Advanced fiber node
View Patent ↗Circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network may comprise a first transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an optical link, a second transceiver configured to connect the circuitry to an electrical link, a first processing path, a second processing path, and a switching circuit. In a first configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the first processing path. In a second configuration, the switching circuit may couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the second processing path. The first transceiver may comprise a passive optical network (PON) transceiver and the second transceiver may comprise a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver. The switching circuit may be configured based on the type of headend to which the circuitry is connected.
1. A system comprising:
circuitry for use in a hybrid fiber-coaxial network, the circuitry comprising:
a first transceiver configured to connect said circuitry to an optical link wherein said first transceiver comprises a passive optical network (PON) transceiver;
a second transceiver configured to connect said circuitry to an electrical link, wherein said second transceiver comprises a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver;
a first processing path, wherein said first processing path comprises one or both of: an upstream external PHY interface (UEPI) and a downstream external PHY interface (DEPI);
a second processing path, wherein said second processing path comprises an optical network unit (ONU) and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit; and
a switching circuit, wherein:
in a first configuration, said switching circuit couples said first transceiver to said second transceiver via said first processing path;
in a second configuration, said switching circuit couples said first transceiver to said second transceiver via said second processing path;
said switching circuit is configured into said first configuration while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which uses one or both of: a UEPI and a DEPI for communicating with said circuitry; and
said switching circuit is configured into said second configuration while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which does not use either a UEPI or a DEPI for communicating with said circuitry.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said switching circuit is configured based on a control signal received via said optical link.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry is operable to:
autonomously detect a type of headend connected to said optical link; and
configure said switching circuit based on said detected type of headend.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said second processing path is operable to perform functions of a cable modem terminal system (CMTS).
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said functions of said CMTS include media access planning for allocating bandwidth on said electrical link.
6. A system comprising:
circuitry for use in a hybrid fiber-coaxial network, the circuitry comprising:
a first transceiver configured to connect said circuitry to an optical link, wherein said first transceiver comprises a passive optical network (PON) transceiver;
a second transceiver configured to connect said circuitry to an electrical link, wherein said second transceiver comprises a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver;
a first processing path, wherein said first processing path comprises a packet shelf to access shelf interface (PASI);
a second processing path, wherein said second processing path comprises a protocol bridging circuit and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit; and
a switching circuit, wherein:
in a first configuration, said switching circuit couples said first transceiver to said second transceiver via said first processing path; and
in a second configuration, said switching circuit couples said first transceiver to said second transceiver via said second processing path;
said switching circuit is configured into said first configuration while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which uses a PASI for communicating with said circuitry; and
said switching circuit is configured into said second configuration while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which does not use a PASI for communicating with said circuitry.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said switching circuit is configured based on a control signal received via said optical link.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein said circuitry is operable to:
autonomously detect a type of headend connected to said optical link; and
configure said switching circuit based on said detected type of headend.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein said second processing path is operable to perform functions of a cable modem terminal system (CMTS).
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said functions of said CMTS include media access planning for allocating bandwidth on said electrical link.
11. A method comprising:
performing by circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network:
selecting between a first configuration of a switching circuit of said circuitry and a second configuration of said switching circuit based on a type of headend to which said circuitry is connected via an optical link, wherein:
in said first configuration, said switching circuit couples a first transceiver of said circuitry to a second transceiver of said circuitry via a first processing path, wherein:
said first transceiver comprises a passive optical network (PON) transceiver; and
said first processing path comprises one or both of: an upstream external PHY interface (UEPI) and a downstream external PHY interface (DEPI);
in said second configuration, said switching circuit couples said first transceiver of said circuitry to said second transceiver of said circuitry via a second processing path, wherein:
said second transceiver comprises a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver; and
said second processing path comprises an optical network unit (ONU) and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit;
said first transceiver is configured to connect said circuitry to said optical link;
said second transceiver is configured to connect said circuitry to an electrical link;
said first configuration is selected while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which uses one or both of: a UEPI and a DEPI for communicating with said circuitry; and
said second configuration is selected while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which does not use either a UEPI or a DEPI for communicating with said circuitry.
12. The method of claim 11 , comprising configuring, by said circuitry, said switching circuit based on a control signal received via said optical link.
13. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
detecting, by said circuitry, a type of headend connected to said optical link; and
configuring, by said circuitry, said switching circuit based on said detected type of headend.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said second processing path is operable to perform functions of a cable modem terminal system (CMTS).
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said functions of said CMTS include media access planning for allocating bandwidth on said electrical link.
16. A method comprising:
performing by circuitry of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network:
selecting between a first configuration of a switching circuit of said circuitry and a second configuration of said switching circuit based on a type of headend to which said circuitry is connected via an optical link, wherein:
in said first configuration, said switching circuit couples a first transceiver of said circuitry to a second transceiver of said circuitry via a first processing path, wherein:
said first transceiver comprises a passive optical network (PON) transceiver; and
said first processing path comprises a packet shelf to access shelf interface (PASI);
in said second configuration, said switching circuit couples said first transceiver of said circuitry to said second transceiver of said circuitry via a second processing path, wherein:
said second transceiver comprises a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver;
said second processing path comprises a protocol bridging circuit and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit;
said first transceiver is configured to connect said circuitry to said optical link;
said second transceiver is configured to connect said circuitry to an electrical link;
said first configuration is selected while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which uses a PASI for communicating with said circuitry; and
said second configuration is selected while said first transceiver is coupled to a headend which does not use a PASI for communicating with said circuitry.
17. The method of claim 16 , comprising configuring, by said circuitry, said switching circuit based on a control signal received via said optical link.
18. The method of claim 16 , comprising:
detecting, by said circuitry, a type of headend connected to said optical link; and
configuring, by said circuitry, said switching circuit based on said detected type of headend.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said second processing path is operable to perform functions of a cable modem terminal system (CMTS).
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said functions of said CMTS include media access planning for allocating bandwidth on said electrical link.