Advanced fiber node
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:
a first transceiver configured to connect to an optical link;
a second transceiver configured to connect to an electrical link;
a first processing path;
a second processing path in parallel with the first processing path; and
a switching circuit, wherein:
in a first configuration, the switching circuit is operable to couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the first processing path when the first transceiver is coupled to a headend using an external PHY interface; and
in a second configuration, the switching circuit is operable to couple the first transceiver to the second transceiver via the second processing path when the first transceiver is coupled to a headend without using the external PHY interface.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first transceiver comprises a passive optical network (PON) transceiver; and
the second transceiver comprises a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first processing path comprises the external PHY interface; and
the second processing path comprises an optical network unit (ONU) and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the first processing path comprises a packet shelf to access shelf interface (PASI); and
the second processing path comprises a protocol bridging circuit and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the switching circuit is configured according to a type of headend to which the first transceiver is coupled.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the switching circuit is configured according to a type of headend to which the first transceiver is coupled.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switching circuit is configured according to a control signal received via the optical link.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to:
autonomously detect a type of headend connected to the optical link; and
configure the switching circuit according to the detected type of headend.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processing path is operable to perform functions of a cable modem terminal system (CMTS).
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the functions of the CMTS comprise media access planning for allocating bandwidth on the electrical link.
11. A method comprising:
selecting between a first configuration of a switching circuit and a second configuration of the switching circuit according to a type of headend to which the system is connected via an optical link, wherein:
in the first configuration, the switching circuit couples a first transceiver to a second transceiver via a first processing path;
in the second configuration, the switching circuit couples the first transceiver to the second transceiver via a second processing path;
in the first configuration, the first transceiver is coupled to the optical link using an external PHY interface;
in the second configuration, the first transceiver is coupled to a headend without using the external PHY interface; and
the second transceiver is configured to connect to an electrical link.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the first transceiver comprises a passive optical network (PON) transceiver; and
the second transceiver comprises a data over coaxial service interface specification (DOCSIS) physical layer transceiver.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the first processing path comprises an external PHY interface; and
the second processing path comprises an optical network unit (ONU) and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit.
14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:
configuring the switching circuit according to a type of headend to which the first transceiver is coupled.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the first processing path comprises a packet shelf to access shelf interface (PASI); and
the second processing path comprises a protocol bridging circuit and a DOCSIS media access control (MAC) circuit.
16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:
Configuring the switching circuit according to a type of headend to which the first transceiver is coupled.
17. The method of claim 11 , comprising configuring the switching circuit according to a control signal received via the optical link.
18. The method of claim 11 , comprising:
detecting a type of headend connected to the optical link; and
configuring the switching circuit according to the detected type of headend.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second processing path is operable to perform functions of a cable modem terminal system (CMTS).
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the functions of the CMTS comprise media access planning for allocating bandwidth on the electrical link.