Patent ID: 7313330

Claim:
A redundant apparatus for a GE-PON (Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network) system which includes an OLT (Optical Line Terminal), a splitter connected to the OLT via a working path line composed of only one optical fiber, and a plurality of ONUs (Optical Network Units) connected to the splitter via individual optical fibers, said apparatus comprising: said working path line located between the OLT and the splitter to perform two-way communication; a redundant pat line which is composed of only one optical fiber located between the OLT and the splitter to perform two-way communication; a switching block located in said OLT for performing either automatic or compulsory switching operation, said automatic switching operation by means of using a notification field for indicating asynchronous information contained in Ethernet OAM frame and said compulsory switching operation by means of manual manipulation by a user, said notification field in said Ethernet OAM frame receives switching information in a data frame using a flag bit adapted to transmit asynchronous information of said signaling Ethernet OAM frame between said OLT and said ONUs, and transmit the data frame including said asynchronous information, wherein said Ethernet OAM frame further includes: a CE field generated when an undefined fault is detected; a R/S field generated when a local data terminal equipment (STE) detected differs from expectation; a L/S field generated when a remote DTE detected differs from expectation; an LF (Link Fault) field generated when there is an error in a reception end; and a DG (Dying Gasp) field generated when there is a non-recovery error in the reception, ONU means for detecting a transmission loss of the working path line upon receiving a signal transmitted from the OLT to one ONU among the ONUs, and for transmitting switching information of the working path line via the working path line; and an OLT for receiving the switching information via the working path line, and for transmitting data to the ONU means via the redundant path line according to the received switching information.