Patent ID: 9276673
Filing Date: 2016-03-01
CPC Classification: H04B

Claim Text:
1. A method for testing a fiber optic network including a fiber distribution hub, the method comprising: providing a test splitter in the fiber distribution hub to provide optical connectivity between an F1 fiber and an F2 fiber network, the test splitter having an input and a first number of output ports; tuning the test splitter such that each of the output ports has a predetermined different return loss such that each of the output ports of the test splitter has a unique detectable signature; connecting the F1 fiber to the input of the test splitter; connecting the output ports of the test splitter to all fibers of a distribution cable of the F2 fiber network, respectively, before connecting subscribers to the fibers of the distribution cable of the F2 fiber network; sending a test signal from the F1 fiber through the test splitter to the F2 fiber network, including routing the test signal from the test splitter to a first optical fiber of the distribution cable of the F2 fiber network, and to a drop terminal of the F2 fiber network; looping back the test signal from the drop terminal to a second optical fiber of the distribution cable of the F2 fiber network, such that the test signal is routed through the distribution cable of the F2 fiber network back to test splitter; detecting properties of the looped back test signal to determine functionality of the F2 fiber network, including identifying the output ports of the test splitter by detecting the unique signature; replacing the test splitter with a standard splitter after testing has been completed successfully and while the test splitter is still functional, the standard splitter having a higher signal quality than the test splitter, the standard splitter having a second number of output ports that is less than the first number of output ports; connecting the output ports of the standard splitter to fewer than all of the fibers of the distribution cable of the F2 fiber network; and thereafter connecting subscribers to the fibers of the distribution cable of the F2 fiber network.