SMART OPTICAL JUNCTION BOX

Abstract

An optical fibre junction box (10) has at least one status sensor (12) measuring at least one physical parameter of the box (10) and/or detecting the opening and closing of the box (10) and an electronic means (14) for remotely identifying the box (10).

Claims

1. An optical fibre junction box, wherein said optical fibre junction box comprises: at least one status sensor measuring at least one physical parameter of said box and/or detecting the opening and closing of said box; and means for remotely identifying said box using electronic means.

2. The optical fibre box according to claim 1, wherein said optical fibre box further comprises a smart locking device.

3. The optical fibre box according to claim 1, wherein said remote identification means is an NFC or RFID tag.

4. The optical fibre box according to claim 1, wherein said status sensor measures the moisture content of said box.

5. The optical fibre box according to claim 1, wherein said status sensor measures the temperature of said box.

6. A system for monitoring the integrity of a fibre optic telecommunications network comprising: at least one junction box according to claim 1; and a platform for monitoring interventions in said network adapted to communicate with said at least one junction box.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said platform comprises means for recording said interventions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description of particular embodiments, which are provided solely by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a box according to the present invention, in a particular embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, in a particular embodiment, an optical junction box 10 according to the present invention comprises one or more status sensor(s) 12, which measure at least one physical parameter of the box 10 and/or which detect the opening and closing of the box 10.

[0030] By way of a non-limiting example, this physical parameter can be the moisture content of the box 10 or the temperature of the box 10 or the pressure, shocks, vibrations, etc.

[0031] The box 10 further comprises means 14 for remotely identifying the box using electronic means.

[0032] By way of a non-limiting example, the remote identification means 14 can be an NFC (Near Field Communication) or RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag. This tag is, for example, printed directly on the box 10, or is on a self-adhesive tag affixed, for example, on the outside of the box 10. As an alternative embodiment, the remote identification means 14 can be produced in the form of a badge and can be located inside the box 10.

[0033] Optionally, the box 10 can further comprise a smart locking device 16, equipped with electronic circuitry allowing it to be remotely controlled via an optionally mobile telecommunications terminal. Opening and closing the box 10 can be dependent on the execution of a user authentication procedure. The open or closed status of the box 10 can be stored in a remote register. The smart locking device 16 can communicate with the outside, for example, via NFC or RFID technology, such as the means 14 for remotely identifying the box 10.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows that the box 10 is connected, in a manner known per se, to a fibre optic telecommunications network 18, on the one hand, to a node belonging to the core of the network 18 and, on the other hand, to a subscribed item of equipment, i.e., to an item of equipment of a user of the network 18.

[0035] A system for monitoring the integrity of the network 18 according to the present invention comprises at least one junction box 10 as described above, as well as a platform for monitoring interventions in the network 18.

[0036] The monitoring platform is adapted to communicate with the box. For example, if the box 10 comprises means 14 for remotely identifying the box in the form of an NFC tag, the monitoring platform comprises reading means adapted to transmit and receive signals to and from the NFC tag of the box 10 and from the one or more status sensor(s) 12.

[0037] In addition, the monitoring platform can comprise an enrolment register for technicians carrying out the interventions, containing identification information of these technicians.

[0038] Optionally, the monitoring platform can also comprise means for recording interventions, which store, for example, the date, time and the duration of the interventions, the identification data of the technician who carried out the intervention and the identification information of the relevant box 10, as well as the value of the physical parameters measured by the one or more sensor(s) 12 at the beginning and the end of the intervention.

[0039] The invention is applicable to all types of optical networks, whether they are FTTH (Fibre To The Home), FTTE (Fibre To The Enterprise) or mobile networks.

[0040] It can be easily extended to elements of a network other than the junction boxes.