CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of European Patent Application 16186623.1, filed August 31, 2016, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to distribution point units that are used to exchange communication data between a service provider and subscribers. The service provider is coupled to the distribution point unit by an optical data network and the subscribers are connected to the distribution point unit by an electrical data network.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Optical access networks connect subscribers of high bandwidth telecommunication services to their service providers. Because of its high dependency on building access and infrastructure, the best performing, all optical, Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) model has problems to be accepted by the market. Moreover, the possible bandwidth of up to 1 GB/s that maybe achieved by a Fiber-To-The-Home architecture is often not needed.

[0004] Deployment schemes which avoid physical changes to the premises of the subscribers are currently the favored approaches for broadband access. Fiber-To-The-Curb (FTTC), Fiber-To-The-distribution Point (FTTdP) and Fiber-To-The-Building or -Premise (FTTB/FTTP) deployment schemes utilize legacy copper lead in infrastructure by using sophisticated electrical modulation techniques such as VDSL or G.fast. An FTTdP infrastructure typically serves 1 to 16 subscribers per distribution point unit.

[0005] FTTC, FTTdP and FTTB/P architectures differentiate in the distance between a distribution point unit (DPU) and the subscribers as well as the number of electrical ports that are served by an optical network unit (ONU). The distribution point unit performs a conversion from optical signals propagating through the optical fibers of the optical data network to the electrical signals transferred through the wires of the electrical data network and vice versa. The electrical data network is coupled to the premises of the subscribers by respective customer premise equipment (CPE) installed in each building. The available bandwidth through the copper infrastructure of the electrical data network is mostly limited by the distance between the optical network unit and the customer premise equipment.

[0006] The distribution point units located at the distribution points can be installed underground, for example in hand- or man holes, or above ground. The above ground distribution point locations, for example at walls or street posts, are mostly at central and exposed positions. Those positions are also interesting places for installing electrical devices for different applications. With the increased security demands of the today's societies and companies there is, for example, a huge demand for camera surveillance for public spaces and private properties. Companies/organizations that operate the electrical devices, such as observation cameras or sensor systems, may install their own data network to connect one of their service centers, for example an office of a security agency or a data collecting center of a meteorological service, to the electrical devices.

[0007] Since distribution point units to couple an optical data network to an electrical data network are often installed at central locations that are usually also preferred areas for installing the above-mentioned electrical devices, it would be advantageous if distribution point units as well as the optical and/or electrical data network already existing could be used to connect the electrical devices to service/data centers of providers for offering different services.

[0008] There is a desire to provide a distribution point unit to exchange communication data between a service provider and/or subscribers via a data communication network, wherein the distribution point unit enables an electrical device to be coupled to a service provider and/or subscribers for data exchange.

SUMMARY

[0009] An embodiment of distribution point unit to exchange communication data between a service provider and subscribers, wherein the distribution point unit is expanded regarding its technical functionality to couple an electrical device to the service provider and/or to the subscribers is described.

[0010] In some embodiments, the distribution point unit comprises a first port to couple the distribution point unit to an optical data network to exchange communication data between the distribution point unit and the service provider. The distribution point unit further comprises a second port to couple the distribution point unit to an electrical data network to exchange the communication data between the subscribers and the distribution point unit. The distribution point unit comprises a third port to couple the distribution point unit to an electrical device, the third port being configured to provide control data to control the electrical device. The distribution point unit further comprises a media access controller being coupled to each of the first and second and third port. The media access controller is configured to generate the control data based on the communication data received at one of the first and second ports.

[0011] The distribution point unit may enable to couple an electrical device, for example a local Ethernet device, via the third port to the distribution point unit. The electrical device is accessible via a media access controller-bridge from the subscribers connected to the second port of the distribution point unit or from an optical line termination side in an operators central office via the first port of the distribution point unit.

[0012] According to a possible embodiment of the distribution point unit the third port is configured to provide electrical power to the electrical device. To this purpose, a power injector may be coupled to the third port to provide the electrical power to operate the electrical device connected to the third port of the distribution point unit. The third port can be configured as an Ethernet port to connect/attach an Ethernet device, such as an IP camera or an IP door/gate access control device, and to transceive communication data coded in the Ethernet coded format from/to the Ethernet device.

[0013] According to another possible embodiment, the distribution point unit may be configured as a reverse powered distribution point unit, for example a reverse powered FTTdP distribution point unit. The distribution point unit may comprise a power extractor unit being coupled to the second port to extract a DC offset voltage from a communication data signal received at the second port from at least one of the subscribers connected to the distribution point unit. The distribution point unit may comprise a power sourcing unit that converts a level of the DC offset voltage received from the power extractor unit and used for the reverse powering to the level of a supply voltage/electrical power to operate the main components of the distribution point unit, for example the media access controller. The power sourcing unit may be further configured to convert the level of the DC offset voltage received from the power extractor unit to the level of a supply power/electrical power to operate the electrical device.

[0014] According to another possible embodiment of the distribution point unit, the second port may comprise a plurality of connectors, wherein each of the subscribers is connected to a respective one of the connectors of the second port. The power extractor unit may comprise a plurality of power extractors, wherein each of the power extractors is connected to a respective one of the connectors of the second port. Each of the power extractors may be configured to provide the respective DC offset voltage extracted from the respective communication data signal received at the respective connector of the second port from a respective subscriber to a power sourcing unit of the distribution point unit. The power sourcing unit is configured to convert a level of the received DC offset voltages to a level of the electrical supply power that is needed to operate the electrical device.

[0015] The capability of a reverse powered distribution point unit, for example an FTTdp distribution point unit, is expanded to connect an electrical device to the distribution point unit and to supply the electrical device with electrical power. By adding additional components to the DPU printed circuit board and a third port, for example a field hardened RJ45 connector, to the DPU enclosure, the DPU gets the capability to host and power an Ethernet port that can be used to attach an electrical device, for instance an IP camera or an IP door/gate access control device. In particular, Ethernet-cameras, that can be powered via an Ethernet cable using the Power Over Ethernet (POE) standard are well-suited to be connected to the distribution point unit, since they can be easily managed and do not need local power sources. Depending on the configuration of the DPU, the third port, for example the Ethernet port, can be accessed locally from the subscriber premises and/or from a service provider.

[0016] The distribution point unit adds additional capabilities to an FTTdP infrastructure that allows an operator to offer additional services, for example in the area of security and surveillance. The FTTdP operator already owns the critical infrastructure assets that a provider of a sole service, for example a surveillance provider, would have to build or acquire. That relates to strategic location access for installing electrical devices, electrical powering and an Ethernet data backbone.

[0017] Additional features and advantages are set forth in the Detailed Description that follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following Detailed Description are merely exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understand the nature and character of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying figures are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this s ecification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiments, and together with the Detailed Description serve to explain principles and operations of the various embodiments. As such, the disclosure will become more fully understood from the following Detailed Description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 shows a fiber to the distribution point (FTTdP) aerial deployment scheme with an electrical device connected to a distribution point unit.

[0020] Figure 2A shows a first embodiment of an implementation of a distribution point unit with a powered port to connect an electrical device to the distribution point unit.

[0021] Figure 2B shows a second embodiment of an implementation of a distribution point unit with a powered port to connect an electrical device to the distribution point unit.

[0022] Figure 2C shows a third embodiment of an implementation of a distribution point unit with a powered port to connect an electrical device to the distribution point unit.

[0023] Figure 2D shows a fourth embodiment of an implementation of a distribution point unit with a powered port to connect an electrical device to the distribution point unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 shows a fiber to the distribution point (FTTdP) aerial deployment scheme comprising a distribution point unit 100 to exchange communication data between a service provider 1 and subscribers 2a, 2b. The distribution point unit 100 is used to couple an optical data network 200 to an electrical data network 300. The architecture allows to couple the service provider 1 via the optical data network 200, the distribution point unit 100 and the electrical data network 300 to the subscribers 2a, 2b.

[0025] In the aerial deployment scheme shown in Figure 1, the distribution point unit 100 may be mounted to a post carrying a multi-fiber optical distribution cable 210 of the optical data network 200. Communication data transferred via the multi-fiber optical distribution cable 210 from the service provider 1 may be coupled out from the cable 210 at an optical breakout device 220 to be transferred to the distribution point unit 100 via an optical cable 230, for example a single fiber optical drop cable. The communication data may also be transferred in the other direction, i.e. from the distribution point unit 100 via the optical cable 230 and the distribution cable 210 to the service provider 1. The distribution point unit 100 is configured to convert the optical data to electrical data and vice versa.

[0026] The electrical data network 300 may comprise copper drop cables 310 that connect the distribution point unit 100 to a respective customer premise equipment 320 of the premises 2a and 2b. The distribution point unit 100 is configured to receive electrical communication data via the electrical data network 300 from the premises 2a, 2b and to transmit the electrical communication data via the electrical data network 300 to the premises 2a, 2b.

[0027] The distribution point unit 100 comprises a first external port to couple the distribution point unit 100 to the optical data network 200 and a second port to couple the distribution point unit 100 to the electrical data network 300. In addition to the first and second ports, the distribution point unit 100 comprises a third port to couple the distribution point unit 100 to an electrical device 3. The electrical device 3 may be configured, for example as a camera device, a sensor device, an illumination device or a WiFi access device. The connection of other electrical devices having other functionalities is also possible. According to a possible embodiment, the electrical device may be configured as an Ethernet device transmitting/receiving communication data having an Ethernet coded format, for example being coded by Ethernet frames. In the exemplified illustration of the FTTdP architecture of Figure 1 , the electrical device 3 is configured as an IP camera.

[0028] Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show a respective possible implementation of different embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 comprising an external port to connect an electrical device to the distribution point unit.

[0029] According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the distribution point unit 100 comprises a first port 10 to couple the distribution point unit 100 to the optical data network 200 to exchange communication data between the distribution point unit 100 and the service provider 1. The first port 10 may be configured to receive the communication data in an optically coded format from the service provider 1 and/or to transmit the communication data in the optically coded format to the service provider 1. The first port 10 may comprise a connector 11 being configured to connect the distribution point unit 100 to the optical data network 200. The first connector 11 is configured to receive the communication data in an optically coded format from the service provider 1 and to transmit the communication data in the optically coded format to the service provider 1.

[0030] The distribution point unit 100 further comprises a second port 20 to couple the distribution point unit 100 to the electrical data network 300 to exchange the communication data between the subscribers 2a, 2n and the distribution point unit 100. In particular, the second port 20 is configured to transmit the communication data in an electrically coded format to one of the subscribers and/or to receive the communication data in the electrically coded format from one of the subscribers 2a, 2n. The second port 20 may comprise a plurality of connectors 20a, 20b, ..., 20n, wherein each of the connectors 20a, 20b, .. ., 20n is connected to a respective one of the subscribers 2a, 2b, ..., 2n via the electrical data network 300. The connectors 20a, 20b, 20n are configured to respectively receive the communication data in an electrically coded format from a respective one of the subscribers 20a, 20b, .. ., 20n and to transmit the communication data in an electrically coded format to a respective one of the subscribers 20a, 20b, ... , 20n.

[0031] According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit shown in Figures 2 A to 2D the first port 10 is coupled to an optical interface 1 10 comprising at least one optical transceiver as well as all necessary control and management electronics, such as laser drivers, transimpedance amplifiers, etc.. The optical interface 1 10 terminates the optical distribution network 200 at the subscriber side.

[0032] The distribution point unit 100 further comprises a media access controller 120 to perform channel access control tasks. The media access controller 120 distributes communication data received from the optical data network 200 to one of the subscribers 2a, .. ., 2n and vice versa. The media access controller 120 comprises output ports O120 that are coupled via a media- independent interface to a transceiver unit 140. The transceiver unit 140 comprises a plurality of transceivers 140a, 140b, 140n. Each of the transceivers may comprise a digital frontend device 141 , an analogue frontend device 142 and a laser driver 143. The digital frontend device 141 , the analogue frontend device 142 and the laser driver 143 may be either monolithically integrated or individual chips. Each of the transceivers 140a, 140b, 140n is connected to a communication data line TCI , TC2, TCn for transferring the communication data in the electrically coded format to the second port 20. Each of the communication data lines TCI , TC2, .. ., TCn is connected to a respective one of the electrical drop cables 320.

[0033] The transceiver unit 140 may be configured as a Digital Subscriber Line transceiver (xDSL TRX) that provides the data-connection to the buildings of the subscribers 2a, 2b, .. ., 2n using copper based lines TCI, TC2, TCn being embodied as twisted-pair or coaxial lines. The transceivers 140a, 140b, 140n may be configured as xDSL-transceivers. The data lines TCI, TC2, TCn may be respectively configured as a single line pair (xDSL), for example a copper line, for transferring the communication data in the xDSL data format.

[0034] The distribution point unit 100 comprises a third port 30 to couple the distribution point unit 100 to an electrical device 3. The third port 30 is configured to provide control data to control the electrical device 3. The media access controller 120 is coupled to the third port 30. The media access controller 120 is configured to generate the control data to control the electrical device 3 based on the communication data received at one of the first and second ports 10 and 20 from the service provider 1 or one of the subscribers 2a, 2b, .. ., 2n.

[0035] According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the electrical device 3 may be configured as one of a camera device and a sensor device, for example a humidity or temperature sensor device, and an illumination device and a WiFi access device. According to a further embodiment, the electrical device 3 may be configured as an Ethernet device that is configured to receive and transmit data in an Ethernet coded format via the third port 30. In this case the third port 30 is configured as an Ethernet port.

[0036] According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the media access controller 120 is configured to provide the communication data received from the electrical device 3 at the at least one third port 30 to at least one of the first port 10 and the second port 20. In the case, if the third port 30 is configured as an Ethernet port, the media access controller 120 is configured to perform Ethernet frames addressing so that communication data received from the electrical device 3 at the third port 30 in the Ethernet coded format is distributed by the media access controller 120 to at least one of the first port 10 and the second port 20. Thus, the communication data received from the electrical device 3 may be transferred via the optical data network 200 to the service provider 1 or via the electrical data network 300 to one the subscribers 2a, 2b, 2n. The media access controller 120 is further configured to transfer the control data to control the electrical device 3 to the third port 30.

[0037] According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the distribution point unit 100 may comprise an Ethernet transceiver 180 that is coupled between the media access controller 120 and the third port 30. The Ethernet transceiver 180 is configured to receive the communication data being coded in the Ethernet data format from the third port 30, respectively the electrical device 3 via a communication data line EC. The Ethernet transceiver 1 80 is configured to change the Ethernet data format of the received communication data in a media access controller compatible data format. The Ethernet transceiver 180 is further configured to transmit the communication data in the media access controller compatible data format to the media access controller 120 for further data processing.

[0038] The Ethernet transceiver 180 is configured to receive the communication data being coded in the media access controller compatible data format from the media access controller 120 and to change the media access controller compatible data format of the communication data in the Ethernet data format. The Ethernet transceiver 180 is configured to transmit the communication data in the Ethernet data format via the communication data line EC to the third port 30, respectively the electrical device 3. The data line EC being arranged between the third port 30 and the Ethernet transceiver 180 may comprise two line pairs that may be arranged in a twisted configuration. The Ethernet transceiver 180 may be configured as an Ethernet PHY -chip for Ethernet over twisted pair transmissions.

[0039] As illustrated in the embodiments of the distribution point unit shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the Ethernet transceiver 180 is directly connected to the media access controller 120. The media access controller 120 may also be directly connected to each of the transceivers 140a, 140b, 140n of the transceiver unit 140. The media access controller 120 is configured to transmit the communication data received from the electrical device 3 to the first port 10 or to one of the transceivers 140a, 140b, ..., 140n of the transceiver unit 140 for being passed to one of the subscribers 2a, 2b, .. ., 2n.

[0040] Figures 2C and 2D show another embodiment of the distribution point unit 100, wherein the distribution point unit comprises a switching unit 130 being arranged between the media access controller 120 and the Ethernet transceiver 180. The switching unit 130 is configured to selectively couple the media access controller 120 to one of the second port 20 and the third port 30. The configuration of the distribution point unit shown in Figures 2C and 2D enables to provide the media access controller 120 having a number of output terminals 0120 that is equal to the number of transceivers of the transceiver unit 140, respectively the number of connectors 20a, 20b, .. ., 20n of the second port 20. In contrast to the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2C and 2D, the media access controller 120 of the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figure 2A and 2B has a higher number of output terminals 0120 than the number of transceivers 140a, 140b, 140n being included in the transceiver unit 140.

[0041] According to a first possible switching state of the switching unit 130, the media access controller 120 is connected by the switching unit 130 to the Ethernet transceiver 180. The communication data received from the electrical device 3 may be distributed from the media access controller 120 to the optical data network 200 and/or to one of the transceivers, for example the transceivers 140a and 140b, that are directly connected to the output terminals O120 of the media access controller 120. The media access controller 120 may transfer the communication data received from the electrical device 3 at the third port 30 to one of the connector 1 1 of the first port 10 and the connectors 20a and 20b of the second port 20. [0042] If the switching unit 130 is operated in a second switching state, in which the media access controller 120 is disconnected from the third port 30 and is connected to the transceiver 140n of the transceiver unit 140, communication data may be exchanged between the service provider 1 and the subscribers 2a, 2b, 2n, but not between the service provider/the subscribers and the electrical device 3.

[0043] According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2C and 2D, the switching unit 130 may be configured as a high speed passive switch for switching the connection of one of the output terminals 0120 of the media access controller 120 either to one of the transceiver channels TCI , TC2, .. ., TCn or to the Ethernet channel EC. The switching unit 130 needs to support the data rates of the media-independent interface that is used to connect the media access controller 120 to the physical transceivers 140a, 140b, .. ., 140n of the transceiver unit 140 and the Ethernet transceiver 180. A passive switch such as the Maxim MAX4888 could be used for the Gigabit Ethernet capable SGMll-(media independent) interface.

[0044] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the distribution point unit 200 is configured to be powered reversely by the customers premise equipment 320. The distribution point unit 100 comprises a power extractor unit 150 to extract a DC offset voltage from a data communication signal received at the second port 20. According to the possible embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the power extractor unit 150 comprises a plurality of power extractors 150a, 150b, 150n. Each power extractor is coupled to one of the communication data lines TCI , TC2, .. ., TCn, respectively one of the electrical drop cables 320.

[0045] The power extractors 150a, 150b, 150n are configured to extract the respective DC offset voltage from a respective one of the communication data signals being transferred from a respective one of the subscribers 2a, 2b, .. ., 2n to a respective one of the connectors 20a, 20b, .. ., 20n and thus to a respective one of the communication data lines TCI , TC2, .. ., TCn. The distribution point unit 100 comprises a power sourcing unit 160 that is configured to convert the DC offset voltage levels received from the power extractors 150a, 150b, 150n for the reverse powering to the levels required to operate the components of the distribution point unit 100, for example the media access controller 120.

[0046] According to a possible embodiment of the distribution point unit 100, the third port 30 is configured to provide electrical power to the electrical device 3. According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the power extractor unit 150 is configured to extract a DC offset voltage from at least one of the communication data signals received at the second port 20 from at least one of the subscribers 2a, 2b, 2n. The power extractor unit 150 applies the extracted DC offset voltages to the power sourcing unit 160 of the distribution point unit 100. The power sourcing unit 160 is configured to receive the DC offset voltages from the power extractor unit 150 and to convert a level of the received DC offset voltage to a level of the electrical supply power that is required to operate the electrical device 3.

[0047] According to the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 shown in Figures 2A to 2D, the power extractors 150a, 150b, 150n of the power extractor unit 150 are coupled to a respective one of the communication data lines TCI , TC2, TCn, respectively the connectors 20a, 20b, 20n of the second port 20. The power extractors 150a, 150b, 150n are configured to extract a respective DC offset voltage from the communication data signals received at the connectors 20a, 20b, 20n and to provide the respective DC offset voltages to the power sourcing unit 160.

[0048] In the case of multiple subscribers being coupled to the distribution point unit 100, the power sourcing unit 160 combines the different DC voltage levels extracted by the power extractors 150a, 150b, 150n to generate the level of the electrical supply power required to operate the electrical device 3. The power sourcing unit 160 is configured to receive the respective DC offset voltage from each of the power extractors 150a, 150b, 150n and to convert the received levels of the DC offset voltages to the level of the electrical supply power required to operate the electrical device 3.

[0049] The distribution point unit 100 may comprise a power injector 170 to apply the electrical power, for example a DC offset voltage, to the communication data line EC. The power sourcing unit 160 is coupled to power injector 170 to provide the electrical supply power to the power injector 170. As shown in the embodiments of the distribution point unit 100 of Figures 2A and 2C, the power injector 170 is coupled to the communication data line EC, respectively the third port 30 to supply the electrical power at the third port 30 to operate the electrical device 3. In the case that the third port 30 is configured at an Ethernet port, the power injector 170 may be configured to provide Power Over Ethernet (POE) to the third port 30.

[0050] The electrical device 3, for example a local Ethernet device 3, can be powered using the Power Over Ethernet injector 170 that is connected to the power sourcing unit 160. The distribution point unit 100 itself is powered reversely by the customers premise equipment 320. The relevant standard according to ETS1 Reverse Powering Specification TS 101 548 vl .1.1 (European Requirements for Reverse Powering of Remote Access Equipment) limits the maximum power that may be applied to the distribution point unit to 21 W. The maximum power that is actually usable at the distribution point unit depends on the number of subscribers attached to the distribution point unit and the line length between the distribution point unit and the subscribers premises. For a typical FTTdP scenario with 200 m of copper lines with 0.5 mm diameter, a distribution point unit can extract 12 W per subscriber. The distribution point unit itself requires about 5 to 10 W per connector of the second port 20, depending on how many subscribers are attached and what transmission technologies are used. Therefore, the connection of a powered electrical device, such as an IP camera, with a power consumption of 3 to 5 W is feasible.

[0051] Figure 2A and 2C show an embodiment of the distribution point unit 100, wherein the third port 30 comprises only one connector 31 that is configured to provide and receive the communication data and to provide the power supply voltage for operating the electrical device 3. This single connector 31 of the third port 30 may be configured as an Ethernet connector that is configured to provide Power Over Ethernet (POE).

[0052] Figure 2B and Figure 2D show another embodiment of the distribution point unit 100, wherein the third port 30 comprises a first connector 31 and a second connector 32. The first connector 31 is configured to provide and receive the communication data. The second connector 32 is configured to provide the power supply voltage from the power sourcing unit 160 for operating the electrical device 3.