IP Library Granted Patent US 11,496,714
Granted Patent B1
US 11,496,714 · App. 17/718,495 · Granted Nov 8, 2022

Systems and methods for collecting information regarding optical connections in a fiber distribution hub of a passive optical network

Inventors: John Valdez (Copper Canyon, TX); Steven Smith (Keller, TX); Erwin Wardojo (McKinney, TX)
Assignee: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
H04N7/188H04B10/25H04B10/27H04N7/183
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,496,714
App. No.
17/718,495
Granted
Nov 8, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods for collecting information regarding optical connections in an FDH are disclosed. An example FDH includes: a bulkhead having a plurality of passive optical couplers, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port; and an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the respective passive optical activity indicators of the plurality of passive optical couplers.

Claims (64)

1. A fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), the FDH comprising:

a bulkhead having a plurality of passive optical couplers, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers including:

a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber,

a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber,

a respective pane constructed of a passive light transmissive material between the respective first port and the respective second port, and

a respective passive optical activity indicator configured to expose (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port, wherein the exposed portion of the first light and the exposed portion of the second light propagates through the respective pane and out a respective opening frontwards from the bulkhead; and

an image sensor configured to capture one or more images of the respective passive optical activity indicators of the plurality of passive optical couplers.

2. The FDH of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is configured to sense light at a first wavelength associated with providing an activity indication, and to filter out light at a second different wavelength associated with providing a communication service.

3. The FDH of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is configured to capture the one or more images at a frame rate that exceeds a pre-determined rate of change of a pattern associated with the first light.

4. The FDH of claim 1 , wherein the FDH further comprises:

a door;

a relay configured to detect whether the door is closed, and

a controller is configured to, in response to the relay detecting the door is closed, cause the image sensor to capture the one or more images.

5. The FDH of claim 1 , wherein the FDH further comprises:

a communication device configured to communicate the one or more images to a computing device.

6. The FDH of claim 1 , wherein the FDH further comprises:

one or more storage media for storing the one or more images.

7. A method, comprising:

capturing, using an image sensor of a fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), one or more images of a bulkhead of the FDH, the one or more images depicting a plurality of passive optical activity indicators of respective ones of a plurality of passive optical couplers of the bulkhead, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator that includes a respective pane constructed of a passive light transmissive material that passively exposes (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port, wherein the exposed portion of the first light and the exposed portion of the second light propagates through the respective pane and out a respective opening frontwards from the bulkhead; and

communicating the one or more images from the FDH to a computing device,

wherein the one or more images represent which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal at their respective first port and/or receiving a second optical signal at their respective second port.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

detecting whether a door of the FDH is closed; and

in response to detecting the door is closed, capturing the one or more images.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

storing the one or more images in one or more storage media at the FDH; and

communicating, using a communication device, the stored one or more images from the FDH to the computing device, when a request is received.

10. A method comprising:

capturing, using an image sensor of a fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), one or more images of a bulkhead of the FDH, the one or more images depicting a plurality of passive optical activity indicators of respective ones of a plurality of passive optical couplers of the bulkhead, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator constructed of a passive light transmissive material that passively exposes (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port;

configuring the image sensor to capture the one or more images at a frame rate that exceeds an expected rate of change of the light illuminating a passive optical activity indicator; and

communicating the one or more images from the FDH to a computing device,

wherein the one or more images represent which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal at their respective first port and/or receiving a second optical signal at their respective second port.

11. A method comprising:

capturing, using an image sensor of a fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), one or more images of a bulkhead of the FDH, the one or more images depicting a plurality of passive optical activity indicators of respective ones of a plurality of passive optical couplers of the bulkhead, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator constructed of a passive light transmissive material that passively exposes (i) a portion of first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received in the first port, and (ii) a portion of second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received in the second port;

communicating the one or more images from the FDH to a computing device,

wherein the one or more images represent which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal at their respective first port and/or receiving a second optical signal at their respective second port; and

configuring the image sensor to:

sense light having a first wavelength associated with an activity indication; and

filter out light having a second different wavelength associated with providing a communication service.

12. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to:

capture, using an image sensor of a fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), one or more images of a bulkhead of the FDH, the one or more images depicting a plurality of passive optical activity indicators of respective ones of a plurality of passive optical couplers of the bulkhead, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator that includes a respective pane constructed from a passive light transmissive material, wherein first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received and second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received illuminate the respective passive optical activity indicator, wherein the exposed portion of the first light and the exposed portion of the second light propagates through the respective pane and out a respective opening frontwards from the bulkhead; and

communicate the one or more images from the FDH to a device,

wherein the one or more images represent which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal on their respective first optical fiber and/or receiving a second optical signal on their respective second optical fiber.

13. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:

store the one or more images in one or more storage media at the FDH; and

communicate, using a communication device, the stored one or more images from the FDH to a computing device, when a request is received.

14. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to:

capture, using an image sensor of a fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), one or more images of a bulkhead of the FDH, the one or more images depicting a plurality of passive optical activity indicators of respective ones of a plurality of passive optical couplers of the bulkhead, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator constructed from a passive light transmissive material, wherein first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received and second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received illuminate the respective passive optical activity indicator; and

communicate the one or more images from the FDH to a device,

wherein the one or more images represent which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal on their respective first optical fiber and/or receiving a second optical signal on their respective second optical fiber; and

configure the image sensor to:

sense light having a first wavelength associated with an activity indication; and

filter out light having a second different wavelength associated with providing a communication service.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to:

capture, using an image sensor of a fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), one or more images of a bulkhead of the FDH, the one or more images depicting a plurality of passive optical activity indicators of respective ones of a plurality of passive optical couplers of the bulkhead, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator constructed from a passive light transmissive material, wherein first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received and second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received illuminate the respective passive optical activity indicator; and

communicate the one or more images from the FDH to a device,

wherein the one or more images represent which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal on their respective first optical fiber and/or receiving a second optical signal on their respective second optical fiber; and

configure the image sensor to capture the one or more images at a frame rate that exceeds an expected rate of change of the light illuminating an passive optical activity indicator.

16. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a system to:

capture, using an image sensor of a fiber distribution hub (FDH) of a passive optical network (PON), one or more images of a bulkhead of the FDH, the one or more images depicting a plurality of passive optical activity indicators of respective ones of a plurality of passive optical couplers of the bulkhead, each of the plurality of passive optical couplers having a respective first port adapted to receive an end of a respective first optical fiber, a respective second port adapted to receive an end of a respective second optical fiber, and a respective passive optical activity indicator constructed from a passive light transmissive material, wherein first light propagating in the respective first optical fiber when the first optical fiber is received and second light propagating in the respective second optical fiber when the second optical fiber is received illuminate the respective passive optical activity indicator; and

communicate the one or more images from the FDH to a device,

wherein the one or more images represent which of the plurality of passive optical couplers are receiving a first optical signal on their respective first optical fiber and/or receiving a second optical signal on their respective second optical fiber;

detect whether a door of the FDH is closed; and

in response to detecting the door is closed, capture the one or more images.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2026
From: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
To: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS PARENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 075841/0108 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2026
From: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS PARENT, INC.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 075835/0355 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2022
From: VALDEZ, JOHN; SMITH, STEVEN; WARDOJO, ERWIN
To: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 059610/0182 →
Continuity (1)
Continuation 17524365 · Nov 11, 2021