Abstract: An IDLE insertion technique maps MPCP time onto an EPoC PHY. The techniques address the variability of bandwidth due to bit loading over time. The techniques allow MPCP time to follow wall time at the MAC layer while tracking bytes at the PMD layer. The techniques also facilitate use of the EPON MAC with few changes in an EPoC environment. The bandwidth allocation messages may follow the same format as in EPON, and the techniques may implement IDLE insertion that accounts for EPoC PHY FEC overhead and datarate differences compared to the MAC.

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: 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 reduced latency reporting in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). Gate messages can be generated by a bridged fiber coax unit (FCU) in response to a first report message from a coax network unit (CNU). A second report message including a request for bandwidth can be transmitted to the optical line terminal (OLT) prior to receipt of upstream data at the FCU.

Abstract: An IDLE insertion technique maps MPCP time onto an EPoC PHY. The techniques address the variability of bandwidth due to bit loading over time. The techniques allow MPCP time to follow wall time at the MAC layer while tracking bytes at the PMD layer. The techniques also facilitate use of the EPON MAC with few changes in an EPoC environment. The bandwidth allocation messages may follow the same format as in EPON, and the techniques may implement IDLE insertion that accounts for EPoC PHY FEC overhead and datarate differences compared to the MAC.

Abstract: A system and method for reduced latency reporting in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). Gate messages can be generated by a bridged fiber coax unit (FCU) in response to a first report message from a coax network unit (CNU). A second report message including a request for bandwidth can be transmitted to the optical line terminal (OLT) prior to receipt of upstream data at the FCU.

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: Embodiments of an apparatus including a user network interface configured to receive from a network a packet to be transmitted upstream over a PON are provided herein. The packet is marked with a first category type or a second category type. The apparatus further includes an upstream first in, first out (FIFO) queue configured to store the packet if the packet is marked with the first category type or the second category type.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for maintaining sub-queues at an ONU and for maintaining a count of an amount of data stored in each sub-queue or a count of an amount of data associated with elements stored in each sub-queue. The sub-queues represent partitions in a first in, first out (FIFO) queue used by the ONU to buffer packets, or elements that are associated with packets, to be sent upstream. The sub-queues are coupled in series such that the output of a first sub-queue feeds the input of a second sub-queue, the output of the second sub-queue feeds the input of a third sub-queue, etc. Each sub-queue has a defined threshold that sets a maximum amount of packet data it can buffer or the elements in which it buffers can be associated with.

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: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide an upstream rate between 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps in a cost effective manner in a 10 GEPON. In an embodiment, an optical network unit (ONU) transmitter includes a burst transceiver and a physical layer (PHY) including a high performance digital to analog converter (DAC), a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) module configured to encode end user data using a modulation scheme having more than two levels, and a laser. The ONU transmitter transmits the encoded end user data to an optical line terminal (OLT) receiver, which demodulates the data using a PAM demodulator and sends it to a service provider.

Abstract: Embodiments of a scalable optical network unit (ONU) architecture for multi-dwelling units (MDUs) that has a low initial cost (or first port cost) and a low maintenance cost are provided herein. The ONU architecture is scalable in that a growing number of end users can share a single drop fiber that couples the ONU to a passive optical network. The ONU architecture utilizes a multiplexer module to allow the ONU to be daisy chained with one or more additional ONUs.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for maintaining sub-queues at an ONU and for maintaining a count of an amount of data stored in each sub-queue or a count of an amount of data associated with elements stored in each sub-queue. The sub-queues represent partitions in a first in, first out (FIFO) queue used by the ONU to buffer packets, or elements that are associated with packets, to be sent upstream. The sub-queues are coupled in series such that the output of a first sub-queue feeds the input of a second sub-queue, the output of the second sub-queue feeds the input of a third sub-queue, etc. Each sub-queue has a defined threshold that sets a maximum amount of packet data it can buffer or the elements in which it buffers can be associated with.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus including a user network interface configured to receive from a network a packet to be transmitted upstream over a PON are provided herein. The packet is marked with a first category type or a second category type. The apparatus further includes an upstream first in, first out (FIFO) queue configured to store the packet if the packet is marked with the first category type or the second category type.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide an upstream rate between 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps in a cost effective manner in a 10GEPON. In an embodiment, an optical network unit (ONU) transmitter includes a burst transceiver and a physical layer (PHY) including a high performance digital to analog converter (DAC), a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) module configured to encode end user data using a modulation scheme having more than two levels, and a laser. The ONU transmitter transmits the encoded end user data to an optical line terminal (OLT) receiver, which demodulates the data using a PAM demodulator and sends it to a service provider.

Abstract: Embodiments of a scalable optical network unit (ONU) architecture for multi-dwelling units (MDUs) that has a low initial cost (or first port cost) and a low maintenance cost are provided herein. The ONU architecture is scalable in that a growing number of end users can share a single drop fiber that couples the ONU to a passive optical network. The ONU architecture utilizes a multiplexer module to allow the ONU to be daisy chained with one or more additional ONUs.

Abstract: A flyback converter using a commercially available voltage regulator with protection mode includes a bypass resistor between the input and output of the voltage regulator to drain charge from the input stage during powerup thereby preventing the regulator from locking in protection mode.