Patent ID: 8254779
Filing Date: 2012-08-28
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical network termination (ONT) device for deployment at a subscriber of at least one communication service provided via a fiber optic network, the device comprising: a first communication module that operates to provide the at least one communication service to the subscriber via the fiber optic network; a plurality of slots that operate to interface with the first communication module to provide the at least one communication service to the subscriber via the fiber optic network; a system controller module that operates to control the first communication module and any other communication module through the plurality of slots to effect the at least one communication service to the subscriber; and a backplane communication bus that operates to electrically connect the plurality of slots to the system controller module; wherein the ONT device is field configurable to provide a decrease in a communication capacity of the at least one communication service to the subscriber through a removal of the first communication module from interfacing with at least one of the plurality of slots, and to facilitate an addition of at least one new communication module other the plurality of communication modules to increase a communication capacity of the ONT device to provide the at least one communication service, wherein facilitating an addition of one or more communication modules comprises: determining that the at least one new communication module is interfacing with one of the plurality of slots in the ONT device; detecting a type of the at least one new communication module based on a communication service provided by the at least one new communication module; determining whether the implemented system controller module is provisioned with configuration data for the detected type of the at least one new communication module; and upon the determining that the implemented system controller module lacks the configuration data for the detected type of the at least one new communication module, provides an indication of a failure to configure and activate the at least one new communication module.