Communications network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016013864-A1
Application number	US-201414771998-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 4, 2014
Priority date	Mar 5, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a hybrid fiber-copper access network in which a main OLT sends data to the DSLAMs via a plurality of point-to-point optical fiber connections. A standby OLT is provided which has a plurality of point-to-multi-point optical fiber connections to the DSLAMs. In the event of a failure, data can be sent to some of the DSLAMs via the standby OLT and the point-to-multi-point optical fiber connections. Following the rectification of the fault, the network can revert to its normal state and transmit data to the DSLAMs via the main OLT and the plurality of point-to-point optical fiber connections.

First claim

1 . A communications network comprising:
a main primary network node connected to a plurality of secondary network nodes via a plurality of point to point optical fiber connections; and a standby primary network node connected to the plurality of secondary network nodes via a plurality of point to multi-point optical fiber connections.

2 . A communications network according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of point to multi-point optical fiber connections comprises a passive optical network (PON).

3 . A communications network according to claim 2 , wherein the PON comprises a primary optical splitter co-located with a PON optical line terminal (OLT).

4 . A communications network according to claim 2 , wherein the PON comprises a primary optical splitter co-located with one of the plurality of secondary network nodes.

5 . A communications network according to claim 3 , wherein the primary optical splitter and the PON OLT comprise a mode coupling receiver OLT.

6 . A communications network according to claim 2 , wherein the PON further comprises one or more secondary optical splitters.

7 . A communications network according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of secondary network nodes are further connected to a plurality of metallic communications links.

8 . A communications network according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of secondary network nodes each comprise a digital subscriber line add/drop multiplexer.

9 . A communications network according to claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a fiber to the cabinet network architecture

10 . A communications network according to claim 1 , wherein, in use, the network is operated by transmitting data to the plurality of secondary network nodes via the main primary network node and transmitting data to one or more of the plurality of secondary network nodes via the standby primary network node in the event that a failure event is detected.

11 . A method of operating a communications network, the method comprising:
in a normal operating mode, transmitting data from a main primary network node to a plurality of secondary network nodes via a plurality of point to point optical fiber connections; and if a fault condition is detected, switching to a back-up operating mode in which data is transmitted from a standby primary network, node to one or more of the plurality of secondary network nodes via a plurality of point to multi-point optical fiber connections.

12 . A method according to claim 11 , the method further comprising:
following a rectification of the fault condition, reverting to the normal operating mode such that data is transmitted from the main primary network node to each of the plurality of secondary network nodes via the plurality of point to point optical fiber connections.

Assignees

• British Telecomm

Inventors

• Rafel Porti Albert
• Parkin Neil James
• Beaumont Stephen Charles

Classifications

• H04Q11/0062

  Network aspects · CPC title

• H04B10/27 Primary

  Arrangements for networking · CPC title

• H04Q2011/009

  Topology aspects · CPC title

• H04Q11/0067 Primary

  Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring · CPC title

• H04L12/2859

  Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers (encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00) · CPC title