Patent · US Active

Low-energy optical network architecture

US8879914B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 23, 2011
Grant dateNov 4, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 6, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2011/0086
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling traffic in an optical network having a plurality of OLTs for communicating with a plurality of PONs. A traffic controller receives traffic information concerning current traffic volume and, preferably with reference to a rules database, calculates the number of OLTs required to support the current traffic volume. A separate determination may be made whether a network reconfiguration is permitted at this time. If a reconfiguration is permitted, the traffic controller configures a traffic control switch to route the PON traffic to an from only the calculated number of OLTs. The traffic control switch may be implemented using a voltage-controlled optical fiber coupling or electronically, routing the traffic as electrical signals to and from electro-optical converters associated with each PON. The OLTs to be used may be selected by the traffic controller. The method and apparatus may also be used for fault management to route PON traffic through operational components when a failure of other components in the network is detected.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.