IP Library Granted Patent US 12,726,270
Granted Patent B1
US 12,726,270 · App. 19/380,808 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Method and system for automatically identifying connected ports within a PON

Inventors: John Valdez (Copper Canyon, TX); James Steacy (Dallas, TX); Bryan Pauling (Rochester, NY)
Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
H04B10/0773H04B10/27
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,726,270
App. No.
19/380,808
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

Techniques for identifying connected ports in a Passive Optical Network (PON) include establishing a communication session with an optical network terminal (ONT) in a PON via a short-range communication link. The PON includes an optical line terminal (OLT) optically connected to the ONT via one or more optical fibers and a distribution port. Furthermore, the techniques include obtaining and presenting indications of distribution ports in the PON and ONTs corresponding to the distribution ports. The ONTs include the particular ONT which is in communication with the client device. Additionally, the techniques include obtaining an indication of a different distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT, and storing the different distribution port in association with the particular ONT.

Claims (51)

1 . A method for identifying connected ports in a Passive Optical Network (PON), the method comprising:

establishing a communication session, by a client device via a short-range communication link, with a particular optical network terminal (ONT) in a PON, wherein the PON includes an optical line terminal (OLT) optically connected to the ONT via one or more optical fibers and a distribution port;

obtaining, by the client device, indications of a plurality of distribution ports in the PON and a plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports, wherein the plurality of ONTs include the particular ONT which is in communication with the client device;

presenting, by the client device via a PON repair application, the indications of the plurality of distribution ports in the PON and the plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports;

obtaining, by the client device via a user control presented on the PON repair application, an indication of a different distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT; and

storing, by the client device via the PON repair application, the different distribution port in association with the particular ONT.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the indications of the plurality of distribution ports in the PON and the plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports includes:

highlighting, by the client device via the PON repair application, an indication of the distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the OLT is optically connected to one or more fiber distribution hubs having one or more splitters, each of the one or more splitters having a subset of the plurality of distribution ports for connecting to a subset of the plurality of ONTs.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

for the plurality of distribution ports, presenting, by the client device via the PON repair application, an indication of a splitter that houses the distribution port and an indication of one of the plurality of ONTs that connects to the distribution port via an optical fiber.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting, by the client device via the PON repair application, the user control for changing the distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT which is in communication with the client device.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the client device, a set of instructions for a user to follow to repair the particular ONT including an instruction to reconnect the particular ONT to the different distribution port.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

providing, by the client device, one or more augmented reality features overlaid on the different distribution port for connecting an optical fiber connected to the particular ONT.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting, by the client device via the PON repair application, a splitter display indicating each of a plurality of splitters in the PON and an indication of a particular splitter coupled to the particular ONT via an optical fiber.

9 . A client device for identifying connected ports in a Passive Optical Network (PON), the client device comprising:

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the client device to:

establish a communication session, via a short-range communication link, with a particular optical network terminal (ONT) in a PON, wherein the PON includes an optical line terminal (OLT) optically connected to the ONT via one or more optical fibers and a distribution port;

obtain indications of a plurality of distribution ports in the PON and a plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports, wherein the plurality of ONTs include the particular ONT which is in communication with the client device;

present, via a PON repair application, the indications of the plurality of distribution ports in the PON and the plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports;

obtain, via a user control presented on the PON repair application, an indication of a different distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT; and

store, via the PON repair application, the different distribution port in association with the particular ONT.

10 . The client device of claim 9 , wherein to present the indications of the plurality of distribution ports in the PON and the plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports, the instructions cause the client device to:

highlight, via the PON repair application, an indication of the distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT.

11 . The client device of claim 9 , wherein the OLT is optically connected to one or more fiber distribution hubs having one or more splitters, each of the one or more splitters having a subset of the plurality of distribution ports for connecting to a subset of the plurality of ONTs.

12 . The client device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions further cause the client device to:

for the plurality of distribution ports, present, via the PON repair application, an indication of a splitter that houses the distribution port and an indication of one of the plurality of ONTs that connects to the distribution port via an optical fiber.

13 . The client device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the client device to:

present, via the PON repair application, the user control for changing the distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT which is in communication with the client device.

14 . The client device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the client device to:

provide a set of instructions for a user to follow to repair the particular ONT including an instruction to reconnect the particular ONT to the different distribution port.

15 . The client device of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the client device to:

provide one or more augmented reality features overlaid on the different distribution port for connecting an optical fiber connected to the particular ONT.

16 . The client device of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further cause the client device to:

present, via the PON repair application, a splitter display indicating each of a plurality of splitters in the PON and an indication of a particular splitter coupled to the particular ONT via an optical fiber.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable memory storing instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

establish a communication session, via a short-range communication link, with a particular optical network terminal (ONT) in a PON, wherein the PON includes an optical line terminal (OLT) optically connected to the ONT via one or more optical fibers and a distribution port;

obtain indications of a plurality of distribution ports in the PON and a plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports, wherein the plurality of ONTs include the particular ONT which is in communication with the one or more processors in a client device;

present, via a PON repair application, the indications of the plurality of distribution ports in the PON and the plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports;

obtain, via a user control presented on the PON repair application, an indication of a different distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT; and

store, via the PON repair application, the different distribution port in association with the particular ONT.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 17 , wherein to present the indications of the plurality of distribution ports in the PON and the plurality of ONTs corresponding to the plurality of distribution ports, the instructions cause the one or more processors to:

highlight, via the PON repair application, an indication of the distribution port corresponding to the particular ONT.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 17 , wherein the OLT is optically connected to one or more fiber distribution hubs having one or more splitters, each of the one or more splitters having a subset of the plurality of distribution ports for connecting to a subset of the plurality of ONTs.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to:

for the plurality of distribution ports, present, via the PON repair application, an indication of a splitter that houses the distribution port and an indication of one of the plurality of ONTs that connects to the distribution port via an optical fiber.

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 Nov 11, 2025
From: VALDEZ, JOHN; STEACY, JAMES; PAULING, BRYAN
To: FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 072853/0741 →
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