Abstract:
Customer premises equipment (CPE), such as optical network terminals (ONT), are often located on the outside of a premises, and are susceptible to theft and to weather elements. A cap for portions of customer premises equipment (CPE) used in telecommunications networks protects the CPE from theft and from the weather elements. The cap typically covers a portion of the CPE that carries communications and power connectors, providing protection from the weather elements. Additionally, the cap may be lockable, preventing unauthorized removal of the CPE or portions of the CPE. The cap may also provide strain relief for cables coupled to the CPE. The cap may also prevent unauthorized removal of covers on a CPE housing that protects valuable components, such as battery back-ups.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    An increasing number of homes and businesses are receiving telecommunications services, e.g., television, telephone, and Internet, from fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable in some telecommunications networks is being extended all the way to the customers&#39; premises to fiber optic premises connections, dramatically increasing the speed at which data can be transferred. These fiber optic premises connections employ customer premises equipment (CPE), which may typically be an optical network terminal (ONT). 
         [0002]    ONTs have several delicate connections for the fiber optic cable, a power cable, and at least one data cable to other customer premises equipment. These connections can be exposed to weather elements if the ONT is mounted to an exterior of the premises and may be exposed to tampering or accidental jarring by the customer. Additionally, ONTs typically have an internal battery to provide a minimum amount of service in the event of a primary power loss. The batteries are typically lithium-ion batteries, which are expensive to replace. The batteries may be covered with an unsecured cover that can easily be removed, allowing the battery to be removed and possibly stolen. Also, the ONT itself is valuable, and its mounting on a wall, especially outside, makes it susceptible to theft or to being accidentally knocked down. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An embodiment of the present invention enhances security and weather resistance of customer premises equipment (CPES) by placing a cap over a portion of the CPE. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1A  is a mechanical diagram of an optical network terminatal (ONT) typical of customer premises equipment (CPE); 
           [0006]      FIG. 1B  is a mechanical diagram of the ONT of  FIG. 1A  attached to a mounting bracket; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a mechanical diagram of an ONT with an embodiment of a cap covering a portion of the ONT; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3A  is a front view diagram of an embodiment of a cap with holes for accommodating cables; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3B  is a close-up diagram of a hole in the cap of  FIG. 3A  with a grommet in the hole; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of a cap according to the present invention with a see-through screen; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of a cap with a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light-emitting diode (LED) display panel and control buttons; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a mechanical diagram of an embodiment of a cap with a locking mechanism; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  is a mechanical diagram of an embodiment of a cap with two sections connected by a hinge; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7B  is a mechanical diagram of the cap of  FIG. 7A  in an open position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8A  is a front view mechanical diagram of an ONT with a cap with a locking pin engaging a battery cover; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8B  is a side view mechanical diagram of the ONT of  FIG. 8A  with the locking pin on the cap engaging the battery cover; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8C  is a side view mechanical diagram of the ONT of  FIG. 8A  with the locking pin on the cap disengaged from the battery cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    A description of example embodiments of the invention follows. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1A  shows an optical network terminal (ONT)  100 , which is an example of customer premises equipment (CPE), that connects a customer&#39;s communications equipment, e.g., computers, telephones, and televisions, to a telecommunications service provider. The ONT  100  includes an outer case  102  with an engagable cover  104  that covers a battery compartment (not shown) or another cavity of the ONT  100 . A face  106  of the ONT  100  carries various connectors, including a power connector  108 , coaxial cable connector  110 , fiber optic cable connector  112 , Ethernet (CAT-5) connector  114 , and two telephone connectors  116 . The ONT  100  transmits data to and receives data from a telecommunications network (not shown) via a fiber optic cable (not shown) connected to a fiber optic cable connector  112 . Televisions, computers, and telephones on the customer&#39;s premises may be connected to the coaxial cable connector  110 , Ethernet connector  114 , and telephone connectors  116 , respectively, on the ONT  100 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 1B  shows the ONT  100  of FIG.  1 A—with connector details removed for clarity—with a bracket  120  attached to the outer case  102 . The bracket  120  may be mounted to a wall (not shown), and the ONT  100  may be hung on the bracket. In many applications, the bracket  120  is installed on an exterior wall of a building or inside a garage, locations at which the ONT may be exposed to large temperature variations and different weather conditions. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows an example cap  200  according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The cap  200  is attached to an ONT  202  such that it covers a face  206  housing various connectors, such as those shown in  FIG. 1A . The example cap  200  also covers a portion of a battery cover  204  such that the battery cover  204  cannot be opened or removed. Advantageously, the cap  200  protects the face  206  and various connectors from the elements, e.g., moisture, and also from tampering. The cap  200  may include a seal  206 , such as a rubber gasket, to prevent moisture or dirt, for example, from reaching the connectors, and optionally provide strain relief. 
         [0022]    An embodiment of the present invention enhances security of customer premises equipment (CPEs) by placing a cap over a portion of the CPE. Embodiments of the cap include holes that support cables connected to the CPE. The cap may be lockable and may block access to a battery compartment cover on the CPE and may also lock the CPE to a mounting bracket. The lock may include a bolt with a keyed head or a electrically or mechanically actuated latch. The cap may also cover connectors of cables connected to the CPE, providing protection from weather elements. The cap may also provide storage for slack in the cables and provide strain relief for the cables. The cap may also serve as a base upon which the CPE rests. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the cap includes two sections connected by a hinge to allow the cap to be partially disconnected from the CPE. 
         [0024]    In other embodiments, the cap is in electrical communication with the CPE and enables the CPE to continue to support CPE access to the network. In some embodiments, the cap is in electrical communication with the CPE and provides indications about operation of the CPE on a liquid crystal display (LCD) or light-emitting diode (LED) screen. The LCD or LED screen may support access to information regarding battery power level, data transmission speeds, and network connectivity status. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3A  shows an example of a cap  300  according to an embodiment of the present invention in which holes  302 a-f are incorporated in a face  304  of the cap  300 . The holes  302   a - f  enable various cables (not shown) to reach and interface with connectors (not shown) located on an ONT (not shown) behind the cap  300 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3B  shows an embodiment in which the holes  302   a - f  include grommets  306 .  FIG. 3B  shows a close-up view of a hole  302 a with a grommet  306 . The grommet  306  is typically formed of a flexible material, such as rubber, and may provide a seal around a cable (not shown) passing therethrough. The grommet  306  may also provide strain relief for a cable (not shown), isolating the connectors (not shown) from tugs on the portion of the cables extending outside of the cap  300 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows an example of a cap  400  in which a face  404  of the cap  400  has a transparent window  402 . The window  402  allows a user to view connectors (not shown) connected to an ONT (not shown). Such a view is useful for determining a cause of lost service, such as a loose connection. The window  402  also allows viewing of any indicator or status lights (not shown) that may be incorporated onto the ONT and maintained behind the cap  400 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a cap  500  in which a face  504  of the cap  500  has an electronic display screen  502 . The display screen  502  may be, for example, either a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light-emitting diode (LED) display. The display screen  502  is connected to an ONT (not shown) by an electrical connector (not shown), such as a universal serial bus (USB) port that provides data and power to the display screen  502 . Typically, the data screen  502  provides information regarding operation of the ONT, such as information on power source, battery charge remaining, battery charging status, network connectivity, or data transfer speeds. The data screen  502  may also provide maintenance and set-up information, including information such as time delay for equalization on a network. Optionally, the cap  500  may include one or more buttons  506   a - c  that allow(s) a user, such as a technician, to interact with information and/or instructions on the display panel  502  and adjust operating settings of the ONT  100 . The buttons  506   a - c  may incorporate a password or keying function to permit only authorized users to access the information and/or instructions on the screen. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of a cap  606  on an ONT  602  covering a portion of the ONT  602  and also an engagable battery cover  604 . The cap  606  and ONT  602  incorporate a locking feature  608  that prevents or discourages removal of the cover  606 . If the cap  606  is also attached to a mounting bracket  120 , as discussed above, then the locking mechanism  608  also prevents or prohibits removal of the ONT  602  from the surface to which it is mounted. The locking mechanism may take any form, such as a screw or bolt with a keyed head, such as a TELCO tool. In other embodiments, the locking mechanism  608  may be housed completely within the ONT  602  and interior portions of the cap  606 . For example, the interior portion of the cap  606  may include a latch hook (not shown) that mates to a receiver on the ONT  602 . 
         [0030]    The receiver may incorporate a tab that engages the latch hook when inserted, preventing the latch hook from being removed until the tab is disengaged. The tab may be spring-loaded in the engaged position such that a temporary force must be exerted to move the tab to a disengaging position. The force may be provided, for example, by a solenoid (not shown) or by a person. An advantage of using a solenoid is that the solenoid activation—and subsequent disengagement of the locking tab—may be accomplished electronically. For example, a technician may be able to activate the solenoid by entering a combination of keys  506   a - c  on a cap. Alternatively, the solenoid may be activated by a service provider supplying the ONT  602  to the customer via network communications from a server (not shown) to the ONT  602 . The completely internal locking mechanism  608  just described is advantageous because it cannot be overridden by an unauthorized individual. The locking mechanism  608  may also be configured such that if the cap  606  is forced from the ONT  602  or if the ONT  602  and cap  606  are forced from the bracket  120 , the latch irreparably damages the circuitry of the ONT  602 , making the ONT  602  worthless or at least identifiable as a “tampered with” device. 
         [0031]    An embodiment of a cap, such as cap  606  shown in  FIG. 6 , may also include an activating mechanism (not shown) that interacts with a corresponding activating mechanism on an ONT, such as ONT  602  in  FIG. 6 . The ONT may operate only when the two activating mechanisms are interacting. Examples of activating mechanisms interacting include a tab on the cap depressing an electrical switch on the ONT or an electrically conductive tab on the cap being inserted into the ONT and closing an electrical circuit on the ONT. In addition to preventing operation when the activating mechanisms are not interacting, an ONT may be configured to maintain a log of the state of the activating mechanism&#39;s interacting to provide evidence of tampering. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7A  shows an embodiment of a cap  700  that includes two sections: an upper section  702  and a lower section  704 . The upper section  702  and the lower section  704  are connected by a hinge  706 , about which the two sections pivot with respect to each other. The lower section  704  is attached to an ONT  708  (shown as dashed lines) and to bracket  712 , locking the bracket  712  and ONT  708  together as described above. The upper section  702  is attached to the lower section  704  by the hinge  706 . In a state in which the cap  700  is attached to ONT  708  and the upper section  702  and lower section  704  are brought together as shown in  FIG. 7A , the upper section  702  also latches to the ONT  708 . The upper section  702  and lower section  704  of the cap  700  may lock to the ONT  708 . The locking mechanism (not shown) may be a single locking mechanism that locks both the upper section  702  and the lower section  704 . Alternatively, a separate locking mechanism (not shown) may operate on each of the two sections  702 ,  704 . In the closed position shown in  FIG. 7A , the upper section  702  blocks access to the battery cover, and the cap  700  blocks access to the face of the ONT  708  carrying various connectors (not shown). 
         [0033]      FIG. 7B  shows the cap  700  of  FIG. 7A  in the open position. The upper section  702  pivots around the hinge  706  to the open position. The lower section  704  remains attached to the ONT  708  and to the bracket  712  (hidden from view). Consequently, the bracket  712 , ONT  708 , and cap  700  remain locked together. However, by opening the cap  700 , the engagable battery cover  710  and the various connectors  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718 ,  720  may be accessed. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7B  shows the cap  700  of  FIG. 7A  with one possible configuration of holes  722   a - f  for accepting wires that connect to the connectors  712 ,  714 ,  716 ,  718 ,  720 . The holes  722   a - f  may include grommets, such as grommets  306  shown in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0035]      FIG. 8A  shows an example cap  806  attached to an ONT  802  having a pin  810  capturing a battery cover  804 . The pin  810  extends through a hole  812  in a tab  808 , which is attached to the battery cover  804 .  FIG. 8B  shows the cap  806  of  FIG. 8A  from the side and clearly shows pin  810  attached to the cap  806  and extending through hole  812  in tab  808 . The pin  810  prevents the battery cover  804  from being lifted up. When cap  806  is disengaged from the ONT  802 , as shown by arrow  814 , the pin  810  is withdrawn from the hole  812  in the tab  808 . Battery cover  804  may then be removed as indicated by arrow  816 . 
         [0036]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.