Merging multiple data flows in a passive optical network
US7586920B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 2004 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5665
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to techniques for merging multiple data flows in a Passive Optical Network (PON). The PON comprises an interface module and a plurality of network nodes connected to the interface module via an optical fiber link. Each of the network nodes further serves client devices. The client devices request multiple data flows, requiring the interface module to serve multiple data flows to a network node for delivery to the devices. The interface module merges received data flows to permit multiple flows to be processed by a single segmentation and reassembly (SAR) engine, reducing hardware cost and complexity within the node. However, subunits associated with different data flows within a merged data flow are not interleaved with one another. Instead, the subunits associated with an original unit of information are transmitted contiguously within the merged data flow, facilitating identification and reassembly of the subunits for a particular microflow.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.