Method and devices for the installation of the fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure

Abstract

Methods and devices for the installation of a fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure are provided. The method may include identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer either on the interior side or exterior side of a wall, forming a through opening in the wall near or at the preferred location, and installing the in-wall termination device in the opening. The in-wall termination device may include a wall plate for attaching to an interior surface of the wall. The wall plate includes one or more connectors for receiving ends of cables extending from the exterior and connecting those cables to other cables extending through the interior of the building structure. The method may allow for the installation of the cable without requiring the presence of the customer or requiring access to the interior of the building structure.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 forming an opening through a wall from an exterior side to an interior side while remaining on the exterior side; and   installing an in-wall termination device at least partially through the opening to the interior side while remaining on the exterior side.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein installing the in-wall termination device includes inserting a wall plate through the opening from the exterior side to the interior side and attaching the wall plate against an interior surface of the wall. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein installing the in-wall termination device further includes installing a duct element that defines a conduit configured to receive a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  further comprising routing an end of a fiber optic cable from the exterior side at least partially through the conduit to the wall plate. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  further comprising routing an end of at least a second cable from the exterior side at least partially through the conduit to the wall plate. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein installing the in-wall termination device further includes attaching a back cover against an exterior surface of the wall for substantially closing the opening, and wherein the back cover defines at least one opening for allowing the fiber optic cable to extend therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4  further comprising attaching a storage container in communication with the opening for storing a folded portion of the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer and wherein forming the opening includes forming the opening through the wall approximately at the preferred location. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the indication is positioned on the interior side of the wall. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 providing a guiding device to a customer; and   identifying a location of the guiding device placed on an interior side of a wall while remaining on an exterior side of the wall and using a locating device.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising routing an end of a fiber optic cable to the location. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising forming a through opening in the wall from an exterior side substantially at the location. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising installing an in-wall termination device in the through opening from the exterior side substantially at the location. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12  comprising forming the through opening without access to an interior of a building. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the guiding device includes a surface for attaching to the interior side of the wall. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the guiding device includes a first locating element that allows the guiding device to be detected through the exterior wall. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the first locating element includes one of magnetic material, an RFID transponder, or a radio transmitter. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein identifying the location comprises using a locating device in communication with the guiding device to identify the location. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 10  further comprising providing a recommendation for the location of the guiding device to the customer. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein identifying the location comprises identifying a mark on the exterior side of the wall indicating the location. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 12  when the guiding device includes a second location element to indicate when the opening reaches the guiding device.