US 10,382,134 B2 · Channel bonding for ethernet passive optical network over coax (EPOC) networks

Abstract

Embodiments provide systems and methods for enabling the support of multiple Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coax (EPoC) channels, which can be bonded together into a single high-speed channel. The multiple EPoC channels can be configured according to available spectrum, such that they occupy one or more, frequency contiguous or separated, segments of the available spectrum. The size (number of sub-carriers) of each of the channels can be configured according to embodiments based on the available spectrum and/or other requirements (e.g., EPoC emission requirements, existing services, etc.). Further, within each channel, individual sub-carriers can be configured independently, including turning each sub-carrier on/off and/or specifying the symbol bit loading for the sub-carrier independently of other sub-carriers in the channel.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coax (EPoC) physical layer (PHY) transmitter, comprising:

a subset selector configured to receive a Medium Access Control (MAC) bit stream and to determine whether a MAC frame of the MAC bit stream belongs to a first subset or a second subset based on a logical identifier associated with the MAC frame, wherein the first subset corresponds to single-channel Coaxial Network Units (CNUs) and the second subset corresponds to multi-channel CNUs;
and
a symbol mapper configured to map the MAC frame to a single unbonded channel when the MAC frame belongs to the first subset and to multiple bonded channels when the MAC frame belongs to the second subset,
wherein the symbol mapper is further configured to load the single unbonded channel with at least a portion of the MAC frame and load the multiple bonded channels with all idles or padding information when the MAC frame belongs to the first subset, and
wherein the single unbounded channel and the multiple bonded channels are combined for transmission over an EPOC network.

2 more elements

A method for channel bonding in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coax (EPoC) transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving a Medium Access Control (MAC) bit stream;
determining whether a MAC frame of the MAC bit stream belongs to a first subset or a second subset based on a logical identifier associated with the MAC frame, wherein the first subset corresponds to single-channel Coaxial Network Units (CNUs) and the second subset corresponds to multi-channel CNUs;
mapping the MAC frame to a single unbonded channel and loading the multiple bonded channels with all idles or padding information when the MAC frame belongs to the first subset;
mapping the MAC frame to multiple bonded channels and loading the single unbonded channel with all idles or padding information when the MAC frame belongs to the second subset;
and
combining the single unbounded channel and the multiple bonded channels for transmission over an EPoC network.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Channel bonding for ethernet passive optical network over coax (EPOC) networks

Life of this patent

Channel bonding for ethernet passive optical network over coax (EPOC) networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18