Abstract: A method includes transmitting, at a first wavelength, a first configuration message on the PON including a first transmitter interface number and transmitting, at a second wavelength, a second configuration message on the PON including a second transmitter interface number. The method further includes receiving a configuration response message from a first set of ONUs that comprises the first transmitter interface number and from a second set of ONUs that comprises the second transmitter interface, associating the first set of ONUs with the first wavelength and the second set of ONUs with the second wavelength, and transmitting downstream traffic destined for any ONU in the first set of ONUs at the first wavelength and transmitting downstream traffic for any ONU in the second set of ONUs at the second wavelength.

Abstract: A method for communicating in a passive optical network (PON), includes receiving traffic from a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) transmitting in an upstream transmission channel, wherein each of the ONUs may transmit at any wavelength within a wavelength band associated with the upstream transmission channel. The method also includes dividing the upstream transmission channel into a plurality of sub-channels, that each include a subset of the wavelength band associated with the upstream transmission channel. The method further includes determining the identity of each of the plurality of ONUs transmitting in each of the sub-channels, assigning a plurality of ONUs transmitting in the upstream transmission channel to each of at least two of the sub-channels based on the determination of the ONUs transmitting in that sub-channel, and allocating transmission timeslots for time-shared transmission by the ONUs in one or more of the sub-channels.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a hybrid passive optical network using shared wavelengths is provided. In a particular embodiment, a system for communicating optical signals over a network includes an upstream terminal. The upstream terminal includes a signal source operable to transmit a downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a first wavelength and traffic in a second wavelength. The upstream terminal is operable to receive upstream traffic in a third wavelength, wherein the third wavelength is shared by a first plurality of downstream terminals and a second plurality of downstream terminals. The system also includes a distribution node comprising a wavelength router. The wavelength router is operable to receive the downstream signal, route the traffic in the first wavelength to the first plurality of downstream terminals, and route the traffic in the second wavelength to the second plurality of downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for managing wavelength drift in an optical network is provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving traffic in one or more optical channels transmitted by one or more transmitters, each channel having successive timeslots, each transmitter assigned to transmit in a channel in allocated timeslots in the channel. The method also includes determining whether the traffic received in a particular channel in a particular timeslot was transmitted by one of the transmitters that was not assigned to transmit in the particular channel.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, distribution components for a wavelength-sharing network are provided. In a particular embodiment, a distribution node for an optical network includes a first distributor operable to receive a first downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a first wavelength and traffic in a second wavelength from an upstream terminal, route the traffic in the first wavelength to a first plurality of downstream terminals, and route the traffic in the second wavelength to a second plurality of downstream terminals. A second distributor is operable to receive a second downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a third wavelength, and forward the traffic in the third wavelength to at least the first plurality of downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an upgradeable passive optical network is provided. In a particular embodiment, an upgradeable optical network includes an upstream terminal and a distribution node. The upstream terminal is operable to forward a downstream signal comprising traffic in a first wavelength, the traffic in the first wavelength transmitted by a first transmitter at the upstream terminal. The distribution node is communicatively coupled to the upstream terminal and is operable to communicate the downstream signal from the upstream terminal to a first plurality and a second plurality of downstream terminals. The distribution node comprises a primary power splitter configured to create a plurality of copies of the downstream signal for communication to the downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for managing communication in a hybrid passive optical network (HPON) is provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes transmitting, at a first wavelength, a first configuration message on the HPON. The method also includes receiving at one or more of a plurality of receivers at an optical line terminal (OLT) one or more configuration response messages from one or more optical network units (ONUs) in a first set of ONUs. The method further includes, based on the configuration response messages from the first set of ONUs, associating, in a database, each ONU in the first set of ONUs with the first wavelength and with the receiver receiving the configuration response message from the ONU. The method also includes, after transmitting the first configuration message, transmitting, at a second wavelength, a second configuration message on the HPON.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for managing different transmission architectures in a passive optical network (PON) is provided. In a particular embodiment, a method for managing different transmission architectures in a PON includes transmitting traffic in an upstream or downstream direction in a first time-slot in a PON at each channel of a first set of one or more channels. The method also includes transmitting traffic in the same upstream or downstream direction in a second time-slot in the PON at each channel of a second set of one or more channels that provide greater bandwidth than the first set of one or more channels, wherein at least one channel of the first set at least partially overlaps at least one channel of the second set but is not identical to the at least one channel of the second set.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for transmitting optical markers in a passive optical network (PON) system is provided. In a particular embodiment, a method for transmitting optical markers in a PON system includes transmitting a first optical marker signal, the first optical marker signal used to identify at least one of the first optical marker signal, an upstream wavelength corresponding to the first optical marker signal, and an optical network unit (ONU) type transmitting at the upstream wavelength corresponding to the first optical marker signal. The method also includes transmitting a second optical marker signal, the second optical marker signal used to identify at least one of the second optical marker signal, an upstream wavelength corresponding to the second optical marker signal, and an ONU type transmitting at the upstream wavelength corresponding to the second optical marker signal.

Abstract: A distribution node for an optical network is provided that includes an integrated filter module comprising a first thin-film and a second thin-film coupled to a common substrate and operable to receive a first downstream signal at the substrate comprising at least traffic in a first wavelength and a second wavelength, transmit the traffic in the first wavelength from the first thin-film to a first plurality of downstream terminals, reflect the traffic in the second wavelength to the second thin-film, and transmit at least the traffic in the second wavelength from the second thin-film to a second plurality of downstream terminals. A traffic distributor is operable to receive a second downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a third wavelength and forward the traffic in the third wavelength to the common substrate for distribution to the first plurality and second plurality of downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method for distributing traffic in a distribution node in an optical network includes receiving wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) traffic in a plurality of wavelengths at at least one of a plurality of filters at the distribution node from at least one of the one or more upstream terminals. The optical network includes one or more upstream terminals, the distribution node, and a plurality of downstream terminals. Each of the filters is coupled to one or more of the upstream terminals by a plurality of separate fibers. The method further includes separating traffic in a first set of one or more wavelengths from traffic in a second set of one or more wavelengths at the filter. The method further includes routing the traffic in the first set of wavelengths for distribution to all downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for transmitting traffic in a plurality of passive optical networks (PONs) is provided. In a particular embodiment, a method for transmitting traffic in a plurality of passive optical networks (PONs) includes transmitting traffic at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength from an optical line terminal (OLT). The method also includes combining the traffic in the first wavelength and the traffic in the second wavelength and splitting the combined traffic into a plurality of copies. The method further includes forwarding a first copy to a first wavelength router at a first distribution node and forwarding a second copy to a second wavelength router at a second distribution node, wherein the first wavelength router is coupled to a first set of optical network units (ONUs) and the second wavelength router is coupled to a second set of ONUs.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for extending reach in a passive optical network (PON) is provided. In a particular embodiment, a method for extending reach in a PON includes transmitting traffic at a first wavelength from a transmitter at a first optical network unit (ONU) in a PON and transmitting traffic at a second wavelength from a transmitter at a second ONU in the PON. The method also includes receiving the traffic in the first wavelength at a first input port of a multiplexer at a distribution node in the PON and receiving the traffic in the second wavelength at a second input port of the multiplexer at the distribution node. The method further includes forwarding the traffic in the first wavelength and the traffic in the second wavelength to an optical line terminal (OLT) in the PON.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for managing network components in a passive optical network (PON) is provided. In a particular embodiment, the method includes transmitting, at a first wavelength, a first configuration message on the PON, wherein the first configuration message comprises a first transmitter interface number. The method also includes transmitting, at a second wavelength and at approximately the same time as the first message, a second configuration message on the PON, wherein the second configuration message comprises a second transmitter interface number. The method further includes receiving a configuration response message from each of one or more optical network units (ONUs) in a first set of ONUs that comprises the first transmitter interface number and receiving a configuration response message from each of one or more ONUs in a second set of ONUs that comprises the second transmitter interface number.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing downstream bandwidth in an optical network that includes providing a downstream terminal comprising a digital output path and an analog output path. The method also includes receiving a signal comprising at least one wavelength at the downstream terminal. The method further includes selectively processing the signal at the downstream terminal. The signal is selectively processed at the downstream terminal by processing the signal on the analog output path if the signal comprises analog video data and processing the signal on the digital output path if the signal comprises data to be converted to a digital bit stream.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, distribution components for a wavelength-sharing network are provided. In a particular embodiment, a distribution node for an optical network includes a first distributor operable to receive a first downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a first wavelength and traffic in a second wavelength from an upstream terminal, route the traffic in the first wavelength to a first plurality of downstream terminals, and route the traffic in the second wavelength to a second plurality of downstream termninals. A second distributor is operable to receive a second downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a third wavelength, and forward the traffic in the third wavelength to at least the first plurality of downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an upgradeable passive optical network is provided. In a particular embodiment, an upgradeable optical network includes an upstream terminal and a distribution node. The upstream terminal is operable to forward a downstream signal comprising traffic in a first wavelength, the traffic in the first wavelength transmitted by a first transmitter at the upstream terminal. The distribution node is communicatively coupled to the upstream terminal and is operable to communicate the downstream signal from the upstream terminal to a first plurality and a second plurality of downstream terminals. The distribution node comprises a primary power splitter configured to create a plurality of copies of the downstream signal for communication to the downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a hybrid passive optical network using shared wavelengths is provided. In a particular embodiment, a system for communicating optical signals over a network includes an upstream terminal. The upstream terminal includes a signal source operable to transmit a downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a first wavelength and traffic in a second wavelength. The upstream terminal is operable to receive upstream traffic in a third wavelength, wherein the third wavelength is shared by a first plurality of downstream terminals and a second plurality of downstream terminals. The system also includes a distribution node comprising a wavelength router. The wavelength router is operable to receive the downstream signal, route the traffic in the first wavelength to the first plurality of downstream terminals, and route the traffic in the second wavelength to the second plurality of downstream terminals.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a distribution node for a wavelength-sharing network is provided. In a particular embodiment, a distribution node for an optical network includes a wavelength router and a power splitter. The wavelength router is operable to receive a downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a first wavelength and traffic in a second wavelength from an upstream terminal, route the traffic in the first wavelength to a first plurality of downstream terminals, and route the traffic in the second wavelength to a second plurality of downstream terminals. The power splitter is operable to receive an upstream signal comprising at least traffic in a third wavelength from the downstream terminals, wherein the downstream terminals share the third wavelength for transmission of upstream traffic.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for distributing traffic in an optical network is provided. In a particular embodiment, an optical network includes an upstream terminal, a distribution node, and a plurality of downstream terminals. The distribution node in the optical network includes a wavelength router configured to receive wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) traffic in a plurality of wavelengths from the upstream terminal, route the traffic in at least one wavelength to a primary power splitter, and route the traffic in a plurality of other wavelengths for distribution to particular downstream terminals. The distribution node also includes a primary power splitter configured to receive the traffic in the at least one wavelength from the wavelength router, split the received traffic in the at least one wavelength into a plurality of copies, and forward the copies for distribution to all of the downstream terminals.