Motorola Corporation

Tellabs Bedford, Inc.

Tellabs Operations, Inc.

Craig Lawrence Lutgen

Mahlon Danny Kimbrough

Stephen Matthew West

Dale E Ray

Thomas Ray Dobozy

Robert James Harris

A communications network, in one embodiment, includes a passive optical network ('PON') network, user equipment ('UE'), and optical network terminal (&#x201c;ONT&#x201d;) plug to facilitate data transfer via an optical network. The PON network containing at least one fiber splitter and one optical line terminal (&#x201c;OLT&#x201d;) is capable of transmitting optical data. The UE having a high-speed electrical (&#x201c;HSE&#x201d;) port is able to process information based on electrical signals received from the HSE port. The ONT plug, in one embodiment, includes a modular electrical connector, a signal converter, and an optical and power hybrid (&#x201c;OPH&#x201d;) interface. The modular electrical connector contains at least eight (8) electrical contacts with eight (8) positions and can be inserted into the HSE port. The signal converter is used to convert optical signals received from the optical interface to electrical signals.

Method and apparatus for providing network interface using optical network terminal ('ONT') plug

An embodiment of the invention provides communications services to Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) in a Passive Optical Network (PON) with at least two Optical Line Terminals (OLTs). The role of these OLTs is autonomously governed based on characteristics of upstream signals from the ONTs. When an OLT in a standby mode determines that upstream signal power is below a power threshold, the OLT in standby mode changes its mode and operates in the active mode. An OLT in active mode monitors the upstream signals and determines the number of upstream signals that are misaligned to a respective downstream command sent from the active OLT. When the number of misaligned signals is greater than a counts threshold, the active OLT switches its operation and operates in standby mode. Through autonomous operation, the OLTs provide redundancy for the PON without added control channel complexity.

Passive optical networking redundancy via two or more auto sensing optical line terminals

Disclosed herein are optical distribution networks and corresponding methods for providing physical-layer redundancy. Example embodiments include a head-end passive optical splitter-combiner (OSC) to split optical signals from an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) onto primary and secondary optical paths for redundant distribution to optical network terminal(s) (ONTs), a passive access OSC for tapping the redundant signals, and an optical switch for selecting between the redundant signals and providing an ONT access to the selected signal. Example optical distribution networks and corresponding methods provide multiple drop points, a fully cyclical path, and autonomous protection switching, all at low cost. A further advantage of these networks and methods is that where faults may occur, maintenance may not be required for a certain time.

Network and method for providing redundancy in an optical distribution network

Typical passive optical networks (PONs) employ several optical network terminals (ONTs) connected to an optical line terminal (OLT) via an optical splitter/combiner (OSC). Due to the passive nature of the OSC, determining a port assignment of an ONT may be difficult or impossible. Methods described herein provide for identifying a port in a passive optical network, optionally as corresponding to an ONT. A first subset of the ONTs is caused to transmit a first signal, such as a status signal, with a respective attribute having a first value, and a second subset of the ONTs is caused to transmit a second signal with the respective attribute having a second value. At the OSC, the signals are detected as a function of the attribute and the first and second values. Results of this detection are reported, from which an identification of a port and associated ONT can be determined.

Method and apparatus for identifying a port in a passive optical network

A method for managing data congestion and/or contention occurring at a point-of-traffic concentration. The method includes reading a time value associated with a data packet, the time value being representative of when the data packet entered the network. The time value is within the header of the data packet. The age of the data packet is determined from the time value. The data packet is discarded if the age of the data packet is above a threshold value. Alternatively, a first time value determined from a time reference is associated with a data packet at a first node. The data packet is transmitted to a second node and the first time value is compared to a second time value to provide a result. The second time value is also determined from the time reference. The data packet is discarded if the result exceeds a threshold value.

Method and apparatus for managing congestion in a data communication network

An apparatus and method for modifying facsimile data transfer rates based upon varying bit rates of a transport medium. The apparatus includes a channel quality monitor adapted to monitor channel quality of an asynchronous link, and a rate modifier adapted to dynamically modify a maximum data transfer rate between the originating facsimile machine and the terminating facsimile machine in response to the channel quality.

Method and apparatus for modifying facsimile data transfer rates based upon varying bit rates of a transport medium

A communications link having a plurality of communication media is coupled between an originating facsimile machine and a terminating facsimile machine. The plurality of communication media includes a medium having a variable data transmission time followed serially by a media having a constant data transmission time. In the communication link, a transmission mode acceptance message is intercepted from an acceptance-transmitting one of the terminating and originating facsimile machines. The transmission mode acceptance message is modified to form a modified transmission mode acceptance message for increasing a maximum received data rate in the terminating facsimile machine relative to a transmit data rate in the originating facsimile machine. Thereafter, the modified transmission mode acceptance messages sent to an acceptance-receiving one of the terminating and originating facsimile machines, wherein the modified transmission mode acceptance message is part of a sequence of messages for negotiating transmitting and receiving modes in the originating and terminating facsimile machines, respectively, which sequence permits a maximum data rate in the medium having a constant data transmission time to exceed a maximum data rate in the medium having a variable data transmission time, thereby mitigating the effects of the variable time of transmission.

Method and system for negotiating transmitting and receiving modes for

A method and apparatus is disclosed for preventing an originating facsimile machine from going on hook prior to call completion due to setup delays. The originating facsimile machine includes a start connect timer having a predetermined time duration. The method and apparatus include detecting a facsimile call origination from the originating facsimile machine, anticipating expiration of the start connect timer, and sending a benign signal to the originating facsimile machine prior to expiration of the start connect timer, wherein the benign signal allows the originating facsimile machine to receive a digital identification signal message from a terminating facsimile machine prior to expiration of the start connect timer.

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Richardson, TX, United States of America

Craig Lawrence Lutgen