The physical layer of an optical line terminal (OLT) of an optical network is split across multiple fibers so that the OLT has a plurality of optical transceivers for respectively communicating across a plurality of optical fibers. Thus, each optical transceiver is in communication with a smaller number of optical network units (ONUs) relative to an embodiment for which a single optical transceiver is employed, thereby reducing the transmit power requirements of the optical network. Accordingly, less expensive optical components, such as lasers, can be used at the OLT and the ONUs. In addition, the split at the OLT is implemented digitally, and the digital components of the OLT are arranged such that various performance benefits are realized. As an example, the OLT may be configured such that data and/or overhead may be simultaneously transmitted in the upstream direction thereby increasing the upstream throughput and capacity of the optical network.

A flow of packets is communicated through a data center including an electrical switch, an optical switch, and multiple racks each including multiple network devices. The optical switch can be controlled to receive packet traffic from a network device via a first optical link and to output that packet traffic to another network device via a second optical link. One network device includes a neural network that analyzes received packets of the flow. The optical switch is controlled to switch based on a result of the analysis performed. In one instance, the optical switch is controlled such that immediately prior to the switching no packet traffic passes from the first optical link and through the optical switch and to the second optical link but such that after the switching packet traffic does pass from the first optical link and through the optical switch and to the second optical link.

There are provided fiber optic local convergence points (“LCPs”) adapted for use with multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) that facilitate relatively easy installation and/or optical connectivity to a relatively large number of subscribers. The LCP includes a housing mounted to a surface, such as a wall, and a cable assembly with a connector end to be optically connected to a distribution cable and a splitter end to be located within the housing. The splitter end includes at least one splitter and a plurality of subscriber receptacles to which subscriber cables may be optically connected. The splitter end of the cable assembly of the LCP may also include a splice tray assembly and/or a fiber optic routing guide. Furthermore, a fiber distribution terminal (“FDT”) may be provided along the subscriber cable to facilitate installation of the fiber optic network within the MDU.

A communications system receives a plurality of input data streams and applies a different orthogonal function to each of the plurality of input data streams. The system processes each of the plurality of input data streams to spatially locate a first group of the plurality of input data streams onto a first carrier signal and to spatially locate a second group of the plurality of input data streams onto a second carrier signal. The system temporally locates the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal onto a third carrier signal and transmits the third carrier signal over a communications link.

A communications system receives a plurality of input data streams and applies a different orthogonal function to each of the plurality of input data streams. The system processes each of the plurality of input data streams to spatially locate a first group of the plurality of input data streams onto a first carrier signal and to spatially locate a second group of the plurality of input data streams onto a second carrier signal. The system temporally locates the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal onto a third carrier signal and transmits the third carrier signal over a communications link.

Various embodiments of the present invention disclose a DOCSIS protocol-based access method, apparatus, and system. A first PON physical layer module is disposed inside or outside a CMTS device; the CMTS device receives DOCSIS protocol-based data, converts the DOCSIS protocol-based data into PON physical layer format-based data by using the first PON physical layer module, and sends the PON physical layer format-based data to a CMC through an optical distribution network; and the CMC receives the PON physical layer format-based data, converts the PON physical layer format-based data into DOCSIS physical layer format-based data, and sends the converted data to a terminal device. The solution provided by various embodiments of the present invention is applicable to a DOCSIS system.

The present invention provides a receiving device and an optical switching fabric apparatus, where the receiving device includes: multiple selecting modules, a fast optical switch connecting to each selecting module, an output module connecting to all the fast optical switches, and a receiver connecting to the output module, where the selecting module is configured to receive a multiwavelength optical signal, select and filter a first optical signal of a preset time segment in the multiwavelength optical signal; the fast optical switch is configured to select a second optical signal from the first optical signal filtered by the selecting module; the output module is configured to combine optical signals separately selected by all the fast optical switches into one optical burst signal; and the receiver is configured to perform optical-to-electrical conversion on the optical burst signal, and extract service data from an electrical signal.

The present invention provides a receiving device and an optical switching fabric apparatus, where the receiving device includes: multiple selecting modules, a fast optical switch connecting to each selecting module, an output module connecting to all the fast optical switches, and a receiver connecting to the output module, where the selecting module is configured to receive a multiwavelength optical signal, select and filter a first optical signal of a preset time segment in the multiwavelength optical signal; the fast optical switch is configured to select a second optical signal from the first optical signal filtered by the selecting module; the output module is configured to combine optical signals separately selected by all the fast optical switches into one optical burst signal; and the receiver is configured to perform optical-to-electrical conversion on the optical burst signal, and extract service data from an electrical signal.

Techniques, apparatus and systems are described for accommodating the optical network units (ONUs) having different nominal upstream bitrates on the same passive optical network (PON) system by making the specified burst preamble and the bandwidth map allocation record format invariant with respect to the nominal upstream bitrate of a target ONU. The disclosed techniques, apparatus and systems allow seamless evolution of the lower-bitrate services to higher-bitrate services offered to an end-user without need to upgrade the central office equipment. In addition they can avoid the adverse consequences of inadvertently connecting a high-upstream-bitrate ONU to a lower-upstream-bitrate network.

An ONU requests a bandwidth of an uplink signal, and in accordance with this, an OLT calculates a time when the OLT transmits the uplink signal and a transmission duration time and performs an instruction, and a DBA cycle in which the ONU transmits the uplink signal in accordance with the instruction and a dynamic wavelength allocation cycle in which the OLT instructs wavelength switching, and the ONU switches the wavelength and belongs to a different LC are separated. While the ONU switches the wavelength, the DBA cycles can be performed plural times in the ONU whose wavelength is not switched, the switching of the wavelength is confirmed after the wavelength has been switched, and then DBA operation is performed at the switched wavelength.