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: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates multiplexing low-speed Ethernet channels onto a high-speed channel. During operation, the system receives a number of low-speed Ethernet channels. Next, the system derives N bit streams from the number of low-speed Ethernet channels, and feeds each bit stream to an input of a serializer, which is conventionally used to serialize bits from a single channel. Each input of the serializer comprises one bit of an N-bit-wide parallel input bus, and the data rate of the serializer output matches the data rate of the high-speed channel. The system then transmits the output of the serializer onto the high-speed channel.

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.

Abstract: A system to convert upstream burst mode data into continuous mode data in a passive optical network (PON) is provided herein. The system includes a burst mode Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) that recovers a clock and burst mode data from an Optical Network Unit (ONU). The burst mode unit recovers the burst mode data based on a start time of burst mode data transmission by the ONU and a round-trip time between the ONU and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The system further includes a continuous mode SerDes that is coupled to the burst mode SerDes. The continuous mode SerDes is configured to receive the recovered clock and recovered burst mode data from the burst mode SerDes and convert the burst mode data into continuous mode data by buffering and padding the burst mode data based on the recovered clock. The continuous mode Serdes is configured to transmit the continuous mode data to the OLT.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a pluggable optical line terminal (OLT). The OLT includes a bi-directional optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from a number of optical network units (ONUs), an OLT chip coupled to the optical transceiver and configured to communicate with the ONUs through the optical transceiver, and a pluggable interface coupled to the OLT chip and configured to electrically interface between the OLT chip and a piece of network equipment. The optical transceiver, the OLT chip, and the pluggable interface are contained in an enclosure complying with a form factor, thereby allowing the pluggable OLT to be directly plugged into the network equipment.

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: One embodiment provides a system for performance monitoring in a passive optic network (PON). The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU). The OLT includes an optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from the ONU, and a performance monitoring mechanism configured to monitor performance of the PON based on received optical signals.

Abstract: A system to convert upstream burst mode data into continuous mode data in a passive optical network (PON) is provided herein. The system includes a burst mode Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) that recovers a clock and burst mode data from an Optical Network Unit (ONU). The burst mode unit recovers the burst mode data based on a start time of burst mode data transmission by the ONU and a round-trip time between the ONU and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The system further includes a continuous mode SerDes that is coupled to the burst mode SerDes. The continuous mode SerDes is configured to receive the recovered clock and recovered burst mode data from the burst mode SerDes and convert the burst mode data into continuous mode data by buffering and padding the burst mode data based on the recovered clock. The continuous mode Serdes is configured to transmit the continuous mode data to the OLT.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates multiplexing low-speed Ethernet channels onto a high-speed channel. During operation, the system receives a number of low-speed Ethernet channels. Next, the system derives N bit streams from the number of low-speed Ethernet channels, and feeds each bit stream to an input of a serializer, which is conventionally used to serialize bits from a single channel. Each input of the serializer comprises one bit of an N-bit-wide parallel input bus, and the data rate of the serializer output matches the data rate of the high-speed channel. The system then transmits the output of the serializer onto the high-speed channel.

Abstract: A system to convert upstream burst mode data into continuous mode data in a passive optical network (PON) is provided herein. The system includes a burst mode Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) that recovers a clock and burst mode data from an Optical Network Unit (ONU). The burst mode unit recovers the burst mode data based on a start time of burst mode data transmission by the ONU and a round-trip time between the ONU and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The system further includes a continuous mode SerDes that is coupled to the burst mode SerDes. The continuous mode SerDes is configured to receive the recovered clock and recovered burst mode data from the burst mode SerDes and convert the burst mode data into continuous mode data by buffering and padding the burst mode data based on the recovered clock. The continuous mode Serdes is configured to transmit the continuous mode data to the OLT.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for performance monitoring in a passive optic network (PON). The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU). The OLT includes an optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from the ONU, and a performance monitoring mechanism configured to monitor performance of the PON based on received optical signals.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates multiplexing low-speed Ethernet channels onto a high-speed channel. During operation, the system receives a number of low-speed Ethernet channels. Next, the system derives N bit streams from the number of low-speed Ethernet channels, and feeds each bit stream to an input of a serializer, which is conventionally used to serialize bits from a single channel. Each input of the serializer comprises one bit of an N-bit-wide parallel input bus, and the data rate of the serializer output matches the data rate of the high-speed channel. The system then transmits the output of the serializer onto the high-speed channel.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for performance monitoring in a passive optic network (PON). The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU). The OLT includes an optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from the ONU, and a performance monitoring mechanism configured to monitor performance of the PON based on received optical signals.

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 OUI-specific operation code (opcode) field, and a number of fields associated with the OUI-specific opcode. Transmission of the MAC control frame facilitates realization of an EPON function based on the fields associated with the OUI-specific opcode.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a pluggable optical line terminal (OLT). The OLT includes a bi-directional optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from a number of optical network units (ONUs), an OLT chip coupled to the optical transceiver and configured to communicate with the ONUs through the optical transceiver, and a pluggable interface coupled to the OLT chip and configured to electrically interface between the OLT chip and a piece of network equipment. The optical transceiver, the OLT chip, and the pluggable interface are contained in an enclosure complying with a form factor, thereby allowing the pluggable OLT to be directly plugged into the network equipment.

Abstract: A system to convert upstream burst mode data into continuous mode data in a passive optical network (PON) is provided herein. The system includes a burst mode Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) that recovers a clock and burst mode data from an Optical Network Unit (ONU). The burst mode unit recovers the burst mode data based on a start time of burst mode data transmission by the ONU and a round-trip time between the ONU and an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The system further includes a continuous mode SerDes that is coupled to the burst mode SerDes. The continuous mode SerDes is configured to receive the recovered clock and recovered burst mode data from the burst mode SerDes and convert the burst mode data into continuous mode data by buffering and padding the burst mode data based on the recovered clock. The continuous mode Serdes is configured to transmit the continuous mode data to the OLT.

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 OUI-specific operation code (opcode) field, and a number of fields associated with the OUI-specific opcode. Transmission of the MAC control frame facilitates realization of an EPON function based on the fields associated with the OUI-specific opcode.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for performance monitoring in a passive optic network (PON). The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU). The OLT includes an optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from the ONU, and a performance monitoring mechanism configured to monitor performance of the PON based on received optical signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a small form factor, pluggable ONU, which includes a bi-directional optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from an OLT. The ONU further includes an ONU chip coupled to the optical transceiver and configured to communicate with the OLT. Also included is a pluggable interface configured to electrically interface between the ONU chip and a piece of subscriber premise equipment (SPE). The ONU includes a power management module to provide power to the ONU chip and the optical transceiver, using power delivered from the SPE through the pluggable interface. The ONU is enclosed a small form factor enclosure, thereby allowing the pluggable ONU to be directly plugged into the SPE and providing an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) uplink to the SPE without requiring an separate power supply.

Abstract: The present invention provides a small form factor, pluggable ONU, which includes a bi-directional optical transceiver configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from an OLT. The ONU further includes an ONU chip coupled to the optical transceiver and configured to communicate with the OLT. Also included is a pluggable interface configured to electrically interface between the ONU chip and a piece of subscriber premise equipment (SPE). The ONU includes a power management module to provide power to the ONU chip and the optical transceiver, using power delivered from the SPE through the pluggable interface. The ONU is enclosed a small form factor enclosure, thereby allowing the pluggable ONU to be directly plugged into the SPE and providing an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) uplink to the SPE without requiring an separate power supply.