Methods and apparatus for asymmetric distribution of mixed content via a network
Methods and apparatus for asymmetric distribution of mixed content via a network. Current optical fiber-based access network technologies are multiplexed onto the same fiber for delivery via a common Optical Distribution Network (ODN). Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to combining (using optical multiplexing and power splitting) two or more optical user-technologies onto a single Passive Optical Network (PON) while maintaining an independent serving group size and operational independence for each of the combined user-technologies. The disclosed methods and apparatus allow the so-called “outside plant” architecture (i.e., the fiber optic infrastructure from the headend to the customer premises) to be independent of the user-technologies and network architecture that are provided via the outside plant.
1. A method for asymmetric distribution of mixed content via a passive optical network, comprising:
receiving a plurality of different content from a first set of splitters, the first set of splitters comprising a plurality of different service group sizing splitters each configured to provide at least a portion of said plurality of different content, said at least portion of said plurality of different content having been received at corresponding ones of said plurality of different service group sizing splitters from a corresponding active component outside of said passive optical network;
dividing a plurality of different subscribers into a plurality of service groups;
combining outputs of various ones of said plurality of different service group sizing splitters to produce combined outputs; and
delivering said combined outputs via an outside plant (OSP) to said plurality of different subscribers, said outside plant comprising a second splitter configured to receive and deliver said combined outputs to individual ones of said plurality of different subscribers.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of different content comprises one or more of 1 Gbps Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON), 10 Gbps EPON, Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG), 1 Gbps Ethernet, and/or 10 Gbps Ethernet signals.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining of said outputs of various ones of said plurality of different service group sizing splitters comprises a first combination of contents and a second combination of contents; and
said delivering said combined outputs comprises delivering said first combination to a first service group of said plurality of service groups and delivering said second combination to a second service group of said plurality of service groups.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said first combination comprises residential user content and the second combination comprises commercial user content.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining comprises a passive combination of two or more content.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining comprises an active combination of two or more content.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining is based on one or more network considerations.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining comprises dynamically combining said outputs of various ones of said plurality of different service group sizing splitters.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said combining comprises combining said outputs of various ones of said plurality of different service group sizing splitters manually by a service technician.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dividing said plurality of different subscribers into a plurality of service groups comprises dividing said plurality of different subscribers into one or more asymmetric groups.
11. An apparatus configured to distribute mixed content asymmetrically via a network, comprising:
a plurality of upstream interfaces configured to receive content from one or more active components;
a plurality of downstream interfaces configured to transmit one or more combined content via an outside plant (OSP);
a first array of optical splitters comprising an array of serving group sizing splitters configured to split said received content from one or more active components into a number of outputs; and
an array of passive optical network combining multiplexers (PCMs), wherein each PCM is configured to combine various ones of said number of outputs from said first array of optical splitters into corresponding ones of said one or more combined content;
wherein the OSP comprises one of a second array of optical splitters each configured to receive said corresponding ones of said one or more combined content and deliver said one or more combined content to a plurality of customer premises based on a service group membership.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least two of said corresponding ones of said one or more combined content comprise different content.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said number of outputs corresponds to one or more service groups targeted by said received content.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said array of PCMs are configured to combine said number of outputs for distribution to said one or more service groups.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said one or more service groups targeted by said received content is determined based on one or more network considerations.
16. A non-transitory computer readable apparatus comprising one or more instructions which when executed causes a processor to:
dynamically divide a plurality of subscribers into a plurality of service groups;
dynamically determine one or more content targeted for at least one of said plurality of service groups;
configure at least one service group sizing splitter to provide said one or more content to a passive optical network combining multiplexer (PCM); and
wherein said PCM is configured to combine said one or more content and transmit said combined one or more content to said at least one of said plurality of service groups via a 1×N splitter disposed in a different node from said at least one service group sizing splitter.
17. The non-transitory computer readable apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said dynamic division of said plurality of subscribers is based on a network consideration.
18. The non-transitory computer readable apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of service groups comprises a fixed set of subscribers.
19. The non-transitory computer readable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said fixed set of subscribers comprise residential users.
20. The non-transitory computer readable apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said fixed set of subscribers is determined based on a physical structure of an outside plant (OSP).