Abstract:
A central-office termination apparatus includes plural termination devices and a termination device distributor. Each termination device includes a buffer, a subscriber-terminal terminator distributor and a scheduler. The buffer has a through queue and one or more switching queues. The subscriber-terminal terminator distributor transfers a packet meant for one subscriber-terminal terminator under switching to the switching queue, and transfers another packet meant for another subscriber-terminal terminator not under switching to the through queue. The scheduler reads out packets from the switching and through queues. The termination device distributor transfers a received packet to a termination device having the subscriber-terminal terminator registered for which that packet is meant.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a central-office termination apparatus capable of adaptively changing connection to a subscriber-terminal terminator and a path switching method of changing connection between a subscriber-terminal terminator and central-office termination apparatuses. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0004]    Recently, in order to provide high-speed broadband service to private premises, services, called an FTTH (Fiber To The Home), using optical fiber transmission lines in transmission channels has been developed. In the provision of the broadband services using the FTTH, an optical access network called a passive optical network (PON) for subscriber terminals is frequently applied. 
         [0005]    The PON is configured so that a single central-office termination apparatus, e.g. an optical line terminal (OLT) and a plurality of subscriber-terminal terminators, e.g. optical network units (ONUs) are connected by means of a single optical cable split by an optical passive device called an optical splitter or coupler. In the PON, the optical fiber or OLT is commonly used by a plurality of subscriber terminals to economically provide the FTTH services. 
         [0006]    As a sort of PON, there is so-called 10-Gigabit Ethernet (Trademark) PON (10G-EPON) as referred to in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), Std 802.3av-2009. In that sort of PON, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technique is applied to communication from ONUs to an OLT, i.e. upstream communication, in order to avoid collision of signals transmitted from the ONUs with each other. The PON using the TDMA technique is often called a TDM-PON. 
         [0007]    In response to prospective increase of communication demand in optical access networks, research and development are conducted on a WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing)/TDM-PON as one of the next generation PONs using transmission rate exceeding 10 Gbps. The WDM/TDM-PON constructs a plurality of TDM-PONs on a single PON infrastructure by the WDM technique, as refer to Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2011-55407. By means of the TWDM-PON, the transmission capacity of the PON infrastructure can be increased. 
         [0008]    The OLT in the TWDM-PON disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2011-55407 is provided with a plurality of optical transmitter/receivers and a controller for controlling the TWDM-PON. The optical transmitter/receivers are connected to a plurality of ONUs via an optical coupler. 
         [0009]    In the upstream communication, receiving wavelengths are fixedly allocated to the optical transmitter/receivers of the OLT so as not to overlap with each other between the optical transmitter/receivers. In that solution, the transmission wavelengths of optical transmitter/receivers of the ONU are adapted changeable, thereby adaptively switching connections between the optical transmitter/receivers of the OLT and the ONU. In a downstream communication from the OLT to the ONU, likewise the upstream communication, the transmission wavelengths are fixedly allocated to the optical transmitter/receivers of the OLT, and the reception wavelengths of the optical transmitter/receivers of the ONU are adapted changeable, thereby adaptively switching connections between the optical transmitter/receivers of the OLT and the ONU. Thus, the TWDM-PON is advantageous in load distribution responsive to traffic fluctuation, higher reliability by path switching diversity during failure and power saving by sleep of the optical transmitter/receivers and device circuitry during low load. 
         [0010]    In the TWDM-PON, when the connections of the OLT to the ONUs are adaptively switched in the downstream communication, the switching of the optical transmitter/receivers of the OLT and the switching of the reception wavelengths of the ONU are carried out. During a switching period of time until the reception wavelength of the ONU is switched to a new wavelength, the ONU cannot receive a packet of the downstream communication, i.e. downstream packet. However, in a multimedia application, it is preferable that packet loss would not occur during the switching period of time, and thus uninterrupted switching process is required. 
         [0011]    Therefore, in order to avoid packet loss in the downstream communication during the switching period of time, it is necessary that the ONUs are adapted for buffering packets meant for that ONU currently under switching. 
         [0012]    In a solution proposed for buffering inputted packets and switching a communication path, a buffer is arranged at the stage in front of a switch for switching a path and the switch switches the path in accordance with the destinations of inputted packets, refer to Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 229404/1998. 
         [0013]    In the TWDM-PON, the OLT identifies downstream packets in terms of respective ONUs, and then, distributes the packets to optical transmitter/receivers to which the transmission wavelengths corresponding to the reception wavelengths of the respective ONUs are allocated. 
         [0014]    When the configuration disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 229404/1998 is applied to carrying out uninterrupted path switching in the TWDM-PON, it would be necessary to provide the buffers at the stage in front of the switch correspondingly in number to the ONUs contained in the TWDM-PON. Therefore, if a lot of ONUs are contained in the system, circuit scale is increased. Since the buffer needs its capacity sufficient for storing packets receivable during the switching period of time, if the time for the switching is lengthened, it would be necessary to increase the buffer capacity. The increase of the circuit scale or the buffer capacity would cause a problem in implementing the system. 
         [0015]    By contrast, in a system to which a common buffer scheme commonly using a buffer is applied, as the number of the contained ONUs is increased, information for managing addresses of the buffer would be increased. Therefore, if a lot of ONUs are contained in the system, a memory with large capacity is required specifically for managing the addresses, thus also causing a problem in implementing the system. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an OLT capable of adaptively changing connection to an ONU, and a path switching method of adaptively changing connection between an ONU and an OLT, free from packet loss even when many ONUs are contained in the system, without increase of circuit scale. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the present invention, a central-office termination apparatus, or an optical line terminal (OLT), comprises a plurality of termination devices, or optical subscriber units (OSUs), and an OSU distributor. Each of the OSUs includes a buffer, a subscriber-terminal terminator distributor, or an optical network unit (ONU) distributor, and a scheduler. The buffer includes a through queue and one or more switching queues. The ONU distributor transfers a packet destined for one ONU under switching to the switching queue, and transfers another packet destined for another ONU not under switching to the through queue. The scheduler reads out packets from the switching and through queues. The OSU distributor transfers a received packet to an OSU having the ONU registered for which the packet is destined. 
         [0018]    Further in accordance with the invention, a path switching method to be performed in a telecommunications network provided with the above-described OLT comprises the following steps. The OSU distributor changes an OSU, to which a packet destined for the ONU under switching is to be sent, from the OSU on which the ONU under switching is registered, to an OSU on which the ONU under switching is to be registered. The ONU distributor provided in the OSU on which the ONU under switching is to be registered references a learning table, and transfers, when the ONU under switching has been learned, a packet destined for the ONU to a process queue that has been learned, or transfers, when the ONU under switching has not been learned, the packet destined for the ONU to a process queue not in use to register the process queue on the learning table. After a packet destined for the ONU under switching and stored in the OSU on which the ONU under switching is registered has run out, the OSU to which the OSU on which the ONU under switching has been registered is switched starts transmission of a packet destined for the ONU under switching. After the packet destined for the ONU under switching and stored in the process queue has run out, the ONU under switching is released from the learning table, and a packet is transmitted via the through queue. 
         [0019]    According to the present invention, the OLT and path switching method can restrain or minimize the number of the ONUs on which the switching can simultaneously be carried out, and provide the switching queues holding packets during the switching fewer in number than the ONUs contained in the system. 
         [0020]    In addition, since the number of the queues is reduced, the memory capacity required for address management of the buffer can be reduced. Accordingly, uninterruptedly switchable OLTs can be economically provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram showing a TWDM-PON according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an OSU in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram useful for understanding a path switching method in the preferred embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of the content of the LLID identifier table shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate examples of the content at times I and II of the LLID allocation table shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0027]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C illustrate examples of the content at times I, III and IV of the learning table showing in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    An illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the figures. The figures conceptually or schematically show the constituent elements to the extent to which the invention is understandable. The preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with the numerical or other conditions as preferred exemplification. Therefore, the present invention is not to be understood restrictive to the specific embodiment or examples. Those skilled in the art may change or modify the illustrative embodiment so as to accomplish the advantages of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In the figures, part of the circuitry not directly relevant to understanding of the present invention is not shown, and detailed description thereof will not be made in order to avoid redundancy. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , an example of the configuration of a TWDM-PON including an OLT of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram showing the TWDM-PON. The TWDM-PON is an optical access network using a PON system. In the TWDM-PON, downstream signals from the OLT to ONUs and upstream signals from the ONUs to the OLT are transmitted and received. The upstream and downstream signals include data signals transmitted/received between an upper-side or host network, not shown, connected to the OLT and a user terminal, not shown, connected to the ONU, and a control signal for use in establishing a PON link. Hereinafter, the data signal (often referred to as a downstream packet) contained in the downstream signal will be mainly described, and the control signals contained in the upstream and downstream signals will not so often focused. 
         [0030]    The TWDM-PON 10 includes a single OLT  100 , a plurality of ONUs  300   a  to  300   m , where m is an integer equal to or more than two, and an optical splitter  400  serving as an optical passive element. The OLT  100  and optical splitter  400 , as well as the ONU  300   a  to  300   m  and optical splitter  400  are respectively interconnected by optical fiber lines  30   a  to  30   n , and  32   a  to  32   m.    
         [0031]    The OLT  100  includes an LLID (Logical Link Identification) identifier  110 , an OSU (Optical Subscriber unit) distributor  120 , a plurality of OSUs  200   a  to  200   n , where n is an integer equal to or more than two, a plurality of optical transmitter  130   a  to  130   n  and an OLT controller  140 , which are interconnected as illustrated. 
         [0032]    The LLID identifier  110  is connected to the OSU distributor  120 . The LLID identifier  110  reads information of a downstream packet  12  inputted from the upper-side network to identify an ONU for which the packet is to be destined. For instance, as the identifying information of a downstream packet  12 , a virtual LAN (VLAN) ID (VID) contained in a packet (frame) of Ethernet (Trademark) may be used. Note that signals, data or packets are designated with the reference numerals of connections on which they are conveyed. The LLID identifier  110  has an LLID identification table  112  for use in correlating a VID with an LLID. Basically, LLIDs are correlated with connected ONUs on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, the LLID identifier  110  can use the LLID identification table  112  to identify a destined ONU  300  from the VID of a downstream packet  12 . The LLID identifier  110  adds to the downstream packet the LLID correlated with the ONU  300  for which the packet is destined and transfers as the downstream packet  14  to the OSU distributor  120 . 
         [0033]    The OSU distributor  120  is connected to the plurality of OSUs  200   a  to  200   n  through signal lines  16   a  to  16   n . In the TWDM-PON of the illustrative embodiment, each of the ONUs  300   a  to  300   n  may be registered on one of the plurality of OSUs  200   a  to  200   n . The OSU distributor  120  has an LLID allocation table  122  for use in correlating the LLIDs with the OSUs. The OSU distributor  120  references the LLID allocation table  122  with the LLID of the received downstream packet  14  to identify an OSU  200  on which the ONU  300  for which the packet is destined is recorded. The OSU distributor  120  transfers the downstream packet  14  to the identified OSU  200 . 
         [0034]    The OSUs  200   a  to  200   n  are respectively connected to the optical transmitters  130   a  to  130   n  through signal lines  18   a  to  18   n  on a one-to-one basis. To the optical transmitters  130   a  to  130   n , wavelengths λ1 to λn, different from each other, are fixedly allocated respectively. The optical transmitters  130   a  to  130   n  are connected to the ONUs  300   a  to  300   m  via the optical splitter  400 . 
         [0035]    The downstream packet  16  inputted to the OSU  200  is transmitted to the ONU  300 , for which the packet is destined, via the connected optical transmitter  130  on the wavelength allocated to that transmitter. Since the OSUs  200   a  to  200   n  are respectively connected to the optical transmitter  130   a  to  130   n  via signal lines  18   a  to  18   n  on a one-to-one basis, the transmission wavelength of downstream packets is determined in accordance with the OSU on which the ONU for which the packet is destined is recorded. Therefore, in the following description, the wavelengths allocated to the optical transmitters  130   a  to  130   n  connected to the OSUs  200   a  to  200   n  are often called the wavelengths allocated to the OSUs  200   a  to  200   n.    
         [0036]    Each of the OSUs  200   a  to  200   n  includes an ONU distributor  210 , a buffer  220 , a scheduler  250  and a control signal generator  260 , which are interconnected as shown in  FIG. 2 . The buffer  220  includes a single through queue  222  and one or more switching queues  224   a  to  224   k , where k is an integer equal to or more than two, arranged in parallel to each other. The number k of the switching queues is correspondent with the number of paths or routes that can simultaneously be switched. It is then preferable that a plurality of switching queues  224  are arranged. If the number k of the switching queues  224  is increased, the circuit scale is increased. It is therefore preferable that the number k of the switching queues  224  is set less than the number of the ONUs  300  registerable on the OSUs  200  to restrain or minimize the increase of the circuit scale. 
         [0037]    When the destination of packets  16  is not an ONU under switching, namely, not an ONU that is being registered on an OSU different from the OSU on which the ONU is currently registered, the ONU distributor  210  transfers packets such as packets  20  to the through queue  222 . By contrast, when the destination of packets  16  is an ONU under switching, the ONU distributor  210  transfers the packets as one of the packets  22   a  to  22   k  to any of the switching queues  224   a  to  224   k . It is determined by referencing a learning table  212  to which of the plurality of switching queues the ONU distributor  210  should transfer a packet meant for an ONU under switching. When an ONU under switching is unlearned, i.e. that ONU is not registered on, or included in, the learning table, the ONU distributor  210  transfers an unused switching queue  224  to that ONU. In turn, the ONU distributor  210  registers or records the switching queue  224  to which the packet has been sent on the learning table  212 , and sets the queue as finished in learning. When the ONU under switching is set as finished in learning, the ONU distributor  210  transfers the packet to the switching queue  224  registered on the learning table  212 . 
         [0038]    The control signal generator  260  generates a control signal such as gate signal  24  for use in establishing a PON link. Switching of the reception wavelength in the ONU can be directed by using the control signal  24 . 
         [0039]    The through queue  222  and the plurality of switching queues  224   a  to  224   k  are responsive to packets, when inputted, to issue one of corresponding transmission requests  26 , and  28   a  to  28   k  to the scheduler  250 . The scheduler  250  is operative in response to a transmission request from the queues  222  and  224   a  to  224   k  or a request for transmitting a control signal  24  to arrange its output and transmits a downstream signal  18  to the ONU via the optical transmitter. 
         [0040]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the OLT controller  140  controls the entire OLT and the OSU installed in the OLT. For instance, the OLT controller  140  carries out updating of the LLID identification table  112  and LLID allocation table  122 . The OLT controller  140  also carries out monitoring of traffic pas sing through the OLT and determines the timing and content of the path switching. In addition, the OLT controller  140  monitors readout of the OSU from the scheduler  250 . 
         [0041]    Moreover, when changing the OSU on which an ONU under switching will be registered, the OLT controller  140  releases the old OSU currently under switching, i.e. the OSU having the ONU registered so far, registers the ONU on a new OSU to which the registration is to be switched or shifted, and notifies the new OSU of the fact that that OSU is registered as a new OSU to which the ONU under switching is registered. The notification may be directed to the OSU directly by the OLT controller  140  or may be added to the packet, which is in turn transmitted to that OSU. 
         [0042]    Each of the ONUs  300   a  to  300   m  includes an optical receiver  330  for receiving downstream packets. The optical receiver  330  has its reception wavelength variably set so as to receive downstream packets on a wavelength allocated to the OSU on which the ONU is thus registered. 
         [0043]    The TWDM-PON 10 of the illustrative embodiment may be configured, except for the configuration described above, in a similar way to conventional TWDM-PONs. 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , it will be described how to switch paths or routes.  FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram useful for understanding the path switching method in the illustrative embodiment. In the disclosure, like components are designated with the same reference numerals. With reference to  FIG. 4  also, the LLID identification table  112  comprises the storage fields for storing data of the ONUs  36  made in association with data of the LLIDs  34 . In the illustrative embodiment, such data may be numeral keys specific to the LLIDs or ONUs. For instance, the LLID of the first ONU  300   a  is set to a numeral key “10”. More specifically, on the LLID identification table  112 ,  FIG. 4 , in a line, or record, including the field of the LLID  34  set to a numeral key “10”, a numeral key “1” is allocated to the ONU  36 . 
         [0045]    At the time point I, the first ONU  300   a  is registered on the first OSU  200   a . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5A , on the LLID allocation table  122 , in a line including the field of the LLID  38  set to the numeral key “10”, the numeral key “1” is allocated to the OSU  40 . Therefore, the OSU distributor  120  transfers the packet  14  as a packet  16   a  for the first ONU  300   a  to the first OSU  200   a . This packet  14  will be transmitted in the form of downstream signal  32   a  on the wavelength λ1 to the first ONU  300   a  via the through queue  222 , scheduler  250  and first optical transmitter  130   a  in the first OSU  200   a.    
         [0046]    Now, the OSU, on which the first ONU  300   a  under switching is to be registered, is switched or shifted from the first OSU  200   a  to the second OSU  200   b . Such a switching may be carried out, for example, for the purpose of distributing communication load or traffic. 
         [0047]    At the time point II, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the OLT controller  140  updates the LLID allocation table  122  so as to allocate the OSU  40  in a line, or entry, including the field of the LLID  38  set to the numeral key “10” to the numeral key “2”. After updating the LLID allocation table  122 , the packet  12  destined for the first ONU  300   a  transmitted from the upper-side network to the OLT  100  is transferred accordingly to the second OSU  200   b  as a packet  16   b.    
         [0048]    At that time, since the first ONU  300   a  has its wavelength set to λ1, it cannot receive the downstream signal from the second OSU  200   b  on the reception wavelength is λ2. Accordingly, it is necessary to the first OSU  200   a  to direct the first ONU  300   a  to switch its reception wavelength to λ2. 
         [0049]    However, there is a possibility that packets destined for the first ONU  300   a  remain stored in the first OSU  200   a  while untransmitted. Moreover, the switching of the reception wavelength in the first ONU  300   a  may require a significant period of time. 
         [0050]    Accordingly, it is preferable to take into account a time that would be taken for the wavelength switching in the ONU  300   a  and a time that would be taken until packets remaining stored in the first OSU  200   a  have run out to direct the first ONU  300   a  so as to render the wavelength switching timed with those times. 
         [0051]    After the time point II, the second OSU  200   b  receives the packet meant for the first ONU  300   a , and then decides whether or not the first ONU  300   a  is an ONU under switching. At the time point II, when the LLID allocation table  122  is updated, the OLT controller  140  notifies the second OSU  200   b  that the first ONU  300   a  is an ONU under switching. By this notification, the ONU distributor  210  in the second OSU  200   b  recognizes that the first ONU  300   a  is an ONU under switching. 
         [0052]    Subsequently, at the time point III, the ONU distributor  210  decides whether or not the first ONU  300   a  has been learned in the learning table  212 . In the instant example, the first ONU  300   a  is not registered as shown in  FIG. 6A , and hence the distributor  210  decides that the first ONU  300   a  is unlearned. The ONU distributor  210  transfers the packet  16   b  meant for the unlearned ONU to one of the unused switching queues to make the learning table  212  learn that switching queue. In this example, as an unused switching queue, the first switching queue  224   a  is chosen. For choosing a switching queue, any of the unused switching queues may be selected in a priority of ascending order of the queue numbers or at random, for example. 
         [0053]    After the first switching queue  224   a  is chosen, the packet  16   b  meant for the first ONU  300   a  is transferred to the switching queue  224   a # 1, and, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the fields of the LLID  42  and queue  44  in a blank line on the table  212  have the numeral keys “10” and “1” respectively recorded. Consequently, the first ONU  300   a  has its state indicated as learned. After the first ONU  300   a  has become the learned state, the ONU distributor  210  references the learning table  212  to transfer the packet meant for the first ONU  300   a  to the first switching queue  224   a.    
         [0054]    Subsequently, at the time point IV, the reception wavelength of the first ONU  300   a  is switched from λ1 to λ2. The timing of the wavelength switching is adjusted so that packets  16   a  meant for the first ONU  300   a  remaining stored in the first OSU  200   a  have run out by the time point IV. After the switching of the reception wavelength in the first ONU  300   a  is completed, a control signal such as gate signal is transmitted from the second OSU  200   b  to the first ONU  300   a , and then a response from the first ONU  300   a  is received. Thus, the link of the second OSU  200   b  to the first ONU  300   a  is established. 
         [0055]    After that, at the time point V, the scheduler  250  allows the packets  16   b  stored in the first switching queue  224   a  to be transmitted toward the first ONU  300   a.    
         [0056]    At the time point VI, the learning entry is released. The scheduler  250  adjusts the timing of reading out the queue so that the packets  16   b  stored in the first switching queue  224   a  run out by the time point VI. The release of the learning entry is carried out by deleting, as shown in  FIG. 6C , the values “10” and “1” specifying the first ONU  300   a  and the first switching queue  224   a , respectively, from the learning table  212 . The first ONU  300   a  is set to an object not under switching. 
         [0057]    After the learning entry is released and the first ONU  300   a  is set to an object not under switching, the packets  16   b  meant for the first ONU  300   a  is transferred to the optical transmitter  130   b  via the through queue  222  and scheduler  250  in the second OSU  200   b.    
         [0058]    If the OSU, on which the second ONU  300   b  under switching is to be registered, is switched from the first OSU  200   a  to the second OSU  200   b  during the path switching of the first ONU  300   a , it is also possible to carry out the path switching by the above-described steps. In such a case, since the first switching queue  224   a  has been used, the second switching queue  224   b  may be used as an unused switching queue. The OLT controller  140  monitors how the path switching proceeds, and restrains the number of the ONUs on which wavelength switching can simultaneously be carried out so as not to exceed the number of the switching queues. 
         [0059]    In accordance with the OLT and the path switching method of the present invention, it is possible to restrain the number of the ONUs on which the switching can simultaneously be carried out and to provide the switching queues for holding packets during the switching fewer in number than the ONUs provided in the system. Since the number of queues is thus reduced, it is possible to save the memory capacity required for address management of the buffer. Accordingly, it is possible to economically provide uninterruptedly switchable OLTs. 
         [0060]    Although the example is described above in which each ONU under switching uses one switching queue, the present invention may not be restricted to that specific example. For instance, the path switching of a plural ONU having wavelength switching time equal to each other can be carried out by using one switching queue. 
         [0061]    The illustrative embodiment described so far is directed to the TWDM-PON system. The OLT and the path switching method of the present invention may however not be restricted to the TWDM-PON system. The OLT and the path switching method can be applied in general telecommunications networks to path switching intended for load distribution or uninterrupted switching of a redundant or diversity path when failure occurs. 
         [0062]    The entire disclosure of Japanese patent application No. 2013-180982 filed on Sep. 2, 2013, including the specification, claims, accompanying drawings and abstract of the disclosure, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0063]    While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiment, it is not to be restricted by the embodiment. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.