Abstract:
An Ethernet service configuration device, method, and system in a passive optical network (PON) are provided. The device includes a PON protocol processing module, an Ethernet module, and at least one service module based on Ethernet which are sequentially connected. The Ethernet module includes a media access control (MAC) bridge port configuration data management entity (ME) and an Ethernet service end node ME connected with each other. The service module based on Ethernet includes at least one non-Ethernet service functional end node ME correlated with the Ethernet service end node ME. According to the device, method, and system, the coupling between Ethernet service configuration and all kinds of service and/or device configurations based on Ethernet is reduced, which is propitious to the ONT maintenance and modularization configuration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2007/070554, filed on Aug. 24, 2007, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 200610111838.3, filed on Aug. 25, 2006, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a service and/or device configuration technology in a passive optical network (PON), and more particularly to an Ethernet service configuration device, method, and system in a PON. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    At present, broadband access technologies are mainly categorized into a copper access technology and an optical access technology. An access network implemented by the optical access technology is called an optical access network (OAN). The PON is a point to multi-point transport technology for implementing the OAN. A basic structure of the PON is shown in  FIG. 1 . The PON includes an optical line terminal (OLT), an optical distribution network (ODN), and optical network units (ONUs). In  FIG. 1 , the ONU is represented by an optical network terminal (ONT). 
         [0004]    The OLT provides a service network interface (SNI) for the OAN and is connected to one or more ODNs. The ODN, a passive optical splitter, transmits downlink data of the OLT to each ONU through optical division, and transmits uplink data of the ONUs to the OLT through convergence. An ONU provides a user-network interface (UNI) for the OAN and is connected to the ODN. The ONU may be called an ONT if the ONU also provides a service interface, such as an Ethernet user port or a plain old telephone service (POTS) port. In the description, both an ONU and an ONT are referred to as an ONT for convenience. 
         [0005]    In the PON, the downlink traffic of the OLT is broadcasted to the ONTs by means of time-division multiplexing (TDM), and each of the ONTs receives the downlink traffic as required. Moreover, the OLT manages the uplink traffic of the ONTs, and a specific ONT is allowed to transmit data to the OLT at a particular time by means of time division multiple access (TDMA). 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a schematic structural view of an ONT supporting Ethernet services in the prior art. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the ONT includes an Ethernet module, at least one service module based on Ethernet, and a PON protocol processing module. 
         [0007]    The PON protocol processing module is adapted to perform PON standard protocol related operations, for example, receiving the OLT configuration information to configure the ONT, reporting the status of the ONT or making an alarm, adding a PON protocol frame header to an uplink packet received by the Ethernet module, or removing a PON protocol frame header from a downlink frame, and then reassembling and sending the frame to the Ethernet module. 
         [0008]    The Ethernet module is adapted to perform operations related to the Ethernet frame processing, maintenance, and management, such as adding a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag, or filtering packets based on VLAN tags or media access control (MAC) addresses. 
         [0009]    The service module based on Ethernet is adapted to perform functions related to its own service processing, maintenance, and management, such as the recovery of a TDM service module clock based on Ethernet. 
         [0010]    The service module based on Ethernet provides a UNI, and is connected to the Ethernet module through an internal UNI provided by the Ethernet module. 
         [0011]    In the ONT, a certain port of the Ethernet module only provides Ethernet services instead of services over Ethernet, and thus the internal UNI functions as the UNI of the ONT. 
         [0012]    The ONT based on Ethernet services supports various service functions over Ethernet, for example, TDM services based on Ethernet or Internet protocol (IP) routing services. 
         [0013]    International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) defines Broadband Passive Optical Network (BPON) technology G983.x serial standards and Giga-bit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology G984.x serial standards. In the BPON or GPON technology, the configuration and management modes of ONTs by an OLT are defined. In particular, the OLT manages and configures each ONT through an ONT management control interface (OMCI). The OMCI is a configuration transmission channel built between the OLT and each ONT in the BPON or GPON, and established when the ONT is registered to the OLT. Further, the OMCI adopts a master-slave management protocol, in which the OLT is a master device, the ONTs are slave devices, and the OLT controls multiple ONTs connected thereto through the OMCI channels. 
         [0014]    The OMCI abstracts various data of the management and configuration of the ONTs by the OLT into an independent management information base (MIB) with management entities (MEs) as its basic units. In the BPON or GPON, the OLT is defined to control various MEs of each ONT through the OMCI. Under the control of the OLT, the ONT implements the configuration and management of each ME. The OMCI is meant to permit the provision of modularization and expandability to satisfy the control and management of different ONTs. 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an Ethernet service configuration device employing MEs in the prior art. Referring to the figure, a MAC bridge port configuration data ME is set in an Ethernet module of an ONT. An Ethernet flow end node ME and a pseudo wire end node ME connected with each other are set in a service module based on Ethernet. The pseudo wire end node ME is further connected to the MAC bridge port configuration data ME. 
         [0016]    The MAC bridge port configuration data ME is adapted to configure data related to a MAC bridge port, for example, parameters about the port priority, port path value, and end node pointer. The pseudo wire end node ME defines to transmit TDM service configuration data in the form of data packets. The configuration data includes structured/unstructured service-type attributes and signalling bearer modes. The Ethernet flow end node ME is adapted to configure parameters required for ending/initiating an Ethernet data frame, such as MAC addresses of the ONTs, remote MAC addresses, and strategies of adding VLAN tags to an uplink frame. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the MAC bridge port configuration data ME in the Ethernet module is directly connected to the pseudo wire end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet. The MAC bridge port configuration data ME may only configure data related to the MAC bridge port, such as parameters about the port priority, port path value, and end node pointer, instead of configuring a loop-back detection function. That is, the MAC bridge port configuration data ME is unable to detect channel faults of an internal UNI through loop-backs, and thus the loop-back detection function has to be configured by an end node ME of a certain type of service. In  FIG. 3 , the loop-back detection function is not defined in the MAC bridge port configuration data ME. When an Ethernet physical interface is directly provided by the Ethernet service module, an physical path termination point Ethernet UNI ME correlated with the MAC bridge port configuration data ME provides a loop-back detection function. However, the device in  FIG. 3  does not have the above function, and is thus incapable of performing the loop-back fault detection. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the Ethernet flow end node ME defines some attributes configured to process the Ethernet data. However, the Ethernet flow end node ME is directly correlated with the pseudo wire end node ME instead of the MAC bridge port data ME, i.e., the ME that should be employed to configure the Ethernet data attributes is set in the service module based on Ethernet, and is uncorrelated with the Ethernet module. Thus, the device in  FIG. 3  deviates from the design principle of modularization. As a result, a close coupling between the Ethernet service configuration and all kinds of service and/or device configurations based on Ethernet is generated, and the ONT maintenance and modularization configuration will be affected. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an Ethernet service configuration device and system in a PON, so as to reduce the coupling between Ethernet service configuration and all kinds of service and/or device configurations based on Ethernet, thus facilitating the ONT maintenance and modularization configuration. 
         [0020]    Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an Ethernet service configuration method in a PON, so as to reduce the coupling between Ethernet service configuration and all kinds of service and/or device configurations based on Ethernet, thus facilitating the ONT maintenance and modularization configuration. 
         [0021]    The technical schemes illustrated in embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows. 
         [0022]    A PON element includes a PON protocol processing module, an Ethernet module, and at least one service module based on Ethernet which are sequentially connected. The Ethernet module includes a MAC bridge port configuration data ME and an Ethernet service end node ME connected with each other. The service module based on Ethernet includes at least one non-Ethernet service functional end node ME correlated with the Ethernet service end node ME. 
         [0023]    The MAC bridge port configuration data ME is adapted to configure a MAC bridge port. 
         [0024]    The Ethernet service end node ME is adapted to configure attributes for ending or initiating an Ethernet service. 
         [0025]    The non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is adapted to configure attributes of a service over Ethernet. 
         [0026]    An Ethernet service configuration method in a PON includes the following steps. 
         [0027]    An Ethernet service end node ME is set in an Ethernet module of a PON element, and at least one non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is set in a service module based on Ethernet of the PON element. The non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet is correlated with the Ethernet service end node ME. 
         [0028]    The Ethernet service end node ME performs an attribute configuration related to the ending or initiation of an Ethernet service of an ONT. The non-Ethernet service functional end node ME performs an attribute configuration on a service over Ethernet of the PON element. The MAC bridge port configuration data ME performs an attribute configuration on the MAC bridge port of the ONT. 
         [0029]    A PON system includes an OLT and at least one PON element connected with each other. The PON element has an Ethernet service end node ME and a non-Ethernet service functional end node ME correlated with each other. 
         [0030]    The PON element is adapted to configure attributes for ending or initiating an Ethernet service according to the Ethernet service end node ME, and configure attributes of a service over Ethernet according to the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME. 
         [0031]    In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the Ethernet service end node ME adapted to configure attributes for ending or initiating an Ethernet service is set in the Ethernet module of the ONT, i.e., set between the MAC bridge port configuration data ME and the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet. Thereby, the Ethernet service end node ME enables the Ethernet module to complete attribute configurations of all the Ethernet services, and the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME enables the service module based on Ethernet to complete attribute configurations of all the other services over Ethernet. Therefore, the device, method, and MEs provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure reduce the coupling between Ethernet service configuration and all kinds of service and/or device configurations based on Ethernet, and further facilitate the ONT maintenance and modularization configuration. Moreover, as the Ethernet service end node ME is set between the MAC bridge port configuration data ME and the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet, an Ethernet loop-back configuration can be set at the Ethernet service end node ME, thereby realizing the loop-back fault detection on the UNI and the MAC bridge port. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    The present disclosure is further described in detail as follows by reference to the accompanying embodiments and drawings, among which: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is a schematic structural view of a PON in the prior art; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a schematic structural view of an ONT supporting Ethernet services in the prior art; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an Ethernet service configuration device employing MEs in the prior art; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an Ethernet service configuration device in a PON according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an Ethernet service configuration method in a PON according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating Ethernet service configuration in a PON according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    In order to make the objectives, technical schemes, and beneficial effects of the present disclosure better understood, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the physical structure of an ONT is actually modularized, i.e., an Ethernet module is separated from a service module based on Ethernet. However, in the prior art, the Ethernet service end node ME adapted for Ethernet service configuration is set in the service module based on Ethernet, such that the ONT modularization design and/or configuration may not be realized. Therefore, the device, method, and MEs provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure regard the service module based on Ethernet as a service provision device. In this manner, the service module based on Ethernet is loosely coupled to the Ethernet module, so as to reduce the coupling between Ethernet service configuration and all kinds of service and/or device configurations based on Ethernet, and further facilitate the ONT maintenance and modularization configuration. 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an Ethernet service configuration device in a PON according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the figure, the device is an ONT including a PON protocol processing module, an Ethernet module, and at least one service module based on Ethernet that are sequentially connected. The Ethernet module is connected to the at least one service module based on Ethernet through an internal interface (for example, an internal UNI), and the service module based on Ethernet is connected to an external user terminal through a UNI. 
         [0042]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a MAC bridge port configuration data ME and an Ethernet service end node ME connected with each other are set in the Ethernet module. At least one non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is set in the service module based on Ethernet. The non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is connected to the Ethernet service end node ME in the Ethernet service module. 
         [0043]    The Ethernet service end node ME has functions similar to the Physical path termination point Ethernet UNI ME. The Ethernet service end node ME is connected to the service module based on Ethernet through an internal interface (for example, an internal UNI). The Ethernet service end node ME is correlated with the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet in an explicit or implicit mode. In the explicit mode, the Ethernet service end node ME is linked to the correlated non-Ethernet service functional end node ME through a pointer, or the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet is linked to the Ethernet service functional end node ME through a pointer. In the implicit mode, the Ethernet service functional end node ME is correlated with the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME through ME identities. In practice, the two MEs are correlated with identical identities. 
         [0044]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is adapted to support the transmission of non-Ethernet services over Ethernet in GPON packet transmission. The non-Ethernet service functional end node ME serves as a TDM service end node ME or a pseudo wire end node ME. When the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is a pseudo wire end node ME, the non-Ethernet service end node ME is adapted to support the transmission of TDM services over Ethernet in GPON. 
         [0045]    The Ethernet service end node ME is adapted to configure parameters required for ending/initiating an Ethernet data frame, such as MAC addresses of the ONTs, remote MAC addresses, and strategies of adding VLAN tags to an uplink frame, or is adapted to configure a loop-back detection function, for example, a loop-back fault detection from an internal interface (for example, the internal UNI) to a non-Ethernet service functional module, i.e., a downlink loop-back, and/or a loop-back fault detection to a MAC bridge port, i.e., an uplink loop-back. 
         [0046]    An example is given below for illustration. 
         [0047]    The Ethernet service end node ME is an ME connecting the Ethernet module and the service module based on Ethernet. At the Ethernet service end node ME, in the uplink direction, a data bit stream from the service module based on Ethernet is configured into Ethernet data and then sent out. In the downlink direction, data analyzed from the Ethernet data at the Ethernet service end node ME is composed into a data bit stream to be sent to the service module based on Ethernet. 
         [0048]    The Ethernet service end node ME has various application examples. Each application example is set by the ONT under the request of the OLT. When data is transmitted between the service module based on Ethernet and the Ethernet module, an application example is set. 
         [0049]    Each application example of the Ethernet service end node ME is identified by attributes including ME identity, end node interconnection pointer, and Ethernet service loop-back configuration. 
         [0050]    The ME identity is unique to each application example. This attribute, set during the configuration of an application example, takes up 2 bytes and can only be read. 
         [0051]    The end node interconnection pointer provides an application example having a pointer toward the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet. The non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is a pseudo wire end node ME or an MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) end node ME. This attribute, set during the configuration of an application example, takes up 2 bytes and can be read/written. 
         [0052]    The Ethernet service loop-back configuration is adapted to configure a loop-back detection function for Ethernet services. When the value of this attribute is 0x00, the loop-back detection will not be performed. When the value of this attribute is 0x01, a downlink loop-back is performed. That is, a data bit stream received from a non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet is looped back, so as to implement the loop-back fault detection on the UNI. Further, when the value of this attribute is 0x02, an uplink loop-back is performed. That is, an Ethernet data received from a MAC bridge port is looped back, so as to implement the loop-back fault detection between the MAC bridge port configuration data MEs. This attribute, set during the configuration of an application example, takes up one byte and can be read/written. 
         [0053]    Definitely, other attributes can be set in the Ethernet service end node ME or these attributes are added or deleted upon requirements as desired. 
         [0054]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an Ethernet service end node ME is newly set, and respectively correlated with the MAC bridge port configuration data ME and the non-Ethernet service node ME. 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an Ethernet service configuration method in a PON according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The method includes the following steps. 
         [0056]    In Step  500 , an Ethernet service end node ME and a MAC bridge port configuration data ME are set in an Ethernet module of an ONT, a non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is set in a service module based on Ethernet of an ONU, the MAC bridge port configuration data ME is correlated with the Ethernet service end node ME, and the Ethernet service end node ME is correlated with the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME. 
         [0057]    In Step  501 , the ONT attribute configuration of ending/initiating Ethernet services is completed by the Ethernet service end node ME, the ONT attribute configuration of ending/initiating services over Ethernet is completed by the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME, and the ONT attribute configuration of the MAC bridge port is completed by the MAC bridge port configuration data ME. 
         [0058]    A specific embodiment is given below for illustrating the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 6 , assuming that the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME is a pseudo wire end node ME, a modularization design can be adopted to realize pseudo wire services based on Ethernet services. The Ethernet service end node ME ends all the attribute configurations related to the Ethernet service and capable of providing other service functions with adaptation, including an end node interconnection pointer and an Ethernet loop-back configuration attribute. The pseudo wire end node ME is directly correlated with the Ethernet service end node ME. In the prior art, the attribute configuration in the Ethernet flow end node ME can be fulfilled by the Ethernet service end node ME. In this manner, all the attribute configurations related to the Ethernet services are fulfilled in the Ethernet module, and all the attribute configurations related to the pseudo wire services are fulfilled in the pseudo wire module based on Ethernet. Meanwhile, the loop-back configuration attribute provided by the Ethernet service end node ME in the Ethernet module realizes the fault detection and maintenance for the Ethernet module of the ONT and the service module of the pseudo wire module based on Ethernet through uplink and downlink loop-backs. 
         [0059]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a PON system including an OLT and at least one PON element connected with each other is provided. The PON element has an Ethernet service termination point ME and a non-Ethernet service functional termination point ME correlated with each other. 
         [0060]    The PON element is adapted to configure attributes for ending or initiating an Ethernet service according to the Ethernet service termination point ME, and configure attributes of a service over Ethernet according to the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME. 
         [0061]    The OLT is further adapted to send an Ethernet data to the PON element or receive an Ethernet data from the PON element. 
         [0062]    The PON element is further adapted to compose data analyzed from the Ethernet data received from the OLT at the Ethernet service functional end node ME into a data bit stream, or to configure a data bit stream into an Ethernet data at the Ethernet service functional end node ME and then send the Ethernet data to the OLT. 
         [0063]    With technology development, when a new configuration attribute related to Ethernet services is required, it only needs to add this attribute in the Ethernet service end node ME or further add an ME describing this attribute and make the added ME correlated with the ME in the Ethernet module such as the Ethernet service end node ME and the MAC bridge port configuration data ME. When an attribute is to be configured for a newly added service over Ethernet, it only needs to add a configuration attribute into the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME in the service module based on Ethernet or add an ME describing this attribute and make the added ME correlated with the ME in the service module based on Ethernet, such as the non-Ethernet service functional end node ME. In this manner, the basic principle of designing the OMCI in the BPON and GPON systems is achieved, i.e., “the OMCI is defined for realizing modularization and expandability so as to meet demands from different levels”. Therefore, the method of the present disclosure may reduce the cost and improve the operability and maintainability of the PON. 
         [0064]    Though the objectives, technical schemes, and beneficial effects of the present disclosure have been disclosed above by the embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and variations made within the principle of the present disclosure fall within the scope of the present disclosure.