Patent ID: 9148243
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising the steps of: allocating upstream bandwidth among optical network units in an optical communication network in which data is transmitted in a downstream direction from an optical line terminator to the optical network units and in an upstream direction from the optical network units to the optical line terminator; measuring usage of the allocated upstream bandwidth by the optical network units; processing the measured usage to determine a predicted variation in usage of upstream bandwidth by the optical network units; and altering the allocation of the upstream bandwidth based on the predicted variation; wherein portions of the predicted variation are associated with respective ones of the optical network units; wherein the predicted variation in usage of upstream bandwidth comprises an estimated gradient of bandwidth usage as a function of allocated upstream bandwidth; and wherein a portion of the estimated gradient associated with a given one of the optical network units is determined as a derivative of a sample function for that optical network unit.