Optical network interface devices and methods
US8401387B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2008 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q11/0071
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system comprises an optical network terminal (ONT) that provides an interface to a passive optical network (PON). The ONT is coupled to a subscriber gateway device via at least one cable. The ONT may be located outside a subscriber premises while the subscriber gateway device may be located within the subscriber premises. The ONT converts optical signals received from PON to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any MAC layer functions. The subscriber gateway device includes an optical media access control (MAC) unit that converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals and a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices. In this manner the MAC and gateway layer functions are relocated from the ONT to the subscriber gateway device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.