Patent Publication Number: US-2009232008-A1

Title: System for connecting equipment with a service provider, apparatus for facilitating diagnostic and/or management communication with such equipment, and procedure for communicating with such equipment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Example aspects of the invention relate to the field of network communications. More specifically, example aspects of the invention relate to the field of wired and wireless data, video, and audio communication between a service provider&#39;s network and customer premises equipment on a customer&#39;s premises via a network interface device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Today it is common for homes and offices to contain many pieces of customer premises equipment (CPE) that provide, receive and/or support services, such as voice communication, video communication, data services, and instant messaging (IM) from a service provider (SP). Examples of these devices include wireless and wired telephones, alarm systems, computers, digital cameras, televisions, broadband home routers, and set top boxes. Typically, these pieces of customer premises equipment communicate with the network of the service provider over a local area network (LAN) via a wired or wireless connection. With the growing complexity of customer premises equipment, there is a growing need for the service provider to monitor, diagnose, configure, and maintain such equipment. The wide area network (WAN) of the service provider that can monitor, diagnose, configure, and maintain such equipment is reliable. But the customer premises equipment is not connected directly to the WAN. Rather, it is connected to the WAN through one or more LANs. And the LANs over which the customer premises equipment are connected to the WAN of the service provider can be unreliable. In addition, customers typically set up and maintain their LAN, and most customers do not have the expertise to ensure that their LAN is properly configured to carry out all of these service-provider functions. This unreliability not only makes it difficult for the service provider to maintain these devices, but also can cause the customer to lose service. Thus, it would be useful to have a reliable way for the service provider to monitor, diagnose, configure, and maintain customer premises equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Example embodiments described herein provide a system for connecting customer premises equipment with a service provider network comprising a first local area network connecting the customer premises equipment to the network of the service provider and configured to transmit primary service signals to and receive primary service signals from the customer premises equipment, and a second local area network connecting the customer premises equipment to the network of the service provider and configured to transmit diagnostic and/or management signals to the customer premises equipment and/or to receive diagnostic and/or management signals from the customer premises equipment. 
     Example embodiments described herein also provide an apparatus for facilitating diagnostic and/or management communication via a diagnostic and/or management channel to customer premises equipment that provides, receives, and/or supports services from a service provider via a primary service channel. The apparatus comprises a management interface device configured to connect to a network of the service provider and configured to transmit diagnostic and/or management signals to and receive diagnostic and/or management signals from the customer premises equipment via the diagnostic and/or management channel. 
     Example embodiments described herein also provide a procedure of communicating with customer premises comprising the performing of management and/or diagnostic communication between a management interface device and the customer premises equipment over a first local area network. The management interface device is configured to also communicate with a management system of a service provider to permit management and/or diagnostic communication between the management system of the service provider and the customer premises equipment. The procedure also comprises the performing of primary-services communication between the customer premises equipment and a services interface device over a second local area network to provide or support primary services from the service provider. The services interface device is configured to connect to a core network of the service provider. 
     Further features and advantages, as well as the structure and operation, of various example embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the example embodiments of the invention presented herein will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of an arrangement in which two local area networks (LANs) connect CPE with a network of a service provider. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of the equipment that connects the service provider network with the two LANs. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of one example embodiment of an optical network terminal (ONT) that includes a management interface device (MID) connected to two LANs on a customer&#39;s premises. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of a system in which an ONT is separate from an MID, and in which the two LANs terminate at the MID. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of a system in which an ONT is separate from an MID, and in which the two LANs terminate at the ONT. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of a system in which an ONT is separate from an MID, and in which one LAN terminates at the MID and the other LAN terminate at the ONT. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram of one example embodiment of a system in which a single access point connects an SP core network and an SP management system to the CPE on the premises of a customer. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram of one example embodiment of a system in which the management system and the core network of the SP have separate access points to access the CPE on the premises of a customer. 
         FIG. 9A  is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a procedure of transmitting signals from the SP to the CPE over wireless and wired LANs using an MID and an optical network terminal at the customer&#39;s premises, an optical network unit at the curb, or an optical network device at a central office (collectively abbreviated as ONx), respectively. 
         FIG. 9B  is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a procedure of transmitting signals from CPE to an SP over wireless and wired LANs using an MID and an ONx, respectively. 
         FIG. 10A  is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a procedure of transmitting signals from an SP to CPE over wired LANs using an MID and an ONx. 
         FIG. 10B  is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a procedure of transmitting signals from CPE to an SP over wired LANs using an MID and an ONx. 
         FIG. 11A  is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a procedure of transmitting signals from an SP to CPE over a bidirectional wired or wireless LAN using an ONx. 
         FIG. 11B  is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a procedure of transmitting signals from CPE to an MID over a unidirectional wireless LAN and of transmitting signals from CPE to an ONx over a bidirectional wireless or wired LAN. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart of one example embodiment of a procedure of delivering or supporting diagnostic and/or management services to diagnose and/or manage CPE using an MID and its associated LAN and delivering or supporting primary services to deliver or support primary services delivered or supported by CPE using an ONx and its associated LAN 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The example embodiments of the invention presented herein are directed to apparatuses, procedures, systems, and computer program products for allowing a service provider to monitor, diagnose, configure, and maintain customer premises equipment, which are now described herein in terms of example MIDs and example management/diagnostic LAN-Bs. This description is not intended to limit the application of the example embodiments presented herein. In fact, after reading the following description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the following example embodiments in alternative example embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one example embodiment of a service provider network  10  that supplies services to the customer at the customer&#39;s premises  12 . Non-limiting examples of the customer premises  12  are a customer&#39;s home and a customer&#39;s place of business. The customer premises can include one or more pieces of customer premises equipment (CPE)  14  connected to a primary services LAN  16 , also called LAN A, and a diagnostic/management LAN  18 , also called LAN B. The primary services LAN  16  can transmit primary services signals from the CPE  14  to a service provider core network  20  and can transmit primary services signals from the core network  20  to the CPE  14 . The diagnostic/management LAN  18  can transmit diagnostic/management signals from the CPE  14  to a service provider management system  22  of the service provider network  10  and can transmit diagnostic/management signals from the service provider management system  22  to the CPE  14 . The primary services LAN  16  can connect to the service provider network  10  via one or more devices (not shown) including but not limited to an optical network terminal (ONT) located on the customer premises  12 , an optical network unit (ONU) located at the curb (i.e., on the street in the neighborhood of the customer premises  12 ), which unit connects several customer premises with the service provider network  10 , and one or more network elements located at the service provider central office that function as an optical network unit. The diagnostic/management LAN  18  can connect to the service provider network  10  via a management interface device (MID) (not shown in  FIG. 1 , but shown in  FIGS. 2-6 ). 
     It is within the scope of the  FIG. 1  example embodiment to include other service providers (not shown) connected to the customer premises  12  and to include other customer premises connected to any given service provider. It is also within the scope of the  FIG. 1  example embodiment to include elements of the service provider network  10  and the customer premises  12  that are not shown in  FIG. 1 . In one example embodiment CPE  14  represents a single piece of equipment, while in another example embodiment CPE  14  represents a plurality of pieces of equipment. 
     The CPE  14  can include, but are not limited to, any type of: broadband home router; computer; alarm system; digital camera; wired telephone including an analog POTS (plain old telephone service) telephone, telephone receiving service over a cable system, an IP (internet protocol) telephone including a session-initiation-protocol (SIP) telephone, and a voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone, and a computer functioning as a telephone; wireless telephone including a portable telephone, a telephone using a WiFi, WiMAX or Bluetooth signal, a cellular telephone (using GSM, CDMA or TDMA protocols) and a telephone using a femtocell protocol; television; computer functioning as a television; electronic device and box connected to a television including but not limited to a set top box, a direct broadcast satellite device, a cable box, and any type of computer; cable modem; access point base station (femtocell); and user communication appliance the performs one or more of the functions of the previously-noted devices. As a result, 1) for CPE comprising a telephone, the primary services communication comprises telephone signals (using analog or digital protocols, wired or wireless protocols, or any type of internet protocols, depending on the type of telephone), 2) for CPE comprising a computer, the primary services communication comprises internet or intranet access or other internet or intranet signals, 3) for CPE comprising a television, the primary services communication comprises cable television signals, direct satellite broadcast signals, or broadcast television signals, 4) for CPE comprising a computer functioning as a television, the primary services communication comprises internet protocol television signals, 5) for CPE comprising a computer functioning as a telephone or to provide telephone services, the primary services communication comprises internet protocol telephone signals, and 6) for CPE comprising an alarm system, the primary services communication comprises signals following any alarm protocol. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates non-limiting examples of the devices that connect a service provider network  30  to a primary services LAN A, and to a diagnostic/management LAN B. The service provider network  30  can be the same as or different from the service provider network  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, the primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIG. 2  can be the same as or different from the primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIG. 1 . The service provider network  30  can include a core network  32  and a management system  34 . The core network  32  can transmit primary services signals to and receive primary services signals from the CPE (not shown) via a services interface device (SID)  36 , while the management system  34  can transmit diagnostic and/or management signals to and receive management and/or diagnostic signals from the CPE (not shown) via a management interface device  38  (MID). In one example embodiment, the SID  36  is physically separated from the MID  38 , while in another example embodiment the SID  36  and the MID  38  are integrated into one device. In addition, the SID  36  can be located on the customer&#39;s premises (in which case, in one non-limiting example embodiment the SID can be an ONT), at the curb (i.e., on the street in the neighborhood of the customer premises, in which case, in one non-limiting example embodiment, the SID can be an ONU), or at the service provider central office. Similarly, the MID  38  can be located on the customer&#39;s premises, at the curb, or at the service provider central office. The SID  36  and the MID  38  are located and constructed so as to permit access thereto by the service provider. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the MID  38  connects to the management system  34  along a separate communications path from the path the SID  36  communicates with the core network  32 . But it is within the scope of this example embodiment for the MID  38  to communicate with the management system  34  through the SID  36  or for the SID  36  to communicate with the core network  32  through the MID  38 . 
     The primary services LAN A and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  can be either wired or wireless LANs. Non-limiting examples of such wired LANs include a LAN using a MoCA protocol, a LAN using a HPNA/HPNA3 protocol, a LAN comprising electrical power lines on the customers premises using any power line communication protocol, and an Ethernet LAN using any type of Ethernet cable. Non-limiting examples of such wireless LANs include a wireless WiFi network using the 802.11g protocol, a wireless WiFi network using the 802.11n protocol, a wireless network using the blue-tooth protocol, a wireless network using a femtocell protocol, a unidirectional RFID network (radio frequency identification), and a wireless WiMAX network. In addition, the primary services LAN A and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIG. 1  can be the same as or different from the primary services LAN A and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The MID  38  can include a management and/or diagnostic mediation function to facilitate management and/or diagnostic communication with the CPE over the LAN B and with the management system  22  over the WAN of the service provider. In addition, the MID  38  can terminate one or more LAN interfaces between the CPE and the MID  38 . Further, the MID  38  can provide management and/or diagnostic communications with the CPE remotely from the central office of the service provider or from a remote NMS/EMS OSS (network management system/element management system/operations support system). Also, the MID  38  can provide management and/or diagnostic communications with the CPE locally when the MID  38  is deployed on or near the customer premises. Management and/or diagnostic communications between the MID  38  and the CPE are performed by transmitting management and/or diagnostic signals between the CPE and the MID  38  and/or between the MID  38  and the management system  22 . This management/diagnostic communication can be used to perform verification of autonomous notifications from the CPE, to perform troubleshooting of the LAN A and/or the LAN B, to perform diagnostics on the CPE, perform configuration operations on the CPE, to validate the identity and compatibility of the CPE, and/or to perform automatic switchover for services, such as switchover of voice services when the user is in the vicinity (with a cell phone or a wireless VoIP phone). These functions can minimize the number of times technicians are dispatched to the customer&#39;s premises for on-site fault isolation, to minimize customer downtime, and to improve customer satisfaction. It should be understood that the diagnostic and management functions of the MID are not limited to the functions noted above and can include other functions. In addition, in another example embodiment, the primary services signals can be transmitted between the MID  38  and the CPE and between the MID and the core network  32 . In this example embodiment, the MID can be configured to transmit the primary services to and receive the primary services signals from the CPE and the core network  32 . 
     Both the SID  36  and the MID  38  can include, but are not limited to a wireline devices, wireless devices, digital devices, analog devices, optical device, and electrical devices, such as DSL devices. More generally, the SID  36  and the MID  38  can be of a type to connect to any type of service provider wired network using any type of wired protocol and any type of wireless network using any type of wireless protocol. Therefore, the SID  36  and the MID  38  can be a devices configured to connect to a service provider wirelessly over a WiMAX network or through a wired connection over a GPON network, for example. In addition, the SID  36  and the MID  38  can include, but are not limited to, other wired network interfaces to connect to any other type of wired service provider network, such as a passive optical network (non-limiting examples of which include a BPON (Broadband Passive Optical Network), an WDM-PON (Wavelength Division Multiplexing Passive Optical Network), a GPON (Gigabyte Passive Optical Network)), a cable network, a copper wire analog telephone network, and a DSL network. The SID  36  and the MID  38  can also be a type of network interface device that connects to other wireless service provider networks, such as a direct broadcast satellite network, a WiFi network, and a cellular network (for example, a GSM network and a CDMA network). In addition, when the SID  36  and the MID  38  are wired network interface devices, they can be configured to connect to wired service provider networks following any wired network protocol, such as, but not limited to, the broadband passive optical network protocol according to the ITU G.983.x standard, the gigabit passive optical network protocol according to the ITU G.984.x standard, the Ethernet passive optical network protocol, the wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network protocol, the cable modem protocol comprising one of the DOCSIS 2.0 protocol and the DOCSIS 3.0 protocol, and the xDSL protocol comprising one of the ADSL ANSI T1.413 Issue 2 protocol, the ITU G.992.1 (G.DMT) protocol, the ITU G.992.2 (G.Lite) protocol, the ADSL2 ITU G.992.3/4 protocol, the ITU G.992.3 Annex J protocol, the ITU G.992.3 Annex L protocol, the ADSL2+ITU G.992.5 protocol, the ITU G.992.5 Annex L protocol, and the ITU G.992.5 Annex M protocol. As a result, the wireline signal transmitted from the service provider to the SID  36  and the MID  38  can be, but is not limited to, a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal, a dense wavelength division multiplexed optical signal, or an electrical signal comprising one of a cable modem signal, an analog telephone signal, and an xDSL signal. When the SID  36  and the MID  38  are wireless network interface devices, they can be configured to connect to wireless service provider networks following any wireless network protocol, such as, but not limited to, the WiMAX protocol according to the IEEE 802.16 standards, the WiFi protocol according to the 802.11 standards, the cellular phone protocol comprising the GSM protocol and the CDMA protocol, and the femtocell protocol. As a result, the wireless signal transmitted from the service provider can be, but is not limited to, a WiMAX signal, a WiFi signal, a cellular phone signal, a direct broadcast satellite signal, or a femtocell signal. It should be understood that the SID  36  and the MID  38  are not limited to devices that can be configured to connect to these service provider wired and wireless networks and protocols mentioned above, and can include network interface devices connectable to other types of wired and wireless networks using any other communications protocols. Also, the CPE (not shown) to be connected to the LAN A and LAN B in this example embodiment can be the same as or different from the CPE  14  shown  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows one example embodiment in which the SID is in the form of an ONT  40  with a MID  42  integrated thereinto. The ONT  40  can include the MID  42  and a triplexor MAC (media access control)  44  connected thereto. The triplexor MAC  44  can be connected to the core network of the service provider and to the management system of the service provider. As a result, the MID  42  can connect to the management system through the triplexor MAC  44 . The MID  42  can comprise a management channel mediator  46 , a LAN-A MAC  48 , connected to a primary services LAN A, and a LAN-B MAC  50 , connected to a diagnostic/management LAN B. The MID  42  can be the same as the MID  38  shown in  FIG. 2  or different therefrom. In addition, the primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B can be the same as or different from the primary services LAN A and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2 , respectively. The primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B can terminate at the MID  42 . More specifically, the primary services LAN A can terminate at the LAN-A MAC  48 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B can terminate at the LAN-B MAC  50 . In addition, the ONT  40  and the MID  42  can include additional elements not shown in  FIG. 3 . Also, it is within the scope of the  FIG. 3  example embodiment to replace the ONT  40  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. And it is within the scope of this example embodiment to replace each of the triplexor MAC  44 , the LAN-A MAC  48  and the LAN-B MAC  50  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. The CPE (not shown) to be connected to the LAN A and LAN B in this example embodiment can be the same as or different from the CPE shown in or referred to in the description of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  shows one example embodiment in which the SID is in the form of an ONT  60  with a MID  62  separate therefrom. The ONT  60  can include a triplexor MAC  64  connected thereto. The triplexor MAC  64  can be connected to the core network of a service provider  66  and to the management system of the service provider  66  through an OLT (optical line termination unit)  68 . As a result, the MID  62  can connect to the management system through the triplexor MAC  64 . (In an alternative example embodiment, the MID  62  can connect directly to the management system of the service provider  66  by a different path than through the ONT  60 .) The MID  62  can comprise a management channel mediator  70 , a LAN-A MAC  72 , connected to a primary services LAN A, and a LAN-B MAC  74 , connected to a diagnostic/management LAN B. The MID  62  can be the same as the MID  38  shown in  FIG. 2  or different therefrom and can be the same as the MID  42  shown in  FIG. 3  or different therefrom. In addition, the primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B can be the same as or different from the primary services LAN A and the diagnostic/management LAN B, respectively, shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B can terminate at the MID  62 . More specifically, the primary services LAN A can terminate at the LAN-A MAC  72 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B can terminate at the LAN-B MAC  74 . In addition, the ONT  60  can be the same as or different from the ONT  40  shown in  FIG. 3 . Also, the ONT  60  and the MID  62  can include additional elements not shown in  FIG. 4 . It is also within the scope of the  FIG. 4  example embodiment to replace the ONT  60  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. And it is within the scope of the  FIG. 4  example embodiment to replace each of the OLT  68 , the triplexor MAC  64 , the LAN-A MAC  72  and the LAN-B MAC  74  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. The CPE (not shown) to be connected to the LAN A and LAN B in this example embodiment can be the same as or different from the CPE shown in or referred to in the description of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIG. 5  shows another example embodiment in which the SID is in the form of an ONT (in this case ONT  80 ) with a MID (in this case MID  82 ) separate therefrom. But in this case, the two LANs terminate at the ONT  80 . The ONT  80  can include a triplexor MAC  84 , and a LAN-A MAC  86  and a LAN-B MAC  88  connected to the triplexor MAC  84 . The triplexor MAC  84  can be connected to the core network and the management system of a service provider  90  through an OLT  92 . As a result, the MID  82  can connect to the management system through the triplexor MAC  84 . (In an alternative example embodiment, the MID  84  can connect directly to the management system of the service provider  90  by a different path than through the ONT  80 .) The MID  82  can comprise a management channel mediator  94 . A primary services LAN A  96  connects CPE  98  to the LAN-A MAC  86 . A diagnostic/management LAN B  100  connects the CPE  98  to the management channel mediator  94  of the MID  82 , and the management channel mediator  94  is connected to the LAN-B MAC  88  of the ONT  80 . In addition, the LAN-A MAC  86  is also connected to the management channel mediator  94  of the MID  82 . This connection permits the MID to perform or facilitate the performing of troubleshooting on and configuring of the primary services LAN A  96 . The MID  82  can be the same as the MID  38  shown in  FIG. 2  or different therefrom, can be the same as the MID  42  shown in  FIG. 3  or different therefrom, and can be the same as or different from the MID  62  shown in  FIG. 4 . In addition, the primary services LAN A  96 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  100  can be the same as or different from the primary services LAN A and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , respectively. The primary services LAN A  96 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  100  can terminate at the ONT  80 . More specifically, the primary services LAN A  96  can terminate at the LAN-A MAC  86  of the ONT  80 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  100  can terminate at the LAN-B MAC  88  of the ONT  80 . In addition, the ONT  80  can be the same as or different from the ONT  40  shown in  FIG. 3 , and can be the same as or different from the ONT  60  shown in  FIG. 4 . Also, the ONT  80  and the MID  82  can include additional elements not shown in  FIG. 5 . It is also within the scope of the  FIG. 5  example embodiment to replace the ONT  80  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. And it is within the scope of this example embodiment to replace each of the OLT  92 , the triplexor MAC  84 , the LAN-A MAC  86 , and the LAN-B MAC  88  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. Further, the CPE  98  can represent one piece of customer premises equipment or multiple pieces of customer premises equipment that can be the same as or different from the CPE shown in or referred to in the description of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows another example embodiment in which the SID is in the form of an ONT (in this case ONT  110 ) with a MID (in this case, MID  112 ) separate therefrom. But in this case, one of the LANs terminates at the ONT  110 , while the other LAN terminates at the MID  112 . The ONT  110  can include a triplexor MAC  114  and a LAN-A MAC  116  connected thereto, while the MID  112  can include a management channel mediator  118  and a LAN-B MAC  120  connected thereto. The triplexor MAC  114  of the ONT  110  can be connected to the core network  122  of a service provider through an OLT  124 , while the management channel mediator  118  of the MID  112  can be connected to the management system  126  of the service provider. The management system  126  can be connected to the core network  122 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . (In an alternative example embodiment, the MID  112  can connect to the management system  126  through the triplexor MAC  114 .) A primary services LAN A  130  connects CPE  132  to the LAN-A MAC  116 . A diagnostic/management LAN B  134  connects the CPE  132  to the LAN-B MAC  120  of the MID  112 , thereby connecting the CPE  132  to the management channel mediator  118  of the MID  112 . The management channel mediator  118  is connected to the LAN-A MAC  116  of the ONT  110 . This connection permits the MID  112  to perform or facilitate the performing of troubleshooting on and configuring of the primary services LAN A  130 . In addition, the management channel mediator  118  is connected to the triplexor MAC  114  of the ONT  110 . The MID  112  can be the same as the MID  38  shown in  FIG. 2  or different therefrom, can be the same as the MID  42  shown in  FIG. 3  or different therefrom, can be the same as or different from the MID  62  shown in  FIG. 4 , and can be the same as or different from the MID  82  shown in  FIG. 5 . In addition, the primary services LAN A  130 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  134  can be the same as or different from the primary services LAN A and the diagnostic/management LAN B, respectively, shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The primary services LAN A  130  can terminate at the ONT  110 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  134  can terminate at the MID  112 . More specifically, the primary services LAN A  130  can terminate at the LAN-A MAC  116  of the ONT  110 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  134  can terminate at the LAN-B MAC  120  of the MID  112 . In addition, the ONT  110  can be the same as or different from the ONT  40  shown in  FIG. 3 , can be the same as or different from the ONT  60  shown in  FIG. 4 , and can be the same as or different from the ONT  80  shown in  FIG. 5 . Also, the ONT  110  and the MID  112  can include additional elements not shown in  FIG. 6 . It is also within the scope of the  FIG. 6  example embodiment to replace the ONT  110  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. And it is within the scope of this example embodiment to replace each of the OLT  124 , the triplexor MAC  114 , the LAN-A MAC  116 , and the LAN-B MAC  120  with another element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. Further, the CPE  132  can represent one piece of customer premises equipment or multiple pieces of customer premises equipment that can be the same as or different from the CPE shown in or referred to in the description of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an example embodiment of a service provider network  140  connected to customer premises  142  through a single access point  144 . More specifically, the service provider network can comprise a core network  146  and a management system  148 . The core network  146  can deliver or support the delivery of primary services and primary service signals to various pieces of CPE  150  over a primary services LAN A  152 , while the management system  148  can deliver or support the delivery of management and/or diagnostic services and management and/or diagnostic signals to the various pieces of CPE  150  over a diagnostic/management LAN B  154 . The single access point  144  can include any of the MIDs and the SIDs referred to in  FIGS. 2-6  or can include an MID and an SID different from those referred to in  FIGS. 2-6 . In addition, each of the core network  146 , the management system  148 , the CPE  150 , the primary services LAN A  152 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  154  can be the same as or different from the core network, the management system, the CPE, the primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in or referred to in the description of  FIGS. 1-6 . Also, it is within the scope of the  FIG. 7  example embodiment for each of the core network  146 , the management system  148 , the CPE  150 , the primary services LAN A  152 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  154  to be replaced by an element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. Moreover, it is also within the scope of the  FIG. 7  example embodiment for the system shown therein to include additional elements not shown therein. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example embodiment of a service provider network  160  connected to customer premises  162  through two access points  164   a  and  164   b.  More specifically, the service provider network  160  can comprise a core network  166  and a management system  168 . The core network  166  can deliver or support the delivery of primary services and primary service signals to various pieces of CPE  170  through the access point  164   a  and over a primary services LAN A  172 , while the management system  168  can deliver or support the delivery of management and/or diagnostic services and management and/or diagnostic signals to the various pieces of CPE  170  through the access point  164   b  and over a diagnostic/management LAN B  174 . The access point  164   a  can include any of the SIDs referred to in  FIGS. 2-7  or can include a SID different from those referred to in the description of  FIGS. 2-7 . The access point  164   b  can include any of the MIDs referred to in  FIGS. 2-7  or can include an MID different from those referred to in  FIGS. 2-7 . In addition, each of the core network  166 , the management system  168 , the CPE  170 , the primary services LAN A  172 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  174  can be the same as or different from the core network, the management system, the CPE, the primary services LAN A, and the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in or referred to in the description of  FIGS. 1-7 . Also, it is within the scope of the  FIG. 8  example embodiment for each of the core network  166 , the management system  168 , the CPE  170 , the primary services LAN A  172 , and the diagnostic/management LAN B  174  to be replaced by an element or elements that performs or perform the same or a similar function. Moreover, it is also within the scope of the  FIG. 8  example embodiment for the system shown therein to include additional elements not shown therein. 
     The primary services LAN A and/or the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIGS. 1-8  can comprise wired connections to the CPE. More specifically, the wired connections can comprise a twisted pair of wires for providing analog phone service to telephones in the event the CPE are single-mode POTS telephones or dual mode telephones with an analog POTS function. The wired connections can also be wires permitting the communication of digital signals to telephones in the event that the CPE are single mode digital phones or dual mode phones with a digital function. The wired connections can also comprise wired connections designed to transmit data to and from personal computers, such as, but not limited to Ethernet cables and HPNA3 cables via a twisted pair of wires, etc., in the event one of the pieces of CPE is a computer. The wired connections can also comprise wired connections designed to transmit data to and from STBs or integrated TVs, such as, but not limited to a MoCA cable designed to transmit data using a MoCA protocol using an RF connector. The wired connections can further comprise USB cables connecting a broadband home router (BHR) with a digital camera. But these wired connections are not limited to the types of wires noted above and can be replaced by any other types of wired connections permitting the communication of signals to and from the CPE. For example, one or more of these wired connections can be replaced by power line communication (PLC) using the power-transmitting electrical wiring on the customer&#39;s premises to transmit signals to and from one or more pieces of CPE. In one example embodiment, the X-10 protocol for PLC can be used, though this example embodiment is not limited to using this protocol for transmitting signals over the customer&#39;s electrical wiring. Thus, the wired connections can support bidirectional communication with the CPE although they not limited thereto. 
     The primary services LAN A and/or the diagnostic/management LAN B shown in  FIGS. 1-8  can comprise a wireless LAN, wirelessly connecting, for example, the SID and/or the MID with the CPE. Thus, the CPE, the SID, and the MID (or equipment that connect to the SID and the MID, such as a BHR), can include wireless WiFi transceivers to transmit WiFi signals to and receive WiFi from each other. But it is within the scope of the example embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-8  to use any other type of wireless signals, protocols, and transceivers to connect any of the CPE to the SID and the MID, such as WiMAX signals, protocols, and transceivers, Bluetooth signals, protocols, and transceivers, cellular signals, protocols, and transceivers, etc. In addition, one or more pieces of CPE can include an RF-ID transmitter that sends RF-ID signals therefrom to an RF-ID receiver of a BHR connected to the MID, which receives RF-ID signals, to permit identification of the CPE. The wireless connections can support bidirectional communication with the CPE, although they are not limited thereto. The RF-ID transmitter and the RF-ID receiver support unidirectional communication from the CPE to the BHR and the MID, although they are not limited thereto. 
     The RF-ID signals can provide end-point information to the MID to aid the service provider 1) in the initial configuration of the CPE, 2) in detecting that CPE are on the customer premises, and 3) in switching a cellular phone over to an in-home VoIP wireless or wireline network when the customer is carrying a cellular telephone when entering the vicinity of the home. Other benefits of using RF-ID signals on the management/diagnostic LAN B is that the CPE can be automatically configured and managed by the MID as long as these pieces of CPE are either certified by the service provider, are certified to be compatible with the MID, or the user (or service provider) has configured the MID to be compatible with the given device that identifies itself via the RF-ID interface of the MID. Non-limiting examples of information that can be provided via the RF-ID interface and the RF-ID signals include: a MAC Address of the CPE, a serial number of the CPE, a password for the CPE, device-type information (i.e., whether the CPE is a TV, a STB, a phone, a personal computer, a network interface device, a BHR, a hub, a bridge, a camera, an NAS, etc), the device ID, the supported interfaces (i.e., 802.11g/n, Ethernet, etc), etc. But it should be understood that it is within the scope of this example embodiment for other types of signals to be transmitted from the CPE to the MID and any BHR connected thereto. 
       FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B, and  12  are flow charts showing different example embodiments of performing communication between CPE and a service provider. 
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate example embodiments of a procedure of bidirectionally communicating with CPE that receive a service or services from a service provider (SP) via both wired and wireless LANs. According to  FIG. 9A , an operation ( 180 ) is performed in which the SP transmits signals to an MID and to either an ONT on the customer&#39;s premises, an ONU in the neighborhood of the customer&#39;s premises, or an element or elements of the network at the service provider&#39;s central office that perform the function of an ONU (these three possibilities being denoted as an ONx). Next, the MID transmits the signals received from the SP over a wireless management/diagnostic LAN B to the CPE, while the ONx transmits the signals received from the SP over a wired primary services LAN A ( 182 ). As shown in  FIG. 9B , the CPE transmits signals to the MID over the wireless management/diagnostic LAN B and transmits signals to the ONx over the wired primary services LAN A ( 184 ). Next, the MID and the ONx transmit the signals received from the CPE to the SP ( 186 ). Each of the SP, the CPE, the MID, and the ONx can be the same as or different from the SP, the CPE, the MID, and the SID/ONx referred to in  FIGS. 1-8 , respectively. 
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  illustrate example embodiments of a procedure of bidirectionally communicating with CPE that receive a service or services from a SP via wired LANs. According to  FIG. 10A , an operation ( 190 ) is performed in which the SP transmits signals to an MID and to an ONx. Next, the MID transmits the signals received from the SP over a wired management/diagnostic LAN B to the CPE, while the ONx transmits the signals received from the SP over a wired primary services LAN A ( 192 ). As shown in  FIG. 10B , the CPE transmits signals to the MID over the wired management/diagnostic LAN B and transmits signals to the ONx over the wired primary services LAN A ( 194 ). Next, the MID and the ONx transmit the signals received from the CPE to the SP ( 196 ). Each of the SP, the CPE, the MID, and the ONx can be the same as or different from the SP, the CPE, the MID, and the SID/ONx referred to in  FIGS. 1-8 ,  FIG. 9A , and  FIG. 9B  respectively. 
       FIGS. 11A and 11B  illustrate an example embodiment of a procedure of bidirectional primary services communication and unidirectional management/diagnostic communication with CPE. According to  FIG. 11A , an operation ( 200 ) is performed in which the SP transmits signals to an ONx. Next, the ONx transmits the signals received from the SP over a wired or wireless primary services LAN A to CPE ( 202 ). As shown in  FIG. 11B , the CPE transmits signals to the MID unidirectionally over a wireless management/diagnostic LAN B and transmits signals to the ONx over a bidirectional wired or wireless primary services LAN A ( 204 ). Next, the MID and the ONx transmit the signals received from the CPE to the SP ( 206 ). Each of the SP, the CPE, the MID, and the ONx can be the same as or different from the SP, the CPE, the MID, and the SID/ONx referred to in  FIGS. 1-8 ,  FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B ,  FIG. 10A , and  FIG. 10B , respectively. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an example embodiment of a procedure of delivering, receiving, and/or supporting different services by the MID, the CPE, and the LANs. In operation  208 , the MID and its associated management/diagnostic LAN B deliver, receive, and/or support one or more of the following management and diagnostic services: performing verification of autonomous notifications from the CPE; performing troubleshooting of the primary services LAN A and the management/diagnostic LAN B; performing diagnostics on the CPE; configuring the CPE; validating of the identity and compatibility of the CPE; and performing automatic switchover of services for the CPE. As a result, the CPE receive and/or support these diagnostic and/or management services via the management/diagnostic LAN B and the MID ( 210 ). Before, during, and/or after operations  208  and  210 , operations  212  and  214  are performed. In operation  212 , the ONx and the primary services LAN A deliver primary services and primary services signals to the CPE, receive primary services and primary services signals from the CPE, and/or support primary services for the CPE. As a result, the CPE receive, support, and/or perform these primary services ( 214 ). Each of the CPE, the MID, the ONx, the primary services LAN A, and the management/diagnostic services LAN B can be the same as or different from the CPE, the MID, the SID/ONx, the primary services LAN A, and the management/diagnostic services LAN B, respectively, referred to in  FIGS. 1-8 ,  FIG. 9A ,  FIG. 9B ,  FIG. 10A ,  FIG. 10B ,  FIG. 11A , and  FIG. 11B . 
     In another example embodiment, fault isolation can be performed by any of the equipment shown in  FIGS. 1-8  in the event that any piece of CPE fails to deliver and/or support primary services to the customer. Such a procedure has the potential to avoid a costly service call from the SP to the customer, as will be discussed below. And such a procedure is made possible by the use of the MID and the management/diagnostic services LAN B. This can be seen as follows. In the absence of the management/diagnostic services LAN B and the MID, when a piece of CPE fails to deliver and/or support primary services, the customer will call or email the SP to report the interruption in service. As a result, the SP verifies the functioning of equipment from the central office of the SP network up to the CPE that has failed. Next, the SP may be able to diagnose and troubleshoot the CPE if a) the CPE is operational (i.e., has power and is functioning correctly, and b) the primary services LAN-A is operational (wired and installed correctly if wired, or provisioned and functioning correctly if wireless). However, if either a) or b) are not true, then the SP cannot communicate with the CPE. As a result, a technician must be dispatched by the SPE to the CPE to troubleshoot the root cause of the failure to deliver primary services to the customer and to fix the problem once its cause is known. The use of the MID and the management/diagnostic services LAN B offers a mechanism to diagnose and possibly solve the problem even if conditions a) and/or b) are present. (It is possible that both LAN-A and LAN-B will be down or malfunctioning simultaneously, making it impossible to use the LAN-B to perform fault isolation, but this possibility is highly unlikely, except when there is a power outage at the customer&#39;s premises. And if the problem is a power outage, the problem will be solved when the power returns. Moreover, there are ways the SP can determine whether the CPE failure is due to a power outage, for example, by the SP attempting to communicate to other CPE on the customer&#39;s premises, or by examining carrier equipment for telemetry indications of a power outage, such as by examining reports from ONTs that report utility power failure alarms.) 
     If the SP determines via diagnostic tests from the central office of the management system of the SP network that communication with the CPE occurs only over one of the LANs, then the SP can conclude that problem lies in one of the LANs. As a result, the SP can send an email to the customer or telephone the customer to ask the customer to correct the problem, since the customer owns and maintains the LANs or to offer to dispatch a service technician at some cost to the customer. Thus, in the event a piece of CPE fails to deliver and/or support primary services due to the malfunctioning of primary services LAN-A, the SP can use the MID and the LAN-B to perform fault isolation and determine that the primary LAN-A is malfunctioning, and as a result, send a message to the customer informing the customer that LAN-A is malfunctioning and/or offering to dispatch a service technician to fix LAN-A. On the other hand, if the SP determines via diagnostic tests conducted from the management system of the SP network that both the LAN-A and the LAN-B are functioning properly and that a piece of CPE is malfunctioning, the SP can perform remote troubleshooting and diagnostic tests on the malfunctioning piece of CPE using the MID and the management/diagnostic services LAN-B. For example, the SP can use the MID to reset the malfunctioning piece of CPE, which may fix the problem, thereby avoiding a service call from a service technician. Moreover, it is within the scope of this example embodiment to automate this process so that in response to receiving a customer complaint of an interruption in service involving a piece of CPE, the management system of the SP can automatically instruct the MID to reset the piece of CPE that is subject of a customer complaint. Further, the MID could also be programmed to reset any of the pieces of CPE without the receipt of a customer complaint about a piece of CPE under certain logic scenarios. Of course, if the SP determines that communication has failed on both LAN A and LAN B for some reason other than a power outage, then the SP can dispatch a service technician to the customer premises for troubleshooting and corrective action. 
     The functions performed by the SIDs, the ONxs, the MIDs, the primary services LAN A, the management/diagnostic services LAN B, and the CPE shown in  FIGS. 1-12  and the procedures illustrated in  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B, and  12  may be provided as a software example embodiment comprising a software computer program or a computer program product, that may include but is not limited to an article of manufacture on a machine accessible or machine readable medium having instructions. The instructions on the machine accessible or machine-readable medium may be used to program a computer system or other electronic device. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, CD-ROMs, and magneto-optical disks or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing or transmitting electronic instructions. The techniques described herein are not limited to any particular software configuration. They may find applicability in any computing or processing environment. The terms “machine accessible medium” or “machine readable medium” used herein shall include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or transmitting a sequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one of the procedures described herein. Furthermore, it is common in the art to speak of software, in one form or another (e.g., program, procedure, process, application, module, unit, logic, and so on) as taking an action or causing a result. Such expressions are merely a shorthand way of stating that the execution of the software by a processing system causes the processor to perform an action to produce a result. 
     While various example embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that the example embodiments have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein in a computer program product or software, hardware or any combination thereof, without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the apparatus, system, and procedure disclosed herein. Thus, the apparatus, system, and procedures disclosed herein should not be limited by any above-described examples of embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
     In addition, it should be understood that the figures, which highlight the functionality and advantages of the example embodiments, are presented for example purposes only. The architecture of the example embodiments is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be utilized (and navigated) in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures. 
     Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the claims of this application in any way. It is also to be understood that the procedures recited in the claims need not be performed in the order presented.