Broadcom Corporation

Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited

Avago Technologies General IP Pte, Ltd.

Sanjay Goswami

Edward Wayne Boyd

Ryan E Hirth

Avi Kliger

Leo Montreuil

Yitshak Ohana

Lawrence Drew Davis

Andrew Boyce

Lawrence D Davis

Embodiments of the present invention exploit the existing capabilities of the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) MAC layer, designed for fiber optics communications, to provide a low cost MAC layer with upper layer connectivity over a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network. In particular, embodiments allow for the EPON MAC to be used end-to-end (i.e., from an optical line terminal (OLT) to a coaxial network unit (CNU)) in a HFC network, thereby fully leveraging the packet processing capabilities, QoS functions, and management features of the EPON MAC. Furthermore, embodiments enable unified provisioning and management for both fiber and coaxial network units in a HFC network.

Ethernet passive optical network over coaxial (EPOC)

One embodiment provides a system that performs protection switching in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON), which includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and at least one optical network unit (ONU). The system is configured with at least one redundant component for the OLT and/or ONUs, wherein the redundant component can be optical or electrical, and can be a port, line card or link. The system provides protection by detecting a failure, and switching automatically to the redundant components to reduce service disruption time. The protection switching comprises: preserving the existing configuration over the loss of at least one of a multiple-point control protocol (MPCP) message; an operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) message; and a signal on the physical layer. The system recovers from the failure without performing ONU discovery.

Method and system for protection switching in ethernet passive optical networks

Embodiments include, but are not limited to, systems and methods for enabling Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) in the upstream in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coax (EPoC) network. Embodiments include systems and methods for translating Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) upstream time grants to OFDMA resources represented by individual subcarriers of an upstream OFDMA frame. In an embodiment, the translation of EPON upstream time grants to OFDMA resources ensures that Coaxial Network Units (CNUs) sharing an OFDMA frame do not use overlapping subcarriers within the frame. Embodiments further include systems and methods for timing upstream transmissions by the CNUs in order for the transmissions to be received within the same upstream OFDMA frame at a Fiber Coax Unit (FCU). Embodiments further include systems and methods for re-generating a data burst from OFDMA resources for transmission from the FCU to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT).

Time to time-frequency mapping and demapping for ethernet passive optical network over coax (EPoC)

Systems and methods for Ethernet Passive Optical Network Over Coaxial (EPOC) power saving modes are provided. The EPOC power savings modes allow an EPOC coaxial network unit (CNU) to enter a sleep mode based on user traffic characteristics. The sleep mode may include powering down one or more module of the EPOC CNU, including radio frequency (RF) transmit/receive circuitry and associated circuitry. In embodiments, the EPOC CNU may enter sleep mode based on instructions from an optical line terminal (OLT) or based on its own determination. Embodiments further include systems and methods that allow the EPOC CNU to maintain synchronization with a servicing coaxial media converter (CMC) when it enters a sleep mode.

Systems and methods for ethernet passive optical network over coaxial (EPOC) power saving modes

Embodiments allow for EPON MAC traffic to be sub-rated according to available bandwidth and/or transmission capacity of the physical medium. EPON MAC traffic sub-rating is performed in the PHY layer. The PHY layer performing the sub-rating may be located anywhere in the communication path supporting the end-to-end EPON MAC link. Because the sub-rating is performed in the PHY layer, the EPON MAC layer at either end of the EPON MAC link is unaware of the sub-rating being performed, and thus continues to operate as it would normally according to the IEEE standard that it implements.

Method for sub-rating an ethernet passive optical network (EPON) medium access control (MAC) based communication link

A system and method for reducing power consumption in a Passive Optic Network (PON). The system comprises an optical line terminal (OLT), an optical network unit (ONU), a traffic-detection module configured to detect status of traffic to and from the ONU, and a power-management module configured to place the ONU in sleep mode based on the detected traffic status. The ONU includes transmitting and receiving components that are selectively powered down during the sleep mode based on a type of traffic in the ONU.

EPON with power-saving features

One embodiment provides a system that tests optical performance in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON), which includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and at least one optical network unit (ONU). The system configures an ONU with a circular queue that contains test frames for testing optical performance. The OLT then notifies the ONU to transmit test frames at a specified data rate for a specified duration. After receiving test frames at the OLT, the system measures frame loss and/or bit error rate based on the received test frames.

Method and system for optical performance monitoring in ethernet passive optical networks

One embodiment provides a system for power saving in an Ethernet Passive Optic Network (EPON). The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT), an optical network unit (ONU), a traffic-detection module configured to detect status of traffic to and from the ONU, and a power-management module configured to place the ONU in sleep mode based on the detected traffic status. The ONU includes an optical transceiver that includes an optical transmitter configured to transmit optical signals to the OLT and an optical receiver configured to receive optical signals from the OLT.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Sanjay Goswami