DYNAMIC BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION IN A PASSIVE OPTICAL ACCESS NETWORK

摘要

It is disclosed a method of allocating upstream bandwidth to at least a first upstream traffic flow and a second upstream traffic flow in a passive optical access network. The method comprises: a) associating a first timer to the first upstream traffic flow; b) associating a second timer to the second upstream traffic flow. The method comprises, during a given frame period: - if said first timer is at its expiration value and said second timer is not at its expiration value: c) allocating a first portion of said upstream bandwidth to said first upstream traffic flow, d) verifying if a second portion of said upstream bandwidth is left after performing said step c); and e) in the affirmative, allocating at least part of said second portion of said upstream bandwidth to said second upstream traffic flow before said second timer is at its expiration value, - if said first timer and said second timer are not at their expiration value, f) allocating at least part of said upstream bandwidth to at least one of said first and second upstream traffic flows before respective timers are at their expiration values.