Patent ID: 7382739
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for discovering remote nodes in an Ethernet passive optical network which includes a central node and at least one remote node, wherein downstream data from the central node is broadcast to the remote nodes, and wherein upstream data from each remote node is transmitted to the central node in a unicast manner, the method comprising: receiving a solicitation message from the central node, wherein the solicitation message includes a time stamp indicating the solicitation message's transmission time and assigns a starting time and size for a discovery slot in which the remote node is allowed to transmit a response message to the central node for registration; setting a local time at the remote node according to the received time stamp; and after a random delay from the beginning of the discovery slot, transmitting the response message to the central node during the discovery slot with a response transmission probability that is less than or equal to one.