Patent ID: 6097515
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
A communication network, comprising:a central office switching system;an optical fiber communication link providing a plurality of two-way communication channels to the central office switching system;wire circuits running to a plurality of respective customer premises;a switchable optical network unit, said switchable optical network unit, comprising:(1) an optical/electrical interface coupled to the optical fiber communication link,(2) a multiplexer/demultiplexer electrically coupled to the optical/electrical interface,(3) a plurality of line cards, each line card providing a two-way communications interface between the multiplexer/demultiplexer and one customer drop line port,(4) a plurality of terminals for connection to the wire circuits running to a plurality of respective customer premises,(5) a switch coupled between the customer drop line ports of the line cards and the terminals, providing selective connections between the customer drop line ports of the line cards and the terminals, and(6) a controller for automatically activating the switch in response to control signals received via the optical fiber communication link; anda plurality of network interface devices, one network interface device being located at each customer premises and providing a connection of at least one of the wire circuits to a customer premises wiring circuit.