Abstract: A method, system and computer program for simulating a communication link, such as an uplink, to one or more external networks in a communication network is provided. A test optical network terminal is connected to the network, and an uplink is simulated through the test optical network terminal, providing access to one or more external networks to one or more network elements in the communication network. Traffic is looped through an optical line terminal using optical carrier cards, and virtual cross connects are provisioned in the communication network to create a communication path between the optical network terminal and the test optical network terminal. A method of troubleshooting a network element such as an optical network terminal is also provided.

Abstract: Internet Protocol (IP) private branch exchange (IP-PBX) functionality may be provided on existing optical network terminal (ONT) hardware without support of an IP-PBX device by using a method of managing an IP-PBX that includes identifying IP configuration data on downstream network communications associated with at least one private IP branch exchange service received from an upstream node on a session initiation protocol (SIP) network and applying the configuration data to a node in an access network that supports the IP-PBX service. In this way, centralized configuration of IP-PBX services are supported, simplifying network management for service providers.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, computer program, and system for validating network element interfaces for functional testing. The method is comprised of coupling together at least two main interfaces of a plurality of main interfaces of at least one network element and providing a signal to one of the main interfaces via at least one communication path such that the signal propagates through that main interface to at least one other of the main interfaces coupled thereto, and back to the at least one communication path. By virtue of the method, apparatus, system, and computer program for validating network element interfaces for functional testing, the amount of time necessary to validate network element interfaces during functional testing can be reduced.

Abstract: A network terminal includes a bridge to interface the network terminal to a data channel linked to a central office, a first interface of a first type, and a second interface of a second type that is different from the first type of interface. A processor controls the network terminal to route data packets received via the first interface to the data channel via the bridge, when the network terminal is set to operate in a normal mode, and to route data packets received via the first interface to the second interface, when the network terminal is set to operate in a test mode. In an example embodiment, the first interface is an Ethernet interface and the second interface is a MoCA interface.

Abstract: In a passive optical network (PON), multiple optical network terminals (ONTS) transmit data to an optical line terminal (OLT) using a common optical wavelength and fiber optical media. Various components of the PON, including the OLT and ONT(s), can malfunction. Centralized techniques for maintaining or diagnosing fault conditions may be ineffective in large networks or in relatively small networks because of vast amounts of information and limited storage capacity for the information. Thus, fault conditions may occur and not be diagnosed due to lost or overwritten information. Therefore, a distributed approach based on information related to ranging of ONTs within the PON is employed in an example embodiment of the invention. This distributed approach can improve monitoring and diagnosis of fault conditions that may lead to instability of the PON.

Abstract: A method of detecting a problem in a communication network that supports at least one communication service communication service is provided. The method includes disconnecting a suspect component from the network, and replacing the suspect component with a diagnostic component configured to have the same network identification information as the suspect component. The method also includes determining if the problem still exists, and identifying the suspect component as defective if the problem no longer exists. In addition, the method includes identifying the problem as being caused by another part of the network besides the suspect component, if the problem still exists. An apparatus, system, and computer program are also provided for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A light guide illumination system having a metal-halide double-ended illumination source is disclosed. The light guide illumination system includes at least one light guide and two curved reflectors disposed in proximity to the double-ended illumination source. The two curved reflectors are adapted to reflect the emitted light from the double-ended illumination source into the light guide. The light guide illumination system further includes at least one multi-sectored lens adapted to receive light from the light guide, and at least one output light guide. The multi-sectored lens is adapted to receive the reflected light from the light guide and to focus the light into the output light guide.

Abstract: An optical pipe illumination system is provided for coupling light from an illumination source to a number of output "light pipes", which are used for a variety of purposes, such as illuminating pools, spas, hazardous material zones, jail cells, and other applications where direct lighting is dangerous, difficult to maintain, or subject to vandalism. The illumination system employs an illumination reflector which has been customized to maximize the efficiency of light transmission between the illumination source, such as an arc lamp, and the cores of the output pipes. A method of fabricating the customized illumination reflector includes mapping the radiation patterns of the particular illumination source to be utilized, creating a database of those radiation patterns, and utilizing the database to generate an optimal illumination reflector configuration. The computer-generated reflector will virtually always be a non-conic section, because the illumination source is not ideal.