Telecom Italia S.p.a.

Politecnico Di Torino

Maurizio Valvo

Roberto Mercinelli

Roberto Gaudino

Valter Ferrero

Paolo Solina

Paolo De Lutiis

Manuel Leone

Luciana Costa

Roberta D'Amico

Stefano Capriata

Alessandro Capurso

Marcello Valentini

It is disclosed a optical transmitter for an optical network unit of a multi-wavelength passive optical network comprising an optical line termination and a number of further optical network units for transmitting upstream signals to said optical line termination on multiple upstream channels. The optical transmitter is configured to generate and transmit an optical activation signal carrying activation information to be transmitted to said optical line termination on an upstream channel, the activation signal having an optical power lower than the optical power of each one of said upstream signals. The optical transmitter comprises an optical source, a first electric source configured to modulate the optical source with a first electric signal carrying the activation information; and a second electric source configured to directly modulate the optical source with a second electric signal so as to produce a frequency chirp on the optical activation signal.

Activation of an optical network unit in a multi-wavelength passive optical network

A method for activating an ONU in a multi-wavelength PON. Other ONUs may be already active and transmit upstream signals to the OLT on various upstream channels. The new ONU transmits an activation signal superimposed to such upstream signals. Since the ONU may include an uncalibrated tunable transmitter, initially the activation signal wavelength might be different from that upon which the ONU shall be activated. The activation signal optical power is lower than the other upstream signals, so as not to impair their reception at the OLT. The OLT operates the ONUs already active on the upstream channel on which the new ONU shall be activated to suspend transmission for one or more time gaps, during which the OLT detects the activation signal. This improves activation signal detection conditions, thereby allowing to increase its bitrate. An acceptable duration of the activation procedure can then be achieved.

A method for localizing an optical network termination in an optical access network including an optical line termination and a number of optical links. The method includes: detecting that the optical network termination is connected to an optical link and retrieving from it a termination identifier univocally identifying the optical network termination, using the termination identifier for retrieving an optical link identifier associated with the termination identifier and univocally identifying a given optical link of the optical links; inducing a change in an optical connection between the optical line termination and the given optical link, thus modifying an optical parameter of first optical signals received at the optical line termination through the given optical link; checking whether second optical signals received at the optical line termination from the optical network termination are affected by the change; and in the affirmative, determining that the optical network termination is connected to the first optical link.

Method for localizing an optical network termination in an optical access network

A method for security in a passive optical network is disclosed. The method includes, at an optical line termination (OLT): detecting an optical termination device and establishing a connection with the device; generating a first authentication message including a first random number; and transmitting the first authentication message through the established connection. At the optical termination device, the method may include: receiving the first authentication message; calculating a first authentication code by using the first random number and a secret code stored at the device; and generating and transmitting to the OLT a second authentication message including the first authentication code. The method may further include, at the OLT: receiving the second authentication message; calculating a second authentication code by using the first random number and a secret code stored at the OLT; and authenticating the optical termination device if the first authentication code matches the second authentication code.

Method for increasing security in a passive optical network

A method of transmitting data packets through a passive optical network. The method includes: receiving a first data packet from a first interface of the passive optical network, the first data packet including precedence information; encapsulating the first data packet in a second data packet at the first interface; and transmitting the second data packet through the passive optical network toward a second interface, wherein encapsulating includes inserting in a header field of the second data packet a value indicative of the precedence information. The value indicative of the precedence information could include a priority and/or a virtual LAN identifier.

Growing community of inventors

Turin, Italy

Maurizio Valvo