Abstract: A method for processing messages within a telecommunication network, including receiving, by a central office (CO) from a network manager, a message packaged within a first data frame, the message conforming to a first protocol and being addressed to a customer premises equipment (CPE), wherein the CO communicates with the network manager using the first protocol, and communicates with the CPE using a second protocol, determining if the CPE to which the message is addressed supports the first protocol, when the determining is affirmative, then encapsulating the message conforming to the first protocol within a second data frame confirming to the second protocol, when the determining is not affirmative, then translating the message from the first protocol to the second protocol, and packaging the translated message within a second data frame confirming to the second protocol, and sending the second data frame to the CPE using the second protocol.

Abstract: Methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation among optical networks units for upstream transmission, performed by an optical line terminal of a passive optical network, which compensate for unused guaranteed bandwidth, which compensate for inability to use allocated bandwidth due to lack of data frame fragmentation, and which provide fair bandwidth allocation between mixed high transmission rate and low transmission rate optical network units.

Abstract: A power manager for a passive optical network, including a network statistics collector, for collecting data regarding traffic in a passive optical network (PON) including a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) on the downstream side of the PON, wherein each ONU can be in at least a sleep state and an active state, and wherein the PON transmits data in packets of data frames, a buffer for storing downstream data frames for each ONU while the ONU is in the sleep state, an activity detector for processing the data collected by the network statistics collector to generate indicators of activity levels for each ONU, and a protocol manager including a plurality of state machines for the respective plurality of ONUs, wherein each state machine governs state transition of its respective ONU to the sleep state when the activity detector indicates a low activity level for the ONU, and to the active state when the activity detector indicates a high level of activity for the ONU.

Abstract: Methods for dynamic bandwidth allocation among optical networks units for upstream transmission, performed by an optical line terminal of a passive optical network, which compensate for unused guaranteed bandwidth, which compensate for inability to use allocated bandwidth due to lack of data frame fragmentation, and which provide fair bandwidth allocation between mixed high transmission rate and low transmission rate optical network units.

Abstract: A power manager for a passive optical network, including a network statistics collector, for collecting data regarding traffic in a passive optical network (PON) including a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) on the downstream side of the PON, wherein each ONU can be in at least a sleep state and an active state, and wherein the PON transmits data in packets of data frames, a buffer for storing downstream data frames for each ONU while the ONU is in the sleep state, an activity detector for processing the data collected by the network statistics collector to generate indicators of activity levels for each ONU, and a protocol manager including a plurality of state machines for the respective plurality of ONUs, wherein each state machine governs state transition of its respective ONU to the sleep state when the activity detector indicates a low activity level for the ONU, and to the active state when the activity detector indicates a high level of activity for the ONU.