Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying Forward Error Correction (FEC) in 66b systems. For a user data, the apparatus uses a method comprising the steps of generating one or more data blocks using a 66b code format and the user data; generating one or more FEC parity blocks using the 66b code format, wherein the parity is calculated over the data blocks; and generating an FEC codeword using the data blocks and the FEC parity blocks.

Abstract: A passive optical network (PON) component comprising a first coupler, a second coupler in communication with the first coupler via a plurality of communication paths, a delay module located on one of the communication paths, and a balanced detector in communication with the second coupler. The disclosure includes a method comprising receiving a plurality of optical signals from a plurality of optical network units (ONUs), wherein each ONU is associated with an optical frequency differential, copying at least some of the optical signals, delaying one of the optical signals or the copied optical signals, and producing a radio frequency (RF) signal based on at least one of the optical signals and at least one of the copied optical signals. Also included is a PON component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising transmitting an optical signal using an optical frequency differential.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing based passive optical network is disclosed. The network includes an optical line terminal; a power optical splitter connecting to the optical line terminal by an optical fiber; and several optical network units. Each of the optical network units connects to the power optical splitter by each of other optical fibers by a random process.

Abstract: A passive optical network (PON) system comprising a plurality of optical network units (ONUs) having one downstream receiver and one upstream transmitter, an optical line terminal (OLT) having a downstream transmitter and a plurality of upstream receivers, wherein each upstream receiver is associated with a subset of the ONUs, and an optical distribution network (ODN) that connects the OLT to the ONUs is disclosed. An OLT for a PON, comprising a downstream transmitter, and a plurality of upstream receivers, wherein a downstream transmitter bandwidth is greater than each upstream receiver bandwidth is also disclosed. A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising determining a downstream bandwidth and an upstream bandwidth for a PON, and increasing a number of upstream channels per downstream channel for the PON when asymmetry between the downstream bandwidth and the upstream bandwidth is greater than a threshold amount is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method that comprises applying a forward error correction (FEC) algorithm to a plurality of data blocks to generate a plurality of redundancy data, encapsulating an integer number of the data blocks and the redundancy data in an FEC codeword, and transmitting the FEC codeword, wherein the codeword is about evenly aligned with a transmission clock time quanta to have a transmission rate. Also disclosed is a method comprising selecting an FEC algorithm that generates a plurality of redundancy data from a plurality of data blocks, selecting an FEC codeword that encapsulates an integer number of the data blocks, and selecting a synchronization pattern to add to the FEC codeword such that an integer number of the FEC codewords are evenly aligned with an integer number of transmission clock time quanta.

Abstract: A network component is disclosed that includes a memory comprising a data structure comprising an optical network terminal management and control interface (OMCI) comprising a plurality of managed entities (MEs), wherein one of the MEs is a description of the OMCI. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the sending of an OMCI Description to an optical line terminal (OLT), wherein the OMCI Description comprises an OMCI Object, whose instance describes the types of MEs supported by an OMCI, a plurality of Managed Entity Objects, whose instances describe each ME supported by the OMCI, and a plurality of Attribute Objects, whose instances describe each attribute supported by the OMCI.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a shortest path between a source node and a destination node in an optical network of nodes interconnected with optical transmission links is disclosed. A wavelength graph is used to represent an optical network as a set of electronic nodes and optical channel nodes corresponding to the network nodes with a set of internal links and optical channel links. The electronic node represents the electronic switching fabric that interconnects OEO equipment within a physical node. A single-source shortest path algorithm (e.g., Dijkstra's algorithm) is applied to the wavelength graph to determine a shortest path. The transformation of the network representation to include the electronic node greatly reduces the number of links in the wavelength graph and significantly increases the computational efficiency.

Abstract: A communications network includes optical network terminations (ONTs) and an optical line termination (OLT) connected to a passive optical network (PON). The OLT measures round trip transmission delay expressed in time slot duration for each of the ONTs, and orders the ONTs in ascending order of respective delay modulo time slot duration. A desired reception time at the OLT is scheduled for each of the OLTs according to the ascending order and each ONT is commanded to transmit at a command time that leads the respective desired reception time by a respective delay integral time slot duration. The scheduling includes leaving a reception interval spare after the last ONT in ascending order. The ascending delay modulo slot protocol becomes more efficient as the number of time slots per frame increases. If the number of time slots per frame is N, then the efficiency of the protocol is (N−1)/N. Unassigned time required per transmission frame is thereby reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a shortest path between a source node and a destination node in an optical network of nodes interconnected with optical transmission links is disclosed. A wavelength graph is used to represent an optical network as a set of electronic nodes and optical channel nodes corresponding to the network nodes with a set of internal links and optical channel links. The electronic node represents the electronic switching fabric that interconnects OEO equipment within a physical node. A single-source shortest path algorithm (e.g., Dijkstra's algorithm) is applied to the wavelength graph to determine a shortest path. The transformation of the network representation to include the electronic node greatly reduces the number of links in the wavelength graph and significantly increases the computational efficiency.

Abstract: A communications network includes a passive optical network (PON), plural user terminals and a central terminal coupled to the PON. Each user terminal includes an optical transmitter for transmitting an upstream signal in an optical channel dedicated to the user terminal and an optical receiver for receiving a shared downstream signal in a shared optical channel. The central terminal includes an optical transmitter for transmitting the shared downstream signal and plural optical receivers each receiving one of the dedicated upstream signals. The central terminal optical transmitter transmits the shared downstream signal in a shared optical channel at wavelength &lgr;0 and the user terminal optical transmitters transmit the upstream signals in dedicated optical channels at dedicated wavelengths &lgr;1 to &lgr;N, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system provide a unique communication and protocol between an optical line termination device and a plurality of optical network units sitting at different distances from the optical line termination device. The OLT determines the distance between it and each ONU and then requests communications from the ONUs in ascending order from nearest to farthest. The OLT also determines a time delayed period between the nearest ONU and the farthest ONU and awaits that time delay period before initiating subsequent ONU communication with the ONUs.

Abstract: A technique for delivering analog video over fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks addresses a fundamental problem of the standard signal format, i.e., power budget constraint, by increasing the usable optical signal efficiency. In particular, a technique is provided for transmitting an efficient modified analog video which is compatible with existing receivers. More specifically, the synchronization portion of a standard NTSC video signal is reduced in amplitude during transmission, producing an appreciable increase in the allowable optical modulation index (OMI).