TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate to optical networks in general and power conservation in optical networks in particular.

BACKGROUND

Optical networks are networks that use light waves, or optical signals, to carry data. Light sources such as lasers and LEDs generate optical signals; modulators modulate the optical signals with data to generate modulated optical signals; and various components transmit, propagate, amplify, receive, and process the modulated optical signals. Optical networks implement WDM and other forms of multiplexing to achieve high bandwidths. Optical networks implement data centers, metropolitan networks, PONs, longhauls, and other applications.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, an OLT comprises: a processor configured to: obtain optical powers associated with ONUs, and generate an instruction instructing a transmit order of transmissions based on the optical powers; a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the instruction to the ONUs; and a receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive the transmissions from the ONUs based on the instruction.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the OLT comprises an APD configured to measure the optical powers from bursts from the ONUs during prior messaging.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction is a super burst schedule in a header of a downstream PHY frame, and wherein the super burst schedule instructs the ONUs when to transmit.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmissions are upstream optical bursts.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a monotonic order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the third ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the second ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the third ONU within the super burst.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a pyramidal order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the second ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the third ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the second ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC offset.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC wander.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction further instructs the transmissions to be in a substantially continuous manner in a super burst.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the OLT is configured to enter a sleep mode during an idle period following the transmissions in the super burst.

In an embodiment, a method is implemented by an OLT, the method comprises: obtaining optical powers associated with ONUs; generating an instruction instructing a transmit order of transmissions based on the optical powers; transmitting the instruction to the ONUs; and receiving the transmissions from the ONUs based on the instruction.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the method further comprises measuring the optical powers from bursts from the ONUs during prior messaging.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction is a super burst schedule in a header of a downstream PHY frame, and wherein the super burst schedule instructs the ONUs when to transmit.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmissions are upstream optical bursts.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a monotonic order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the third ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the second ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the third ONU within the super burst.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a pyramidal order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the second ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the third ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the second ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC offset.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC wander.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction further instructs the transmissions to be in a substantially continuous manner in a super burst.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the method further comprises entering a sleep mode during an idle period following the transmissions in the super burst.

In an embodiment, a computer program product comprises computer executable commands stored on a non-transitory medium that when executed by a processor cause an OLT to: obtain optical powers associated with ONUs; generate an instruction instructing a transmit order of transmissions based on the optical powers; transmit the instruction to the ONUs; and receive the transmissions from the ONUs based on the instruction.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the commands further cause the OLT to measure the optical powers from bursts from the ONUs during prior messaging.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction is a super burst schedule in a header of a downstream PHY frame, and wherein the super burst schedule instructs the ONUs when to transmit.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmissions are upstream optical bursts.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a monotonic order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the third ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the second ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the third ONU within the super burst.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a pyramidal order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the second ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the third ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the second ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC offset.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC wander.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction further instructs the transmissions to be in a substantially continuous manner in a super burst.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the commands further cause the OLT to enter a sleep mode during an idle period following the transmissions in the super burst.

In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a receiver configured to receive an instruction instructing a transmit order of transmissions based on optical powers associated with ONUs; a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to process the instruction; and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit a transmission based on the instruction.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the apparatus is one of the ONUs, wherein the optical powers are of bursts from the ONUs during prior messaging.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction is a super burst schedule in a header of a downstream PHY frame, and wherein the super burst schedule instructs the ONUs when to transmit.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmissions are upstream optical bursts.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a monotonic order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the third ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the second ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the third ONU within the super burst, and wherein the apparatus is the first ONU, the second ONU, or the third ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a pyramidal order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the second ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the third ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the second ONU, and wherein the apparatus is the first ONU, the second ONU, or the third ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC offset.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC wander.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction further instructs the transmissions to be in a substantially continuous manner in a super burst.

In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving an instruction instructing a transmit order of transmissions based on optical powers associated with ONUs; processing the instruction; and transmitting a transmission based on the instruction.

In any of the preceding embodiments, one of the ONUs implements the method, wherein the optical powers are of bursts from the ONUs during prior messaging.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction is a super burst schedule in a header of a downstream PHY frame, and wherein the super burst schedule instructs the ONUs when to transmit.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmissions are upstream optical bursts.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a monotonic order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the third ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the second ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the third ONU within the super burst.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a pyramidal order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, and wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the second ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the third ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the second ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC offset.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC wander.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction further instructs the transmissions to be in a substantially continuous manner in a super burst.

In an embodiment, a computer program product comprises computer executable commands stored on a non-transitory medium that when executed by a processor cause an apparatus to: receive an instruction instructing a transmit order of transmissions based on optical powers associated with ONUs; process the instruction; and transmit a transmission based on the instruction.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the apparatus is one of the ONUs, wherein the optical powers are of bursts from the ONUs during prior messaging.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction is a super burst schedule in a header of a downstream PHY frame, and wherein the super burst schedule instructs the ONUs when to transmit.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmissions are upstream optical bursts.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a monotonic order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the third ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the second ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the third ONU within the super burst, and wherein the apparatus is the first ONU, the second ONU, or the third ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a pyramidal order of the optical powers.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the ONUs comprise a first ONU associated with a lowest optical power, a third ONU associated with a highest optical power, and a second ONU associated with an optical power between the lowest optical power and the highest optical power, wherein the transmit order is for the first ONU to transmit first within a super burst, the second ONU to transmit last within the super burst, and the third ONU to transmit between the first ONU and the second ONU, and wherein the apparatus is the first ONU, the second ONU, or the third ONU.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC offset.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the transmit order is further based on a DC wander.

In any of the preceding embodiments, the instruction further instructs the transmissions to be in a substantially continuous manner in a super burst.

In an embodiment, an OLT comprises: a receiver comprising: a SerDes TX; a DSP coupled to the SerDes TX; an ADC coupled to the DSP; and a TIA and AGC coupled to the ADC, wherein the OLT is configured to enter a sleep mode during an idle period of an upstream frame such that at least one of the SerDes TX, the DSP, the ADC, or the TIA and AGC powers off or goes to sleep.

In an embodiment, an OLT comprises: a transmitter comprising: a SerDes RX; a DSP coupled to the SerDes RX; an DAC coupled to the DSP; and a LD coupled to the DAC, wherein the OLT is configured to enter a sleep mode during an idle period of a downstream frame such that at least one of the SerDes RX, the DSP, the DAC, or the LD powers off, goes to sleep, or reduces its functionality.

In any of the preceding embodiments, at least one of a bias, an output power, or cooling of the LD reduces during the idle period.

In any of the preceding embodiments, at least one of the DSP, the DAC, or the LD powers off or goes to sleep during the idle period.

Any of the above embodiments may be combined with any of the other above embodiments to create a new embodiment. These and other features will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

