System for correlating a subscriber unit with a particular subscriber in a passive optical network

Abstract

A system for correlating a subscriber unit to a physical port in a point to multipoint wire line network is disclosed. An installer is prompted to manually input a location code associated with the subscriber. The location code in the subscriber unit is received, and is transmitted via the network to a central repository. The location code is stored in the central repository toward associating the location code with the physical port.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
     
     
         5 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a location code associated with a subscriber in a subscriber unit in a passive optical network; and    transmitting the location code from the subscriber unit to a repository via the passive optical network for correlation of the location code with a physical port in the network.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising receiving the location code by manual entry of the location code into the subscriber unit by a technician.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising prompting a technician to manually enter the location code into the subscriber unit.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising receiving the location code via a butt set device coupled to the subscriber unit.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising transmitting a site code associated with the subscriber unit to the repository.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising transmitting a site code associated with the subscriber unit with the location code in an information packet via the network.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein transmitting the location code includes transmitting the location code to the repository via an optical line terminator coupled to the subscriber unit via an optical fiber link.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising correlating the location code with a physical port in the network, and transmitting information packets directed to the subscriber via the physical port.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the information packets include voice data for delivery of telephone services to the subscriber.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the information packets include voice, video and data content.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising directing information packets to one of a plurality of physical ports based on the correlation.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 checking the location code for errors; and    upon detection of an error in the location code, transmitting an indication of the error to the subscriber unit via the network.    
     
     
         17 . A passive optical network comprising: 
 an optical line terminator; and    a subscriber unit coupled to the optical line terminator via an optical fiber link,    wherein the subscriber unit receives a location code associated with a subscriber, and transmits the location code to a repository via the optical line terminator for correlation of the location code with a physical port in the network.    
     
     
         18 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber unit includes an interface to receive the location code by manual entry into the subscriber unit by a technician.  
     
     
         19 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber unit includes an interface to prompt a technician to manually enter the location code into the subscriber unit.  
     
     
         20 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber unit includes an interface to receive the location code via a butt set device.  
     
     
         21 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber unit transmits a site code associated with the subscriber unit to the repository.  
     
     
         22 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber unit transmits a site code associated with the subscriber unit with the location code in an information packet via the network.  
     
     
         23 . The network of  claim 17 , wherein the subscriber unit transmits the location code to the repository via an optical line terminator coupled to the subscriber unit via an optical fiber link.  
     
     
         24 . The network of  claim 17 , further comprising a controller to correlate the location code with a physical port in the network, and transmit information packets directed to the subscriber via the physical port.  
     
     
         25 . The network of  claim 24 , wherein the information packets include voice data for delivery of telephone services to the subscriber.  
     
     
         26 . The network of  claim 25 , wherein the information packets include voice, video and data content.  
     
     
         27 . The network of  claim 17 , further comprising a controller to direct information packets to one of a plurality of physical ports based on the correlation.  
     
     
         28 . The network of  claim 17 , further comprising a controller to check the location code for errors and, upon detection of an error in the location code, transmit an indication of the error to the subscriber unit via the network.  
     
     
         29 . A subscriber unit for a passive optical network, the subscriber unit comprising: 
 a subscriber interface to receive a location code associated with a subscriber; and    a network interface to transmit the location code to a repository via an optical line terminator for correlation of the location code with a physical port in the network.    
     
     
         30 . The subscriber unit of  claim 29 , further comprising an interface to receive the location code by manual entry into the subscriber unit by a technician.  
     
     
         31 . The subscriber unit of  claim 29 , wherein the subscriber interface prompts a technician to manually enter the location code into the subscriber unit.  
     
     
         32 . The subscriber unit of  claim 29 , wherein the subscriber interface receives the location code via a butt set device.  
     
     
         33 . The subscriber unit of  claim 29 , wherein the subscriber unit transmits a site code associated with the subscriber unit to the repository.  
     
     
         34 . The subscriber unit of  claim 29 , wherein the subscriber unit transmits a site code associated with the subscriber unit with the location code in an information packet via the network.  
     
     
         35 . The subscriber unit of  claim 29 , wherein the subscriber unit transmits the location code to the repository via an optical line terminator coupled to the subscriber unit via an optical fiber link.