A set of object types is used to represent a wide range of passive equipment, such as ODFs, modular closures, and splice boxes. The passive equipment can represent anything from a small fiber termination unit to a multi-panel ODF. To manage different kinds of structures, the object model is organized into five levels.

 

Object Model

Passive equipment

This is the top level and the only object type that is placed in nodes or racks. All other levels in the hierarchy exist within a passive equipment object. Passive equipment manages fiber media independently.

 

Substructure (Optional)

This level can represent a shelf, a horizontal shelf as part of a larger ODF, or other structures within passive equipment.

It can only be placed within a passive equipment object.

 

Connector group (Optional)

This level represents a card, either vertical or horizontal, within an ODF panel or any other substructure.

It can be placed in a substructure or directly in passive equipment.

 

Fiber slot (Optional)

This level typically represents a hole in a panel or any other sub-substructure.

It can be placed in a connector group, a substructure, or directly in passive equipment.

 

Contact and fiber split module

This level connects to fibers and patches. Both the contact and the fiber split module connect to fibers and patches.

They can be placed in a slot, a connector group, a substructure, or directly in passive equipment.

 

Product specification

For each level in the object model, except for the contact level, there is a corresponding product specification object type. The primary purpose of the product specification is to define the structure below its level. This is often done by using references to other product specifications, forming a hierarchy that mirrors the hierarchy of the actual equipment objects.

See section Create product specification for further description of product specifications.

 

Passive equipment product specification

A product specification for the top-level object, the passive equipment, has five parts:

•Attributes - A set of attributes that belong to the passive equipment level. Some of these attributes (such as the ID) are specific to the product specification, while others will be copied to the actual passive equipment when the product specification is applied.

•Substructure Components - Zero or more components representing substructures directly placed in the passive equipment. These components have a set of attributes that will be copied into actual substructures when the product specification is applied. Each component may also reference a substructure product specification.

•Connector Group Components - Zero or more components representing connector groups directly placed in the passive equipment (i.e., not via a substructure). These components have a set of attributes that will be copied into actual connector groups when the product specification is applied. Each component may also reference a connector group product specification.

•Slot Components - Zero or more components representing slots directly placed in the passive equipment (i.e., not via a substructure or connector group). These components have a set of attributes that will be copied into actual slots when the product specification is applied. Each component may also reference a slot product specification.

•Contact and Fiber Split Module Components - Zero or more components representing contacts or fiber split modules directly placed in the passive equipment (i.e., not via a substructure, connector group, or slot). These components have a set of attributes that will be copied into actual contacts when the product specification is applied.

 

Substructure product specification

The substructure product specification consists of four parts, similar to the five parts of the product specification for passive equipment, with the following exceptions:

•The first part refers to the substructure rather than the passive equipment.

•The part with substructure children is missing.

 

Connector group product specification

The connector group product specification consists of three parts, similar to the four parts of the product specification for substructure, with the following exceptions:

•The first part refers to the connector group rather than the substructure.

•The part with connector group children is missing.

 

Slot product specification

The slot product specification consists of two parts, similar to the three parts of the product specification for connector groups, with the following exceptions:

•The first part refers to the slot rather than the connector group.

•The part with slot children is missing.

 

Create objects in passive equipment

Except for the top-level object, which is always created when placed in either a rack or a node, there are two main ways to create objects in passive equipment:

•Using attribute forms - In the attribute forms for passive equipment, substructure, connector group, and slot, there are tables that list the direct child objects. For example, in passive equipment, there is a separate table for each substructure, connector group, and slot. These tables include buttons for adding and deleting the respective objects.

•Applying product specifications - When a product specification is applied at any level, the structure defined by the product specification will create the specified objects. This process cascades throughout the hierarchy, so when product specifications reference other product specifications, all referenced specifications will be applied.

 

Categories of passive equipment

The object model for passive equipment is highly generic, designed to accommodate a wide range of existing and future devices. However, there are some categories defined with a narrower scope. Each level in the hierarchy has subtypes with more specific intentions that can be used when applicable.

Passive equipment

•Passive equipment - The generic form of passive equipment.

•ODF panel - Represents panel-oriented equipment.

•Modular closure - Represents variants of closures.

•Building panel - Represents an abstract model of the hierarchy within a building.

Substructure

•Passive substructure - The generic form of the substructure.

•ODF shelf - Represents a horizontal part of an ODF with multiple panels.

•Staircase panel - Represents an abstract model of the hierarchy within a building.

Connector group

•Passive connector group - The generic form of the connector group.

•ODF card - Represents a vertical part of an ODF with multiple panels.

•Closure module - Represents a structure within a closure.

•Floor panel - Represents an abstract model of the hierarchy within a building.

Slot

•ODF slot - Represents the rectangular holes in an ODF panel.

•Splitter slot - Represents a grouping of splitter modules.

•Apartment fiber panel - Represents an abstract model of the hierarchy within a building.

Contact

•ODF connector - Represents a standard ODF contact where fibers from a cable connect to the back and patches connect to the front.

•ODF connector, front side connectable - Represents a more flexible ODF contact where fibers and patches can connect to either side.

•Fiber splice - Represents the actual splice between two fibers, with fibers connecting to either side but no patching.

•Virtual fiber splice - Represents a situation where there is no physical splice but is needed to represent fibers not cut in a midspan, with fibers connecting to either side but no patching.

 

Handle Cassettes/Splice trays

In the case of an ODF with panels, the cassette is not treated as a separate object. Instead, information about the cassette can be specified in the cassette attribute of the contact slot. This means that the contact also serves as the holder where its pigtail is spliced to the incoming cable. The Position in cassette attribute is used to add further details.

These same fields can be used for fiber splices in a closure to describe which cassette the splice is made in. Alternatively, a connector group can represent the cassette/tray, making the fiber splices actual children of the cassette.

While this alternative method can be used for ODFs, it complicates the modeling of structures within more complex ODFs. Therefore, Digpro recommends always modeling cassette information using the cassette attribute of the contact.

 

Pigtails in an ODF

Traditionally, dpCom has simplified how the fibers of a cable connect to the ODF contact, not modeling the pigtail and its splice to the fiber of the cable. Consequently, there is no distinction between a pre-contacted cable and a cable spliced to the pigtail.

However, the pigtail belonging to a fiber split module can be connected to the ODF contacts. This is done using the Patch tool on the inside of an ODF. To connect:

1.Select the contact to which the single side, IN of the splitter, should connect, and connect the single side of the splitter.

2.Select one or more contacts to connect the multi-side, OUT of the splitter, and connect the multi-side.

 

Splice fibers in passive equipment

The passive equipment supports two methods for splicing two fibers together:

•Using the Splice tool - This method involves taking a fiber from one cable and connecting it to another fiber. The intermediate fiber splice object is automatically created without any pre-filled values.

•Pre-Created fiber splice objects - Fiber splice objects can be created in advance along with the passive equipment using a product specification. This allows for setting values for the cassette and position in cassette attributes for each fiber splice object.

Splicing process:

1.In the toolbar, select Connect fiber to connect the fibers of the first cable to the fiber splice.

2.Connect the fibers of subsequent cables to the other side of the fiber splice. While this method involves more work, it provides better control over the details.