Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a network processor for processing high volumes of traffic provided by todays access networks at (or near) wireline speeds. The network process can be implemented within a residential gateway to perform, among other functions, routing to deliver high speed data services (e.g., data services with rates up to 10 Gbit/s) from a wide area network (WAN) to end user devices in a local area network (LAN).

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a network processor for processing high volumes of traffic provided by todays access networks at (or near) wireline speeds. The network process can be implemented within a residential gateway to perform, among other functions, routing to deliver high speed data services (e.g., data services with rates up to 10 Gbit/s) from a wide area network (WAN) to end user devices in a local area network (LAN).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing memory of a passive optical network (PON) are provided herein. The method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of data packets from a stream of packets. A plurality of packet descriptors associated with each data packet is stored in a configurable first queue. The first queue includes a plurality of cache slots and is managed in an internal memory. A state of the first queue is identified. In response to the state of the first queue meeting a predetermined threshold, packet descriptors from a tail cache slot of the first queue are transferred to a second queue. The second queue is managed in an external memory.

Abstract: A network processor for performing residential gateway processing tasks. The network processor includes a first cluster of packet processors and a second cluster of packet processors, wherein each of the first cluster and the second cluster includes a main packet processor and a secondary packet processor, wherein the main packet processor performs at least routing of incoming packets and the secondary packet processor performs off-loading tasks for the main packet processor; a plurality of Ethernet media access control (MAC) adapters for interfacing with a plurality of subscriber devices connected to a residential gateway; an external-network MAC adapter for interfacing with a wide area network (WAN) connected to the network processor; and an ingress handler for at least load balancing the processing of packets between the first cluster and the second cluster.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing memory of a passive optical network (PON) are provided herein. The method includes the steps of receiving a plurality of data packets from a stream of packets. A plurality of packet descriptors associated with each data packet is stored in a configurable first queue. The first queue includes a plurality of cache slots and is managed in an internal memory. A state of the first queue is identified. In response to the state of the first queue meeting a predetermined threshold, packet descriptors from a tail cache slot of the first queue are transferred to a second queue. The second queue is managed in an external memory.

Abstract: A passive optical network (PON) processor comprises a packet processor for processing packets belonging to a certain flow through a plurality of processing stages of a programmable data-path; a microprocessor-data for performing one or more user-defined functions in the programmable data-path on designated packets belonging to the certain flow, wherein packets of respective flows to be processed by the microprocessor-data are designated in a flow table; a microprocessor-control for managing connections handled by the PON processor; a data-path bus for connecting the packet processor and the microprocessor-data, wherein the designated packets are transferred between the packet processor and the microprocessor-data on the data-path bus; and a control-path bus for connecting the packet processor and the microprocessor-control.

Abstract: A network processor for performing residential gateway processing tasks. The network processor includes a first cluster of packet processors and a second cluster of packet processors, wherein each of the first cluster and the second cluster includes a main packet processor and a secondary packet processor, wherein the main packet processor performs at least routing of incoming packets and the secondary packet processor performs off-loading tasks for the main packet processor; a plurality of Ethernet media access control (MAC) adapters for interfacing with a plurality of subscriber devices connected to a residential gateway; an external-network MAC adapter for interfacing with a wide area network (WAN) connected to the network processor; and an ingress handler for at least load balancing the processing of packets between the first cluster and the second cluster.

Abstract: A method for multicasting packets in a passive optical network (PON) residential gateway. The method comprises storing a payload portion of an input packet in a memory; duplicating a header of the input packet to create duplicate headers as the number of destination end-point devices; modifying each of the duplicated header to uniquely designate an output interface of an Ethernet medium access (MAC) adapter coupled to at least one of the destination endpoint devices; passing to the Ethernet MAC adapter its respective modified header together with a pointer to a location of the payload portion in the memory; generating a multicast packet by retrieving the payload portion from the memory and attaching the modified header to the payload portion; and transmitting the multicast packet to the destination endpoint device coupled to the Ethernet MAC adapter.

Abstract: A passive optical network (PON) processor comprises a packet processor for processing packets belonging to a certain flow through a plurality of processing stages of a programmable data-path; a microprocessor-data for performing one or more user-defined functions in the programmable data-path on designated packets belonging to the certain flow, wherein packets of respective flows to be processed by the microprocessor-data are designated in a flow table; a microprocessor-control for managing connections handled by the PON processor; a data-path bus for connecting the packet processor and the microprocessor-data, wherein the designated packets are transferred between the packet processor and the microprocessor-data on the data-path bus; and a control-path bus for connecting the packet processor and the microprocessor-control.

Abstract: An optical line terminal (OLT) performs power management control in a passive optical network (PON) by acquiring a respective reception level for each optical network unit (ONU) in the PON and maintaining a reception table that stores the respective reception level for each ONU. Prior to receiving a burst signal from an ONU, it sets a reception threshold of an optical receiver at the OLT with the reception level of the ONU.

Abstract: A gigabit passive optical network (GPON) residential gateway comprising a microprocessor for at least processing packets including voice data and packets including video data; dual packet processors for performing GPON and residential gateway processing tasks; a plurality of Ethernet media access control (MAC) adapters for interfacing with a plurality of subscriber devices; a GPON MAC adapter for interfacing with an optical line terminal (OLT) of the GPON; and a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing voice signals.

Abstract: A gigabit passive optical network (GPON) residential gateway comprising a microprocessor for at least processing packets including voice data and packets including video data; dual packet processors for performing GPON and residential gateway processing tasks; a plurality of Ethernet media access control (MAC) adapters for interfacing with a plurality of subscriber devices; a GPON MAC adapter for interfacing with an optical line terminal (OLT) of the GPON; and a digital signal processor (DSP) for processing voice signals.

Abstract: A method for multicasting packets in a passive optical network (PON) residential gateway. The method comprises storing a payload portion of an input packet in a memory; duplicating a header of the input packet to create duplicate headers as the number of destination end-point devices; modifying each of the duplicated header to uniquely designate an output interface of an Ethernet medium access (MAC) adapter coupled to at least one of the destination endpoint devices; passing to the Ethernet MAC adapter its respective modified header together with a pointer to a location of the payload portion in the memory; generating a multicast packet by retrieving the payload portion from the memory and attaching the modified header to the payload portion; and transmitting the multicast packet to the destination endpoint device coupled to the Ethernet MAC adapter.

Abstract: An optical line terminal (OLT) performs power management control in a passive optical network (PON) by acquiring a respective reception level for each optical network unit (ONU) in the PON and maintaining a reception table that stores the respective reception level for each ONU. Prior to receiving a burst signal from an ONU, it sets a reception threshold of an optical receiver at the OLT with the reception level of the ONU.