Control of optical-modulation amplitude for burst-mode transmission

An apparatus, comprising

• an optical network unit including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver and being configured to communicate with a remote optical line terminal of a burst-mode, passive optical network;
• and
• wherein the optical network unit is configured to adjust an OMA level of the optical transmitter to approximately set an optical modulation amplitude of optical bursts being received at the remote optical line terminal to a target value, wherein the OMA level of the optical transmitter is based on differences in optical-power levels for different data symbols in the optical bursts transmitted by the optical network unit.

A burst-mode, passive optical network comprising an optical line terminal connected to optically communicate with a plurality of optical network units, wherein:

• the optical line terminal is operable to transmit a first control message to one of the optical network units to change an OMA level of optical bursts transmitted by the optical network unit to the optical line terminal, wherein the OMA level is based on differences in optical-power levels for different data symbols in the optical bursts transmitted by the optical network unit;
• and
• the optical network unit is operable to receive the first control message and, in response, change the OMA level of the optical bursts transmitted by the optical network unit to the optical line terminal.