Multi-PON access network using a coarse AWG for smooth migration from TDM to WDM PON

Abstract

An interoperable access network architecture based on a coarse array waveguide grating (AWG) is described, displaying dynamic wavelength assignment to manage the network load across multiple PONs. The multi-PON architecture utilizes coarse Gaussian channels of an AWG to facilitate scalability and smooth migration path between TDM and WDM PONs. Network simulations of a cross-operational protocol platform confirmed successful routing of individual PON clusters through 7 nm-wide passband windows of the AWG. Furthermore, polarization-dependent wavelength shift and phase errors of the device proved not to impose restrain on the routing performance. Optical transmission tests at 2.5 Gbit/s for distances up to 20 km are demonstrated.

PON topologies for dynamic optical access networks

“…It has been previously established that PDW shift of up to 1.8 nm could potentially impose a restriction in multi-wavelength operation over wide-passband AWG channels and therefore limit the routing performance of the entire network [2,5]. Figure 2(a) displays the measured PDL versus operating wavelength at PDW shifts of 0, 1.5 and 1.8 nm using VPI physical layer simulation platform.…”

“…The need for convergence of wired and low-cost wireless technologies in the access network, providing end users with connection flexibility and mobility, is being explored by investigating the interoperability of the multi-PON architecture [2] with WiMAX. This could offer network resilience in case of fibre failure to individual ONUs through the use of overlapping WiMAX cells while allow for efficient dynamic resource allocation to base-station-ONUs of a TDM-PON to provide additional WiMAX channels by means of a centralised signal processing approach in the OLT.…”

“…Passive optical networks (PONs) offer currently more opportunities to communicate these services than ever before, with potential connection speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s in mind [1]. A scalable multi-PON access network architecture [2] has been investigated in that direction to provide interoperability among dynamic time division multiplexing (TDM) and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-PONs through coarse WDM (CWDM) routing in the optical line terminal (OLT). To provide bandwidth on demand, a novel TDM dynamic minimum bandwidth (DMB) allocation protocol and an upgraded version have been proposed to achieve quality of service (QoS) at three different service levels and diverse network throughputs [3].…”

“…To provide bandwidth on demand, a novel TDM dynamic minimum bandwidth (DMB) allocation protocol and an upgraded version have been proposed to achieve quality of service (QoS) at three different service levels and diverse network throughputs [3]. In addition, to allow for WDM-PON resource allocation, to overcome the inevitable network congestion of single wavelength networks, the developed medium access control (MAC) protocols have been extended to implement logical point-to-point topologies based on general loop-back WDM-PON architectures [2] to increase service provisioning between reflective optical network units (ONUs) and the OLT by vigorously distributing network capacity simultaneously between the upstream and downstream.…”

Hybrid wavelength division multiplexing/time domain multiplexed (WDM/TDM) using radio over fiber technique with 16QAM at 2.5 Gbps

“…Each optical network unit (ONU) was assigned a wavelength for a particular time slot that connects to the optical line terminal (OLT), providing a comprehensive insight into the most relevant protection mechanisms for hybrid WDM/TDM PONs (Abhishek et al, 2012), where the architecture provided support to TDMPONs only. In Shachaf et al (2007), the authors proposed a hybrid WDM/TDM-PON that used tunable lasers in the OLT. A coarse array waveguide grating (AWG) was used to support multiple TDM and WDM-PONs by using a *Corresponding author.…”