Facilitating installation of fiber optic networks

Abstract

An optical system architecture includes indexed optical lines that are indexed between first and second multi-fiber connectors; a first of the optical line having a first end terminated at the first multi-fiber connector; and a second optical line having a first end terminated at the second multi-fiber. An input of an optical splitter is optically coupled to second ends of the first and second optical lines. The optical splitter splits optical signals carried over the first and second optical lines onto output lines so that each output line carries signals split from the first optical line and signals split from the second optical line.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A fiber distribution system comprising:
 a first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location having a number of fiber positions;   a second ruggedized multi-fiber connection location having the same number of fiber positions as the first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location;   first fibers indexed between the first and second multi-fiber connection locations;   a third ruggedized multi-fiber connection location;   second fibers routed from the first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location to the ruggedized hardened multi-fiber connection location, the second fibers being fewer in number than the first fibers; and   third fibers routed from the second ruggedized multi-fiber connection location to the third ruggedized multi-fiber connection location, the third fibers being fewer in number than the first fibers.   
     
     
         3 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the first, second, and third fibers form a cable arrangement extending between the first and second ruggedized multi-fiber connection locations. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 3 , wherein the cable arrangement includes between twelve and twenty-four optical fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location includes a multi-fiber connector. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the third ruggedized multi-fiber connection location includes a multi-fiber adapter port. 
     
     
         7 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an optical splitter having an input and an output; and   an output cable extending between the third ruggedized multi-fiber connection location and the input of the optical splitter.   
     
     
         8 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein the output of the optical splitter includes a multi-fiber output port. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein the input of the splitter includes a sealed pass-through at which a portion of the output cable enters the optical splitter. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein the input of the splitter includes a ruggedized external port. 
     
     
         11 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein the input of the splitter is one of a plurality of input ports. 
     
     
         12 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 7 , wherein the output of the optical splitter includes a plurality of output ports. 
     
     
         13 . A fiber distribution system comprising:
 a cable arrangement including:
 a first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location, the first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location having a number of fiber positions; 
 a second ruggedized multi-fiber connection location, the second ruggedized multi-fiber connection location having the same number of fiber positions as the first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location; 
 first fibers indexed between the first and second multi-fiber connection locations; 
   a splitter having a plurality of outputs terminated at a third multi-fiber connection location;   a first fiber line extending from the first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location to an input of the splitter; and   a second fiber line extending from the second ruggedized multi-fiber connection location to the input of the splitter.   
     
     
         14 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fibers are bidirectionally indexed. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 13 , wherein the splitter is disposed external of the cable arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 15 , wherein the splitter is disposed within an enclosure that is separate from the cable arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 13 , wherein the first fiber line includes a portion of the cable arrangement and a portion of a drop cable. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 13 , further comprising an indexing terminal disposed at an intermediate location along the cable arrangement, the indexing terminal defining a fourth multi-fiber connection location through which the first fiber line passes. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 18 , wherein the second fiber line also passes through the fourth multi-fiber connection location. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 13 , wherein the first ruggedized multi-fiber connection location includes a multi-fiber connector. 
     
     
         21 . The fiber distribution system of  claim 13 , wherein the second ruggedized multi-fiber connection location includes a ruggedized optical port.