RECONFIGURABLE MULTI-ZONED FIBER OPTIC NETWORK ARCHITECTURE HAVING FIBER OPTIC DEVICES
A fiber optic network having one or more zones is disclosed. Each zone of the fiber optic network includes one or more zone terminals or devices. Such zone terminals or devices may be located at a mid-span access point of a distribution cable optically connected to a service provider's feeder cable. The zone terminal has a plurality of connector ports with at least one adapter positioned within one of the plurality of connector ports. The adapter is configured to establish an optical connection with one or more optical fibers of the distribution cable. The second multi-fiber optical connector is suitable for outside-plant installation, and the terminal is configured to extend optical service from a service provider toward at least one subscriber premises in a zone. The fiber optic terminal is reconfigurable based on at least one of, a number of subscriber premises in the zone, a geographical relationship of the subscriber premises in the zone, and a demographic make-up of the subscriber premises in the zone.
1 . A fiber optic terminal, comprising:
an enclosure having a wall defining an interior cavity and a plurality of connector ports disposed through the wall, wherein the enclosure receives a distribution cable optically connected to a service provider's optical feeder cable;
at least one adapter positioned within one of the plurality of connector ports, wherein the at least one adapter has an interior end accessible from within the interior cavity and an exterior end accessible external to the enclosure, and wherein the adapter is configured to establish an optical connection between at least one optical fiber attached to a first multi-fiber optical connector inserted in the interior end, and one or more respective optical fibers in a second multi-fiber optical connector, wherein the respective one or more respective optical fibers are optically connected to one or more optical fibers of the distribution cable, and wherein the second multi-fiber optical connector is suitable for outside-plant installation, and wherein the terminal is configured to extend optical service from a service provider toward at least one subscriber premises in a zone, and wherein the fiber optic terminal is reconfigurable based on at least one of, a number of subscriber premises in the zone, a geographical relationship of the subscriber premises in the zone, and a demographic make-up of the subscriber premises in the zone.
2 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the configuring includes splicing hardware positioned in the enclosure, wherein the at least one optical fiber attached to the first multi-fiber optical connector routes to the splicing hardware and connects to a respective pigtail optical fiber.
3 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the configuring includes a 1×N splitter, and wherein an optical signal carried by the optical fiber in the first fiber optic cable is split into N optical signals, and wherein at least one of the N optical signals is carried by the respective optical fiber in the second fiber optic cable.
4 . The terminal of claim 3 , wherein N equals one of 4. 8, 16 and 32.
5 . The terminal of claim 3 or 4 , further comprising a plurality of 1×N splitters.
6 . The terminal of claim 5 wherein the at least two of the plurality of 1×N splitters are interconnected in a cascaded arrangement wherein an output of one of the at least two 1×N splitters optically connects to an input of another of the at least two 1×N splitters.
7 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the second fiber optic cable extends to a second fiber optic terminal.
8 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the second fiber optic cable is a drop cable extending to equipment at the subscriber's premises.
9 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the demographic make-up comprises at least one multiple dwelling unit.
10 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the demographic make-up comprises at least one single family dwelling.
11 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the demographic make-up comprises at least one commercial building.
12 . The terminal of claim 1 , wherein the terminal provides for plug and play connection.
13 . A multi-zoned fiber optic network, comprising:
a first zone, wherein the first zone is configured to provide optical service from an optical service provider to at least one subscriber premises in the first zone, the first zone, comprising, at least one first terminal having an enclosure having a wall defining an interior cavity and a plurality of connector ports disposed through the wall, and at least one adapter positioned within one of the plurality of connector ports, wherein the at least one adapter has an interior end accessible from within the interior cavity and an exterior end accessible external to the enclosure, and wherein the adapter is configured to establish an optical connection between at least one optical fiber in a first multi-fiber optical connector attached to the end of a first fiber optic cable and inserted in the interior end, and one or more respective optical fibers in a second multi-fiber optical connector, wherein the one or more respective optical fibers are optically connected to one or more optical fibers of a first distribution cable, and wherein the second multi-fiber optical connector is suitable for outside-plant installation, and
wherein the first zone is reconfigurable based on at least one of, a number of subscriber premises in the first zone, a geographical relationship of the subscriber premises in the first zone, and a demographic make-up of the subscriber premises in the first zone; and
a second zone, wherein the second zone is configured to provide optical service from an optical service provider to at least one subscriber premises in the second zone, the second zone, comprising, at least one second terminal having an enclosure having a wall defining an interior cavity and a plurality of connector ports disposed through the wall, and at least one adapter positioned within one of the plurality of connector ports, wherein the at least one adapter has an interior end accessible from within the interior cavity and an exterior end accessible external to the enclosure, and wherein the adapter is configured to establish an optical connection between one or more respective optical fiber in a third multi-fiber optical connector, wherein the one or more respective optical fibers are optically connected to one or more optical fibers of a second distribution cable attached to the end of a third fiber optic cable and inserted in the interior end, and one or more respective optical fibers in a fourth multi-fiber optical connector, wherein the one or more respective optical fibers are optically connected to one or more optical fibers of a second distribution cable, and wherein the fourth multi-fiber optical connector is suitable for outside-plant installation, and
wherein the second zone is reconfigurable based on at least one of, a number of subscriber premises in the second zone, a geographical relationship of the subscriber premises in the second zone, and a demographic make-up of the subscriber premises in the second zone.
14 . The fiber optic network of claim 13 , wherein the demographic make-up comprises at least one multiple dwelling unit.
15 . The fiber optic network of claim 13 , wherein the demographic make-up comprises at least one single family dwelling.
16 . The fiber optic network of claim 13 , wherein the demographic make-up comprises at least one commercial building.
17 . The fiber optic network of claim 13 , wherein the first zone is reconfigured by including a plurality of first terminals.
18 . The fiber optic network of claim 13 or 17 , wherein the first zone is reconfigured by including a 1×N splitter in the first terminal, wherein an optical signal carried by the optical fiber in the first fiber optic cable is split into N optical signals, and wherein at least one of the N optical signals is carried by the respective optical fiber in the second fiber optic cable.
19 . The fiber optic network of claim 13 , wherein the second zone is reconfigured by including a plurality of second terminals.
20 . The fiber optic network of claim 13 or 19 , wherein the second zone is reconfigured by including a 1×N splitter in the second terminal, wherein an optical signal carried by the optical fiber in the third fiber optic cable is split into N optical signals, and wherein at least one of the N optical signals is carried by the respective optical fiber in the fourth fiber optic cable.