FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to transmission systems and particularly to a system and method for simultaneously providing IP and non-IP based communication services using passive optical networks (PON).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) or Direct-To-Home (DTH) systems typically provides a wide range of services using a satellite dish and a set-top box (STB). The satellite dish containing a low noise block (LNB) to receive, amplify, and down convert frequency blocks is connected to the STB through a coaxial cable. In DBS/DTH systems each channel is broadcasted from the satellite with either a left hand circular (LSCyhorizontal polarization or right hand circular (RHC)/vertical polarization. Normally, half of the channels are on (LSC)/horizontal polarization and half are on (RHC)/vertical polarization. By sending different DC voltages, the satellite STB receiver instructs the LNB to select one of the two circular polarized channels it wants to receive. Typically, the STB architecture is only capable of demodulating and decoding one frequency channel at a time. Hence, the number of receivers that can be connected to a satellite dish are limited by the use of STBs and LNBs. For such reasons, separate cabling for each individual link between a satellite dish and a STB is required. The output from each separate STB is connected to a TV, to receive the channels and the services from each satellite dish.

Typically, a single-output LNB provides one RF output for connecting a coaxial cable to feed a received DBS/DTH satellite signal to a single STB. A dual-output LNB typically has two RF outputs for distributing DBS/DTH satellite signals to two STBs over two coaxial cables. In either case, two or more STBs cannot be connected to a single coaxial cable in order to avoid DC contention created by STBs. Therefore, allowing an end-user to view one frequency channel on a video monitor while simultaneously recording another frequency channel on a video recorder and/or watching one of more frequency channels within the typical picture-in-picture functions of most modern video monitors is not possible over a single coaxial cable feed.

Traditionally, each customer is served by a DBS/DTH receiver dish. As for the reasons given above, each STB can only communicate with one LNB in the DBS/DTH satellite receiver dish. So multiple satellite dishes each equipped with a single LNB, or satellite dishes with multiple LNBs will require multiple coax feeds from the satellite dishes/dish to satellite STB receivers in a residence. A maze of coaxial cables and equipment pile up at the customer's premises, presents an undesirable scenario.

Today apart from providing basic television services, Cable and Satellite TV services providers also offer a broad range of IP based services such as voice telephony, high speed Internet data, IPTV, video multimedia services, interactive gaming, remote home management and security, etc.

However, the IP based services require new networks to support high speed, symmetric and guaranteed bandwidths for future video services with high definition TV quality. To meet the demands of these services, network providers and systems integrators are strained for converging the services and providing different levels of Service Level Agreements (SLAs) like classification, Quality of Service (QoS), low delay and jitter and Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation (DBA) for different devices.

Furthermore, the challenge is to provide a single node at the consumer premises that can carry all their IP and non-IP based services. The only media capable of carrying these huge bandwidths and varied services to the customer node is fiber. Fiber has its own problems related to Satellite services; the connection of the LNB at the head end to the receiver at the customer site via fiber optics inhibits the DC voltages required for signaling between the LNB and the satellite STB receiver for selection of differently polarized channels.

The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for allowing multiple IP and non-IP based services to be transmitted simultaneously to multiple receiving nodes using a single optical fiber cable.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a single node termination for receiving, and then broadcasting left hand circular (LSC)/horizontal polarization or right hand circular (RHC)/vertical polarization channels simultaneously to a number of STBs.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a single node termination carrying all the IP and non-IP based services such as Cable TV, Satellite TV, VoIP telephone set, IPTV, ATA, high speed Internet data, video multimedia services, interactive gaming, remote home management and security, etc at the customer's premises.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide duplex transmission based on PON technology over an optical SM (single mode) fiber cable.

To achieve one or more of the above said objectives the present invention discloses a transmission system and method to provide IP and non-IP based services to multiple receiving nodes using a single optical fiber cable, from one or more gateway. The gateway may be a receiver dish such as a DBS/DTH dish. The disclosed system comprises an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) connected to the gateway at the headend. The digital signals from the gateway are converted to an optical signal by the OLT and transmitted optically using the single optical fiber cable to a splitter. The splitter splits the optical signal into IP and non-IP services and transmits the optical signal to one or more optical network units (ONU). The ONU converts the received optical signal into digital signals and transmit the digital signals to the receiving nodes for providing one or more IP or non-IP based services.

According to yet another embodiment, the optical signals received from the OLT may be transferred to the vicinity of buildings over a single optical fiber, and then the optical splitters positioned at the vicinity of building may distribute optical signals to multiple dwellings having an optical network unit via a series of optical fiber cable. The OLU may convert the optical signals into digital signal and transmits the signals to the receiving nodes such as a set top box, television, computer, modem, etc.

According to yet another embodiment, various IP based services may also be provided by associating a wave division multiplexer (WDM) with the Optical Line Terminal at the headend unit.

According to an alternate embodiment, at the dwelling sites, the optical signals are received at the optical network unit that converts the optical signals to digital signals. The electrical signals for non-IP based services are then transmitted over coaxial cables to different Set Top Box's (STB's). The electrical signals for IP-based services are transmitted to the users over CAT-5/6 and RJ-11 cables to IPTV STB, Wi-Fi routers, computers, IP phones, etc.

In yet another embodiment, the ONU may provide both IP and non-IP based services to multiple residents in a multi dwelling unit (MDU) block. In this case, a multi port ONU provides multiple outputs for IP based services, which can be connected to equipments in residences via CAT 5/6 copper cable. The RF output from the ONU carrying non-IP based services are further split using RF splitter and then terminated into individual channel processor/designer unit at each residence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of this disclosure will be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a system for providing IP and Non IP based services to multiple nodes using only one PON network, over a single optical fiber for duplex transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) according to an embodiment of the present invention that is connected to a single non-IP based headend (channel processor/assigner using signals from one or more DBS/DTH dish) and serves multiple customers at multiple locations over multiple PON networks carrying IP and Non-IP based services;

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an ONU according to an embodiment of the present invention that serves a single customer with IP and non-IP based services; and
Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of an ONU according to yet another embodiment of the present invention that can provide both IP and Non-IP based services to multiple residents in a multi dwelling unit (MDU) block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and system for providing IP or non-IP based services to a plurality of receiving nodes over a single passive optical network is disclosed. The method and system provides for receiving digital signals at an optical line terminal of one or more IP or non-IP based services from one or more gateway. The received signals are converted into optical signals and transmitted one or more splitter over a single optical fiber cable. The received optical signals are then splitted at the splitter and further transmitted to the optical network unit. The received optical signals are converted back into digital signals and transmitted to various receiving nodes for providing one or more IP or/and non-IP based services.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the optical signals received from the optical line terminal may be transferred to a splitter positioned at the vicinity of buildings over a single optical fiber, and then the splitters may distribute optical signals
to multiple dwellings having an optical network unit using different optical fibers. The optical network unit may convert the optical signals into digital signal and transmits the signals to the receiving nodes such as a set top box, television, computer, modem, etc for providing various IP and non-IP services.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is a Direct-To-Home (DTH) system or a direct broadcast satellite or a CATV. In accordance with an embodiment, the gateway is a receiver dish in communication with one or more satellites for receiving digital signals.

Figure 1 illustrates a transmission system 100 for providing services to multiple receiving nodes 102 using only one optical fiber cable 104, and using only one headend (channel processor/ assigner using digital signals from one or more gateway 106) for IP and non-IP services according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transmission system 100 comprises of an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) unit 108 and an Optical Network Unit (ONU) 110. As illustrated, the Optical Line Terminal unit 108 is in communication with one or more gateway 106. The Optical Line Terminal unit 108 may also be configured to receive CATV inputs from the gateway 106. According to yet another embodiment, the Optical Line Terminal unit 108 may be configured to receive various IP based services such as, but not limited to IPTV, PSTN, VoIP, Home automation, gaming, security, etc or/and various non-IP based services such as cable TV, satellite TV, etc. The Optical Line Terminal unit 108 is configured to convert the received digital signals into optical signals. The converted optical signal may be transmitted to a splitter 112 for splitting the optical signal and transmitting the optical signals to an Optical Network Unit 110. The received optical signals are converted back into digital signals by the optical network unit 110 and transmitted to various receiving nodes 102 for providing one or more IP or/and non-IP based services.

Figure 2 illustrates the Optical Line Terminal unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the Optical Line Terminal unit 108 is configured to receive digital signals of one or more IP or non-IP based services from one or more gateway 106. The gateway 106 may be a DBS/ DTH receiver dish. The gateway 106 may be in communication with one or more satellite (not shown) for receiving digital
signals. The digital signals received from the satellite may be either left hand circular (LSCyhorizontal polarization or right hand circular (RHC)/vertical polarization. According to yet another embodiment, the signals from multiple satellites may be received at a gateway that may be fed to the Optical Line Terminal unit 108.

The Optical Line Terminal unit 108comprises of a channel processor 114 for receiving the digital signals from one or more gateways 106. The channel processor 114 further processes and combines the various received digital signals and provides them to an optical transmitter 116. The optical transmitter 116 converts the processed digital signals received from the channel processor 114 to optical signals. The optical signals carrying non-IP based services then may be combined with IP-based optical signals using a Wave Division Multiplexer (WDM) 118 and transmitted to a splitter 112 over a single optical fiber cable 104. According to yet another embodiment, a 1:M splitter may be provided in the optical line terminal 108 to split the non-IP based optical signals into 'M' branches, combine them with IP based optical signals from 'M' different passive optical network (not shown)_ using the Wave Division Multiplexer 118 and then transmit the optical signal over multiple passive optical network to multiple splitters 112 positioned at multiple dwellings at multiple locations. In accordance to yet another embodiment, the optical signals carrying IP and Non-IP based services can further be splited into 'N' number of signals using '1:N' splitters and may be provided to different dwellings.

According to yet alternate embodiment, the Optical Line Terminal unit 108 may be configured to provide various IP based services. To provide IP based services the Optical Line Terminal unitl08 may have a processor 120 for processing IP based services. The processor receives data packets from various IP based services and process them so that the same may be provided to an Optical transceiver 122 (Optical TXCVR). The optical transceiver 122 converts the processed data packets into optical signals. According to yet another embodiment, a wave division multiplexer 118 is provided in the optical transceiver 122 for separating upstream or downstream signal communications.

According to yet another embodiment, plurality of processors 120, transceiver 122 and WDM 118 may be provided to cater IP based services from various service providers.

According to a specific example of the invention, the data packets for IP based services may be clubbed with the non-IP based services and may be transmitted over one or more passive optical network to one or more splitters at the vicinity of buildings over a single optical fiber. The one or more splitter may distribute optical signals to multiple dwellings comprising optical network unit 110 using different optical fiber cables 104.

Figure 3 illustrates the optical network unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the optical network unit 110 is configured to receive optical signal from the optical line terminal unit 108. The optical network unit 110 comprises of a wave division multiplexer 124 for separating the optical signal of IP and non-IP based services. The wave division multiplexer 124 transmits the optical signals for IP based services to optical transceiver 126 (Optical TXCVR) and optical signals for non-EP based services to optical receiver 128(Optical RX). The optical receiver 128 processes non-IP based signals and converts them into digital signals. The converted digital signals may be processed through a channel processor 130 The channel processor 130 further transmits the processed digital signals to one or more receiver nodes 102 such as television sets or to set-top boxes.

The optical transceiver 126 (Optical TXCVR) processes the optical signals of IP based services and converts then into digital signals. Alternatively, the optical transceiver may receive data packets from the wave division multiplexer 124 and may convert into digital data packets. The digital IP packets or digital signals are further processed by a service processor 132 and transmitted to one or more receiver nodes 102 such as computers, modems, etc.

Figure 4 illustrates a multi-port optical network unit 134 that has several RJ-45 ports for DP- services. The data packets are received by the wave division multiplexer 124 and transmit the optical signals for IP based services to optical transceiver 126. The digital IP packets or digital signals are further processed by a service processor 132 and transmitted to one or more receiver nodes 102 such as computers, modems, etc.

Digital signals of non-IP services are delivered over a single RF output splitter 138. RF signal can be split and distributed over a coaxial cable 136 to a block of many residences. At each residence RF signal is terminated into a channel processor/de-assigner unit 140. The signal is processed and can be used to feed several set top boxes.
According to an embodiment, the digital signals of non-IP services are selected from a group comprising Direct-To-Home (DTH) services, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services, or CATV signal and wherein the digital signals from one or more satellite are received at a single gateway.

According to an embodiment, the disclosed system is capable of handling two-way communication for IP based services over a single optical fiber cable. According to yet another embodiment, the disclosed system is capable of handling at least three data streams at a time, one for Non-IP based services, one up-linking stream for IP based services, and one downlinking stream for IP based services over a single optical fiber.

According to yet another embodiment, the passive optical network (PON) is based on Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) or a Gigabit passive optical network (GPON).
The system disclosed according to one or more embodiment of the present invention is capable of providing various services such as but not limited to TV signals, voice communication, data communication, IP video, CATV services etc. over the same Passive Optical Network (PON) to multiple dwellings within a radius of at least, but not limited to 20 km wherein each dwelling may support multiple independent STBs using standard off the shelf products for CATV and DBS/DTH.

While the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated for a system that provides multiple IP and non-IP based services simultaneously to multiple nodes, however the invention is not limited to the same. The invention may be extended for various other applications in wired or wireless communication devices without going beyond the scope of this disclosure.

While this provisional patent application contains the description of the principal inventive concepts, the complete patent application pursuant here to, will fully and particularly describe the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

We claim:

1. A transmission system capable of simultaneously providing IP and/or non-IP
based services to a plurality of receiving nodes over a single passive optical
network; the transmission system comprising of:
an optical line terminal (OLT) connected to one or more gateway for receiving digital signals of one or more IP or non-IP based services, the optical line terminal converts the received digital signals to optical signals;
one or more splitter for receiving the optical signals from the OLT, the signals being received by the splitter from the OLT over a single optical fiber cable; and
one or more optical network units (ONU) located at the respective receiving nodes for receiving optical signals from the splitter, the optical network unit (ONU) converts the received optical signal into digital signals and transmit the processed digital signals to the receiving nodes for providing one or more IP or non-IP based services.

2. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-IP services are selected from a group comprising Direct-To-Home (DTH) services, direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services, or CATV signal and wherein the signals from one or more satellite are received at a single gateway.

3. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gateway for providing non-IP services is a receiver dish in communication with one or more satellites for receiving digital signals.

4. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gateway is configured to receive a CATV input and provide CATV signal to the optical line terminal.

5. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the optical line terminal receives digital signals of various IP based services such as IPTV, PSTN, VOIP, Home automation, gaming, security, etc OT/and various non-IP based services such as cable TV, satellite TV, etc. from the respective gateways

6. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system provides duplex transmission based on passive optical network (PON) over a single optical fiber cable for IP based services.

7. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receiving node is a television or a set top box, or a computer, or a modem, or a router, or a VoIP telephone set, ATA, or any other devices capable of receiving the digital signal.

8. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the digital signals received from one or more non-IP based gateway may be either left hand circular (LSC)/horizontal polarized or right hand circular (RHC)/vertical polarized.

9. A transmission system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system capable of simultaneously providing IP and/or non-IP based services over a single passive optical network to a plurality of receiving nodes within a radius of at least 20 kilometers.

10. A method for providing IP or non-IP based services to a plurality of receiving nodes over a single passive optical network, the method comprising steps of:
receiving at a optical line terminal (OLT), digital signals of one or more IP or non-IP based services from one or more gateway;
converting the received digital signals into optical signals and transmitting the optical signals to one or more splitter over a single optical fiber cable;
splitting the received signals at the splitter and transmitting the received optical signals to one or more optical network units (ONU) located at the respective receiving nodes; and
converting the received optical signal into digital signals at the ONU and transmitting the digital signals to the receiving nodes for providing one or more IP or/and non-IP based services.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the method further comprises receiving CATV inputs at the optical line terminal and transmitting the CATV signals along with IP or/and other non-IP based service signals to the receiving nodes.

12. An optical line terminal for receiving digital signals of one or more non-IP based services from one or more gateway, the optical line terminal comprising:
a channel processor for receiving the digital signals from one or more gateway; the channel processor processes and combines the received digital signals and provides them to an optical transmitter; and
the optical transmitter converts the received digital signals from the
channel processor to optical signals.

13. An optical line terminal as claimed in claim 12 wherein the channel processor processes data packets of various IP based services and provide the processed data packets to the optical transmitter for converting the processed data packets into optical signals of IP based services.

14. An optical line terminal as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a wave division multiplexer (WDM) for separating upstream or downstream optical signal communications from IP-based services.

15. An optical line terminal as claimed in claim 14 wherein the Wave Division Multiplexer (WDM) combines the optical signals carrying Non-IP based services with optical signals carrying IP based services and transmitting the combined optical signals to a splitter over a single optical fiber cable.

16. An optical line terminal as claimed in claim 15 wherein the splitter is configured to split the optical signals carrying the combined IP services and non- IP services into a number of optical signals thereby separating the optical signals carrying IP services from the optical signals carrying non-IP services and further transmitting the optical signals to a optical network unit.

17. An optical line terminal as claimed in claim 12 further comprising one or more internal splitter to split the optical signals carrying various non-IP services into plurality of branches and combines them with optical signals carrying IP based services from different passive optical networks using the wave division multiplexer (WDM).

18. An optical network unit for receiving optical signals from an Optical line terminal through a splitter, the optical network unit comprising.
a wave division multiplexer (WDM) for separating the optical signals received from the splitter into optical signals of IP and non-IP based services;
an optical receiver for receiving the optical signals of non-IP based services from the wave division multiplexer and converting the optical signals into digital signals of non-IP based services;
a channel processor for processing the digital signals of non-IP based services received from the optical receiver and transmitting the processed signals to one or more digital receiver nodes;
an optical transceiver for receiving the optical signals of IP based services from the wave division multiplexer and converting the optical signals into digital signals of IP based services; and
a service processor for processing the digital signals of IP based services received from the optical transceiver and transmitting the processed signals one or more IP based service receiving nodes.

19. An optical network unit as claimed in claim 18 wherein the optical network unit may be a multi port optical network unit.

20. An optical network unit as claimed in claim 19 wherein the multi port optical network unit comprises of several RJ-45 ports for providing IP services and single RF output for providing non-IP services.