - A network terminal includes a bridge to interface the network terminal to a data channel linked to a central office, a first interface of a first type, and a second interface of a second type that is different from the first type of interface. A processor controls the network terminal to route data packets received via the first interface to the data channel via the bridge, when the network terminal is set to operate in a normal mode, and to route data packets received via the first interface to the second interface, when the network terminal is set to operate in a test mode. In an example embodiment, the first interface is an Ethernet interface and the second interface is a MoCA interface. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060496 | Method and system for enabling diagnosing of faults in a passive optical network - In a passive optical network (PON), multiple optical network terminals (ONTS) transmit data to an optical line terminal (OLT) using a common optical wavelength and fiber optical media. Various components of the PON, including the OLT and ONT(s), can malfunction. Centralized techniques for maintaining or diagnosing fault conditions may be ineffective in large networks or in relatively small networks because of vast amounts of information and limited storage capacity for the information. Thus, fault conditions may occur and not be diagnosed due to lost or overwritten information. Therefore, a distributed approach based on information related to ranging of ONTs within the PON is employed in an example embodiment of the invention. This distributed approach can improve monitoring and diagnosis of fault conditions that may lead to instability of the PON. | 03-05-2009 |
20090067415 | Optical network terminal with integrated internet protocol private branch exchange - Internet Protocol (IP) private branch exchange (IP-PBX) functionality may be provided on existing optical network terminal (ONT) hardware without support of an IP-PBX device by using a method of managing an IP-PBX that includes identifying IP configuration data on downstream network communications associated with at least one private IP branch exchange service received from an upstream node on a session initiation protocol (SIP) network and applying the configuration data to a node in an access network that supports the IP-PBX service. In this way, centralized configuration of IP-PBX services are supported, simplifying network management for service providers. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067836 | METHOD, APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM TO VALIDATE NETWORK ELEMENT INTERFACES FOR FUNCTIONAL TESTING - A method, apparatus, computer program, and system for validating network element interfaces for functional testing. The method is comprised of coupling together at least two main interfaces of a plurality of main interfaces of at least one network element and providing a signal to one of the main interfaces via at least one communication path such that the signal propagates through that main interface to at least one other of the main interfaces coupled thereto, and back to the at least one communication path. By virtue of the method, apparatus, system, and computer program for validating network element interfaces for functional testing, the amount of time necessary to validate network element interfaces during functional testing can be reduced. | 03-12-2009 |
20090074412 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SIMULATING AN UPLINK THROUGH A NETWORK ELEMENT - A method, system and computer program for simulating a communication link, such as an uplink, to one or more external networks in a communication network is provided. A test optical network terminal is connected to the network, and an uplink is simulated through the test optical network terminal, providing access to one or more external networks to one or more network elements in the communication network. Traffic is looped through an optical line terminal using optical carrier cards, and virtual cross connects are provisioned in the communication network to create a communication path between the optical network terminal and the test optical network terminal. A method of troubleshooting a network element such as an optical network terminal is also provided. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074423 | Method and apparatus for configuring an optical network terminal - Separating Passive Optical Network (PON) functions in different mechanical devices, such as optical to electrical conversion of the PON protocol, allows installation of an optical termination device at an exterior of an installation premises and installation of a user interface device performing PON functions inside the installation premises. Various embodiments allow service providers first to install an optical device outside the premises and, later, to install an electrical device, optionally by a customer. This eliminates a service provider from entering the installation premises and enables the customer to complete installation in the interior of the installation premises. Further, more robust, hardened components may be used in the more-permanently installed exterior device, while less-expensive, lower-quality components may be used in the easily-replaceable indoor device, thus reducing cost. | 03-19-2009 |
20090103694 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING VOICE COMMUNICATIONS - A network element, a system to deliver voice communications, and methods for delivering voice services from an optical network to a telephone at a location within a premises. The system may include a network element and a telephone system having a connector. The telephone system may be positioned proximate to the network element so that the connector contacts an analog interface of the network element. | 04-23-2009 |
20090116498 | TESTING DATA SERVICE USING MOCA-TO-ETHERNET BRIDGE - A terminal apparatus includes an ethernet channel that transfers ethernet traffic between an ethernet port and an external network port during a normal operation mode of the apparatus, and a Multimedia over Cable Alliance (MoCA) channel that transfers MoCA traffic between a MoCA port and the external network port during the normal operation mode. The terminal apparatus also includes a test system that bridges the ethernet channel and the MoCA channel during a test mode of the apparatus. Ethernet traffic received by the ethernet port is converted to MoCA traffic and transferred to the MoCA port, and MoCA traffic received by the MoCA port is converted to ethernet traffic and transferred to the ethernet port. | 05-07-2009 |
20090148157 | IDENTIFYING COMMUNICATION ERRORS CAUSED BY THE EXCHANGE OF UNSUPPORTED MESSAGES AMONG DEVICES IN A NETWORK - A method, and an apparatus, system, and sequences of instructions that operate in accordance with the method, for identifying errors in communications in a system that provides services. In the method, control messages are generated and sent to a network device. Error information generated in response to an unsupported control message being received by the network device, from at least one controlling device, is stored in the network device. The error information stored in the network device is retrieved, and errors in communications between the network device and the controlling device are identified, based on the error information retrieved. | 06-11-2009 |
20090180782 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, COMPUTER PROGRAM, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A MULTIMEDIA-OVER-COAX-ALLIANCE NETWORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN OPTICAL NETWORK - An apparatus, system, computer program, and method for providing a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) (or other multimedia-over-coaxial cable technology) network in conjunction with an optical network. In example embodiments, MoCA data is communicated between network nodes in an optical signal. In other example embodiments, MoCA data, or other data, is transmitted in optical frequencies above 860 MHz. | 07-16-2009 |
20090238561 | Method and apparatus for measuring quality of traffic performance in a passive optical network (PON) - Systems and methods for measuring and reporting the performance of communications traffic in a Passive Optical Network (PON) are disclosed. According to the disclosed embodiments, the PON network may include an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and multiple Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) downstream of the OLT. By aggregating multicast communications traffic received by the ONTs at a point downstream of the ONTs, selectively accessing the aggregated communications traffic, collecting information representative of performance of each selected communications traffic, and reporting the collected information upstream to a network management node, communications traffic in the PON network may be tested in both downstream and upstream directions. Advantages provided by the disclosed embodiments include simplification of the testing process by consolidating all performance reports in one place, enabling more flexible testing, and creating value from the collected information, such as by using the collected information in conjunction with simulation tools during customer deployment. | 09-24-2009 |
20090263139 | Method and apparatus for increasing voice service for an optical network terminal (ONT) - An Optical Network Terminal (ONT) has a fixed number of voice ports. A system employing an example embodiment of the invention increases the number of voice ports without changing hardware in the ONT by employing an Analog Terminal Adaptor (ATA) expander and configuring the ATA expander through use of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and other network resources already available in a network with which the ONT is associated. The ATA expander is configured to be compatible with the ONT and, thus the ONT can increase voice services without hardware changes to support growing demands by customers for access to voice services via increasing number of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). | 10-22-2009 |
20090269063 | Method and apparatus for enabling activation of services via an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) - Cell phones or other wireless devices are becoming increasingly more accessible to customers, but cell phone features are primarily focused on communications services. A system employing an example embodiment activates services for an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) in the presence of wireless devices. In particular, the ONT responds to a ranging request from an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) with an ONT Identifier (ID) and an ID of a wireless device. If the ID of the wireless device is known, the ONT may enable activate a service, such as a security service for a homeowner. If the ID of the wireless device is unknown, the system may employ security measures, such as notifying the homeowner that a person with a wireless device having an unknown ID is on the premises. Thus, the example embodiment enables or disables premises security or other security based on the ID of the wireless device. | 10-29-2009 |
20090285576 | Method and apparatus for feedback/configuration of optical network terminal (ONT) anomalies to/from a central location - A method and system for collecting and analyzing diagnostic data relating to an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) anomaly or failure is disclosed. Example embodiments of the method and system employ a SIP configuration server to collect and analyze diagnostic data efficiently to determine a cause of the anomaly or failure in both live and post-mortem scenarios. The collected data may be communicated to a central location, where analysis of the data may be conveniently performed by a technical support entity. The method and system are scalable and may be applied to an entire installed base of ONTs across many individual Passive Optical Networks (PONs). | 11-19-2009 |
20090289534 | Network terminal cover - Customer premises equipment (CPE), such as optical network terminals (ONT), are often located on the outside of a premises, and are susceptible to theft and to weather elements. A cap for portions of customer premises equipment (CPE) used in telecommunications networks protects the CPE from theft and from the weather elements. The cap typically covers a portion of the CPE that carries communications and power connectors, providing protection from the weather elements. Additionally, the cap may be lockable, preventing unauthorized removal of the CPE or portions of the CPE. The cap may also provide strain relief for cables coupled to the CPE. The cap may also prevent unauthorized removal of covers on a CPE housing that protects valuable components, such as battery back-ups. | 11-26-2009 |
20090296584 | Method and apparatus to support customer premises diagnostics and service simulation via test user interface devices - Because networks, such as Optical Distributed Networks (ODNs), dynamically change over time as more users and services are added, service providers are challenged to test operational robustness following installation of equipment or provisioning of services or upgrades. Example embodiments of the present invention allow testing of various services along a communications path, including software upgrades, throughput tests and simulations, and combinations of simulated scenarios with live customer traffic. The example embodiments allow generation of reports based on the testing of various services so that a technician may correct errors and ensure proper provisioning during equipment installation. Such testing may be useful to detect installation or activation problems encountered when a subscriber activates a service at a later date or adds additional devices. The example embodiments simplify installation and provisioning, saving service providers cost on a per installation or provisioning basis. | 12-03-2009 |
20090310615 | Logical geographical and subscriber ONT subgroups in support of fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) architecture - Example embodiments of the present invention help extend service provider visibility to all premises equipment (CPE) devices that are ranged with an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) by associating an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) within each device (CPE-ONT), such as a personal computer (PC), set-top box (STB), broadband home router (BHR), or analog telephone adapter (ATA). Therefore, each CPE device is managed independently via the CPE-ONT integrated with it. This allows each CPE device to terminate only optical signals supporting communications supported by the CPE device. Further, each CPE device has access to the entire GPON bandwidth, thereby increasing performance and eliminating bottlenecks caused by electrical communications over 10/100/1000 BaseT interfaces. | 12-17-2009 |
20090313476 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESTRICTING USER ACCESS TO FIBER TO AN OPTIC NETWORK TERMINAL - In traditional networks, a user provides an authorization to establish a connection for services with an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The ONT becomes vulnerable to unauthorized users because the ONT restricts access at an Internet Protocol level. An embodiment of the present invention includes a system that restricts user access to services by causing a ranging fault to disable an ONT from communicating upstream with the OLT in an event the user fails to provide a valid ONT level user authorization. In an event the ONT is in a ranged state and the user fails to provide a valid service level authorization, the system causes a service level fault to restrict the ONT from granting user access to the user to services. Thus, unauthorized users are prevented access to the ONT and increased security is achieved. | 12-17-2009 |
20090319666 | Method and Apparatus for Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) Based Information Uploading from an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) - Collecting diagnostic information from a remote device in today's networks is limited to system related information. However, of more interest to vendors of commercial products or services is information related to, for example, how their products, services or advertisement are perceived by end users. Accordingly, a method and corresponding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are provided that extends the Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) NOTIFY mechanism. Originally defined for server to client or downstream notification of a state of a resource or of an event, the present invention extends this functionality to include uploading information other than a state of a resource or of an event from the client to the server or upstream. As such, information, such as usage behavior of a user, may now be collected to understand end user perception of products, services or advertisements. | 12-24-2009 |
20090328190 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO PERFORM SECURITY AND VULNERABILITY TESTING OF PROTOCOLS - Flaws in information security infest modern software, and pervasive computing has made network systems vulnerable. Information security is constantly endangered by errors in protocol implementations. Testing a protocol implementation for errors directly from a network where a device implementing the protocol resides limits the coverage of protocols tested. In contrast, testing protocols from an access network that internetworks a customer premises with one or more service networks greatly expands the coverage of protocols tested. Accordingly, a method and corresponding apparatus are provided to test from the access network, testing both service network devices and customer premises devices, and the protocols implemented on those devices. | 12-31-2009 |
20100003002 | Robust connector enforcement - The need for fiber optic connectors is increasing as the use of fiber optic transmission members is being incorporated in data and other transmission systems. Typically, strain relief provides extra support at the junction of a cable and connector interface. However, there is a need to provide strain relief for the connector portion itself. An example cover includes a housing member defining an aperture spanning transversely from a first end to a second end and engages a connector therewithin. The cover further includes at least two prongs protruding from the first end in a direction opposite to the second end in an axial direction relative to the aperture. The prongs may be inserted into a panel defining at least two openings to receive the prongs. The prongs in combination with the housing member provide strain relief to the connector in an angular direction relative to the at least two prongs. | 01-07-2010 |