Abstract: Provided is a precision metering and delivery apparatus and method of use for the precise distribution of viable pollen in diluent or other particulate material via metering and delivery of said pollen or other particulate material, said precision metering apparatus comprising a metering apparatus, a delivery system, and a storage device. Apparatuses of the present invention ensure that the pollen or other particulate material is not harmed during the delivery and that the pollen is applied in the correct density or amount.

Abstract: A system includes service management circuitry to dynamically deploy a plurality of service agents in response to dynamic assembly of a corresponding chain of services that each provide different service functionality. The different service functionality can be provided to an operational network device by different respective network devices over a network. The system can include network interface circuitry to transmit the service agents over the network to monitor performance of the respective network devices providing respective services included in the chain of services. The network interface circuitry can receive service performance information from each of the service agents. The performance information can include information indicative of the performance of the respective network devices. The service management circuitry can analyze the received service performance information and manage the chain of services.

Abstract: A system is described that improves network function virtualization. The system facilitates an access point, such as a customer premises equipment, to utilize functionality of another access point when providing communication service to a device at a customer premises. The other access point may be a customer premises equipment at a neighboring premises. The access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case the access point is in a power saving state. Alternatively or in addition, the access point may use the other neighboring access point based on bandwidth availability, processing capability, memory capacity, or other attributes, or a combination thereof of the neighboring access point. In yet another example, the access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case of a failure in connection between the access point and a network provider.

Abstract: A system is described that improves network function virtualization. The system facilitates an access point, such as a customer premises equipment, to utilize functionality of another access point when providing communication service to a device at a customer premises. The other access point may be a customer premises equipment at a neighboring premises. The access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case the access point is in a power saving state. Alternatively or in addition, the access point may use the other neighboring access point based on bandwidth availability, processing capability, memory capacity, or other attributes, or a combination thereof of the neighboring access point. In yet another example, the access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case of a failure in connection between the access point and a network provider.

Abstract: A remote device management, diagnostics, and self-installation architecture employs multiple wireless links, which may include a local wireless link and a remote wireless link. The architecture employs cellular channels for remote management of customer premises equipment (CPE). Within the architecture, test devices may operate on the CPE. As examples, the test devices may include a cellular radio, or the test devices may be in communication with another device that includes the cellular radio.

Abstract: A system and method for applying an extended multipoint control protocols to wireless access systems. A medium-to-medium adaptor can be provided in an adaptor node that can interface with an upstream optical line terminal in a PON domain and a downstream device in a non-PON wireless domain. The medium-to-medium adaptor enables an implementation of end-to-end services across multiple quality of service (QoS) domains by passing all traffic with controlled delay and without contention.

Abstract: A system includes service management circuitry to dynamically deploy a plurality of service agents in response to dynamic assembly of a corresponding chain of services that each provide different service functionality. The different service functionality can be provided to an operational network device by different respective network devices over a network. The system can include network interface circuitry to transmit the service agents over the network to monitor performance of the respective network devices providing respective services included in the chain of services. The network interface circuitry can receive service performance information from each of the service agents. The performance information can include information indicative of the performance of the respective network devices. The service management circuitry can analyze the received service performance information and manage the chain of services.

Abstract: A system is described that improves network function virtualization. The system facilitates an access point, such as a customer premises equipment, to utilize functionality of another access point when providing communication service to a device at a customer premises. The other access point may be a customer premises equipment at a neighboring premises. The access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case the access point is in a power saving state. Alternatively or in addition, the access point may use the other neighboring access point based on bandwidth availability, processing capability, memory capacity, or other attributes, or a combination thereof of the neighboring access point. In yet another example, the access point may utilize the neighboring access point in case of a failure in connection between the access point and a network provider.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying control data in a preamble. A control-data bearing preamble is defined to facilitate end-to-end labeling and control-data transport. This control-data bearing preamble provides a unified labeling scheme with minimal overhead, which facilitates greater ease in parsing. The control-data bearing preamble can be converted to/from other control/labeling schemes at the edge of the control-data bearing preamble aware portion of the network.

Abstract: A device for pre-emption in passive optical networks may include a first media access control (MAC) module configured to receive a first type of data traffic and transmit the first type of data traffic to a MAC merge module. The device may further include a second media access control (MAC) module configured to receive a second type of data traffic and transmit the second type of data traffic to the MAC merge module. The device may further include the MAC merge module configured to receive the first and second types of data traffic from the first and second MAC modules, respectively, and provide the first and second types of data traffic for transmission over a port. The MAC merge module may be configured to pre-empt the transmission of the first type of data traffic over the port in favor of the second type of data traffic.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for a probabilistic reporting mode, where an Optical Network Unit (ONU) sends a REPORT message only when it has data to transmit. The absence of a REPORT message from an ONU is treated by the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) as indicating absence of data to transmit at the ONU. In another aspect, embodiments include systems and methods for an unsolicited burst mode, where an ONU can be configured to transmit data in the upstream in an unsolicited manner. The unsolicited burst mode includes mechanisms to ensure that no data is lost due to potential collisions between ONUs.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to use of out-of-band (OOB) channels for the transport of network-synchronization signals and network control information. These OOB channels transport synchronization and control channels over low-frequency bands outside of the frequency bands used for the data channels. Locating expensive network-synchronization functions in the optical network unit (ONU) and sharing the derived synchronization signals among multiple downstream customer premises equipment (CPE) devices results in cost savings and provides a means for maintaining a continuous, end-to-end synchronization reference, even during periods when the data channels on the copper network segment are in an energy-efficiency mode (e.g., a low-power and/or sleep mode).

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for power saving using burst-mode transmission over point-to-point physical connections. In one embodiment, a physical layer device (PHY) is provided that includes a data detector that is configured to generate a first control signal upon receipt of a non-idle code group over an interface between the PHY and a media access control (MAC) device and to generate a second control signal when all data received from the MAC device has been transmitted by the physical layer device. The PHY also includes a laser for transmission of data over an optical network cable, the laser being configured to perform a first transition from an off state to an on state based on the first control signal, and to perform a second transition from the on state back to the off state based on the second control signal.

Abstract: A dynamic readjustment of an energy efficient network control policy parameters in an optical network unit based on a Service Interoperability in Ethernet Passive Optical Network (SIEPON) protocol. The access link between the OLT and ONU has distinct properties that can be used to enhance the energy efficiency control policy on the network facing side of the ONU. In one embodiment, an adjustment mechanism can be based on the receipt, by an optical interface in an ONU, of a control command from an upstream OLT, wherein the control command is configured to provide a limitation on an available time period during which the ONU can communicate with the OLT over an optical fiber cable.

Abstract: A service provisioning enabled management in Service Interoperability in Ethernet Passive Optical Network (SIEPON) switching subsystem. The delivery of network services to each of a plurality of subscribers coupled to an optical network unit (ONU) can be defined individually by the service provider. The service-specific functions within the ONU can be configured based on knowledge of the levels of provisioning of network services.

Abstract: A device for shared protection in an optical network may include a processor circuit. The processor circuit may be configured to transmit optical signals over an optical network port to a first set of optical network units (ONUs), receive an indication that an optical line terminal (OLT) is unavailable to service a second set of ONUs, transition to a protection operation mode from a normal operation mode in response to indication, and transmit optical signals over the optical network port to the first and second set of ONUs. The optical signals may include resource allocation information for at least some of the first and second set of ONUs. The device may operate as a working OLT for the first set of ONUs when in the normal operation mode. The device may operate as the working OLT for the first and second set of ONUs when in the protection operation mode.

Abstract: In general, the 1G-EPON standard specifies its upstream waveband broadly to allow for low cost lasers to be used to transmit upstream. Often, however, the lasers actually used by many 1G-ONUs to transmit upstream only occupy a narrow waveband that does not overlap with the upstream waveband specified by the 10G-EPON standard. The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods that exploit this fact to efficiently provide for the coexistence of 10G-EPON and 1G-EPON over the same set of optical fibers in the upstream direction.

Abstract: A system and method for Service Interoperability in Ethernet Passive Optical Network (SIEPON) energy saving statistics. Energy saving statistics can be collected from a plurality of subordinate nodes in a point-to-multipoint network through a mechanism that aggregates energy saving statistics as those energy saving statistics are reported upstream. Such aggregation of energy saving statistics can be advantageous in that the aggregated energy saving information can appear uncorrelated to individual subordinate nodes. Privacy concerns are thereby addressed.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for a probabilistic reporting mode, where an Optical Network Unit (ONU) sends a REPORT message only when it has data to transmit. The absence of a REPORT message from an ONU is treated by the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) as indicating absence of data to transmit at the ONU. In another aspect, embodiments include systems and methods for an unsolicited burst mode, where an ONU can be configured to transmit data in the upstream in an unsolicited manner. The unsolicited burst mode includes mechanisms to ensure that no data is lost due to potential collisions between ONUs.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a media access control (MAC) module facilitating operations of an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). The MAC module includes a frame formatter configured to generate a MAC control frame. The generated MAC control frame includes at least one of: an organizationally unique identifier (OUI) field, an QUI-specific operation code (opcode) field, and a number of fields associated with the QUI-specific opcode. Transmission of the MAC control frame facilitates realization of an EPON function based on the fields associated with the QUI-specific opcode.