Device, remote node and methods for pon supervision

Abstract

A remote node in a passive optical network (PON), the remote node comprises a filter arrangement and a sequential splitter arrangement, where the filter arrangement is arranged to receive a feeder signal including data communication content and optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) pulses, and where the filter arrangement is adapted to transmit the data communication content to the sequential splitter arrangement. Furthermore, the invention involves a method for determining the location of a fault section in a drop section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A remote node in a passive optical network (PON), the remote node comprising:
 a filter arrangement and a sequential splitter arrangement,   wherein the filter arrangement is arranged to receive a feeder signal including data communication content and optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) pulses, and wherein the filter arrangement is adapted to transmit the data communication content to the sequential splitter arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The remote node according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter arrangement includes a first filter and secondary filters arranged to allow passage of a pre-selected wavelength to a pre-selected drop section, and wherein the secondary filters include sequentially arranged filters to allow passage of a wavelength shifted signal of the pre-selected wavelength to the pre-selected drop section. 
     
     
         3 . The remote node according to  claim 2 , wherein the sequential splitter arrangement comprises a multi-stage splitter and wherein a second splitter stage of the multi-stage splitter involves at least two splitters and is arranged on a downlink end of the remote node. 
     
     
         4 . The remote node according to  claim 3 , wherein the sequential splitter arrangement is a de-multiplexer arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The remote node according to  claim 2 , wherein the pre-selected wavelength is passed to the pre-selected drop section without using an active components. 
     
     
         6 . The remote node according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter arrangement includes a plurality of filters, and each filter comprises one input link and two output links. 
     
     
         7 . The remote node according to  claim 1 , wherein the sequential splitter arrangement includes a plurality of splitters, and each splitter comprises at least one input link and two output links. 
     
     
         8 . The remote node according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeder signal is received through a fiber that carries both the data communication content and the OTDR pulses. 
     
     
         9 . The remote node according to  claim 1 , wherein the feeder signal is received through a first fiber that carries the data communication content and a second fiber that carries the OTDR pulses. 
     
     
         10 . The remote node according to  claim 9 , wherein the sequential splitter arrangement includes a plurality of splitters, and each splitter receives the data communication content through a first link and the OTDR pulses through a second link. 
     
     
         11 . The remote node according to  claim 1 , wherein the remote node is configured without utilizing a power supply. 
     
     
         12 . A method in a remote node in a passive optical network (PON) for distributing a wavelength shifted OTDR signal to at least one drop section in a passive optical network (PON), comprising:
 receiving a wavelength shifted optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) signal having a pre-selected wavelength; and   outputting the wavelength shifted OTDR signal to at least one dedicated drop section.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the outputting the wavelength shifted signal to the at least one dedicated drop section comprises:
 filtering the wavelength shifted OTDR signal through a filter arrangement, which allows the wavelength shifted OTDR signal to the at least one dedicated drop section.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving data communication content; and   outputting the data communication content to the at least one dedicated drop section.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the data communication content is received from an optical line terminal. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the outputting the wavelength shifted OTDR signal to at least one dedicated drop section is performed without a power supply in the remote node. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the outputting the wavelength shifted OTDR signal to at least one dedicated drop section is performed without using an active component.