Electrical Ring Distribution Interface for an Optical Transceiver

Abstract

A ring connection system and method are provided for distributing signals in an optical-to-electrical interface. The method electrically connects a plurality of nodes in a series-connected ring, and receives an optical signal at a first node from a service provider. The method converts the optical signal to an electrical signal, and distributes the electrical signal via the ring. At each node, the electrical signal is supplied from a customer interface. Typically, each node has a plurality of customer interfaces. In one aspect, ITU-T G.984.3 Giagbit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) optical signals are received converted to a customer interface electrical signal such as an Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode, or time division multiplexed signal. Electrically connecting the plurality of nodes in the series-connected ring includes: series connecting the nodes in a North ring; and, series connecting the nodes in a South ring, opposite in direction from the North ring.

1 . In an optical-to-electrical interface, a ring connection method for distributing signals, the method comprising:
 electrically connecting a plurality of nodes in a series-connected ring;   receiving an optical signal at a first node from a service provider;   converting the optical signal to an electrical signal;   distributing the electrical signal via the ring; and,   at each node, supplying the electrical signal from a customer interface.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein electrically connecting the plurality of nodes in the series-connected ring includes:
 series connecting the nodes in a first (North) ring; and,   series connecting the nodes in a second (South) ring, opposite in direction from the first ring.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein converting the optical signal to the electrical signal includes converting an encrypted optical signal into an encrypted electrical signal; and,
 wherein supplying the electrical signal from the customer interface includes selectively decrypting the encrypted electrical signal at each node.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 accepting a first (Working) optical signal at the first node; and,   accepting a second (Protection) optical signal at a second node; and,   wherein receiving the optical signal from the service provider includes:
 initially converting the first optical signal to an electrical signal; and, 
 in the event of an optical line fault, converting the second optical signal to the electrical signal. 
   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the optical signal from the service provider includes receiving a ITU-T G.984.3 Giagbit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) signal; and,
 wherein converting the optical signal to the electrical signal includes converting to a customer interface electrical signal selected from a group consisting of Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and time division multiplexing (TDM).   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein supplying the electrical signal from the customer interface includes supplying a plurality of customer interface electrical signals from a corresponding plurality of customer interface ports at each node. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein supplying the plurality of customer interface electrical signals from the corresponding plurality of customer interface ports at each node includes time division demultiplexing the GPON signal into the plurality of customer interface electrical signals. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein supplying the plurality of customer interface electrical signals from the corresponding plurality of customer interface ports at each node includes:
 multiplexing customer interface electrical signals supplied from ring-connected nodes; and,   supplying a multiplexed customer interface electrical signal to a customer interface.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at each node, receiving a customer interface electrical signal from a customer interface;   multiplexing the received customer interface electrical signals from each node;   converting the multiplexed electrical signals into an optical signal; and,   transmitting the optical signal to the service provider.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 distributing the multiplexed electrical signals via the ring.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein receiving the electrical signal from the customer interface at each node includes:
 accepting a plurality of customer interface electrical signals from a plurality of customer interfaces; and,   framing the plurality of customer interface electrical signals into a GPON signal.   
   
   
       12 . A ring-connected optical network unit (ON-U) for distributing signals, the ONU comprising:
 an optical port for transceiving optical signals;   an optical-to-electrical translation module having an interface connected to the optical port, and an interface for transceiving electrical signals;   a first (North) ring port connected to the translation module for the ring-connected transceiving of electrical signals;   a second (South) ring port connected to the translation module for the ring-connected transceiving of electrical signals; and,   a customer interface port to transceive electrical signals with a user.   
   
   
       13 . The ONU of  claim 12  wherein the translation module converts an encrypted optical signal into an encrypted electrical signal;
 wherein the first and second ring ports distribute encrypted electrical signals; and,   the ONU further comprising:   a deframer module having an interface connected to the translation module and an interface to supply a decrypted electrical signal to the customer interface.   
   
   
       14 . The ONU of  claim 13  wherein the translation module receives a ITU-T G.984.3 Giagbit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON) signal and converts the GPON optical signal into a GPON electrical signal; and,
 wherein the deframer module converts the GPON electrical signal into a customer interface electrical signal.   
   
   
       15 . The ONU of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a plurality of customer interfaces connected to the deframer module, each transceiving customer interface electrical signals with a user.   
   
   
       16 . The ONU of  claim 15  wherein the deframer module time division demultiplexes a GPON signal into a customer interface electrical signal for each customer interface, where the customer interface electrical signal is selected from a group consisting of Ethernet, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and time division multiplexing (TDM). 
   
   
       17 . The ONU of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a downlink multiplexer having an interface connected to the ring ports and the translation module to receive electrical signals, and an interface connected to the deframer to supply a multiplexed electrical signal.   
   
   
       18 . The ONU of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a first multiplexer having an interface connected to the ring ports and the customer interface to receive electrical signals, and an interface connected to the translation module to supply a multiplexed electrical signal; and,   wherein the translation module converts multiplexed electrical signals into an optical signal, and transmits the optical signal.   
   
   
       19 . The ONU of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a second multiplexer having an interface connected to the ring ports and the customer interface to receive electrical signals, and an interface connected to supply multiplexed electrical signal to the first ring port; and,   a third multiplexer having an interface connected to the ring ports and the customer interface to receive electrical signals, and an interface connected to supply multiplexed electrical signal to the second ring port.   
   
   
       20 . The ONU of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a framer module having an interface to accept a plurality of customer interface electrical signals from a plurality of customer interfaces, and an interface connected to the first, second, and third multiplexers to supply the plurality of customer interface electrical signals framed into a GPON signal.   
   
   
       21 . A system of ring-connected optical network units (ONU) for distributing signals, the system comprising:
 a plurality of ONUs, each ONU including:
 an optical port for transceiving optical signals; 
 an optical-to-electrical translation module having an interface connected to the optical port, and an interface for transceiving electrical signals; 
 a first (North) ring port connected to the translation module to transceive electrical signals between a first ONU neighbor; 
 a second (South) ring port connected to the translation module to transceive electrical signals between a second ONU neighbor; and, 
 a customer interface port to transceive customer interface electrical signal with a user. 
   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the translation module of each ONU converts an encrypted optical signal into an encrypted electrical signal;
 wherein the first and second ring ports distribute encrypted electrical signals; and,   each ONU further comprising:   a deframer module having an interface connected to the translation module and an interface to supply a decrypted electrical signal to the customer interface.