Patent ID: 7512337

Claim:
A Gigabit Ethernet passive optical network comprising: an optical line terminal (OLT) for setting up an active link and a standby link in response to a registration request message received over an optical cable; and at least one optical network unit (ONU) coupled to said OLT via said optical cable, said ONU transmitting said registration request message to said OLT, forming said active link with said OLT upon receiving an active registration message transmitted from said OLT in response to said registration request message, and forming said standby link with said OLT if it receives a standby message from said OLT; wherein the OLT sets up the active link with the ONU via the standby link, and if a link has already been formed, said OLT sets up a double link; wherein a desired replacement time is required for replacing said standby link for said active link due to an error in said active link, said desired replacement time including a first time required for said OLT to determine whether there is an error in said active link, a second time required for said OLT to transmit said active registration message to said ONU over said standby link and for said ONU to receive said active registration message, and a third time required for said OLT to receive an active registration acknowledgement message transmitted from said ONU in response to said active registration message.