Multi-Rate Interleaved Downstream Frames in Passive Optical Networks (PONs)

A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause an optical line terminal (OLT) to:

• generate a multi-rate downstream frame having a pre-defined length, the multi-rate downstream frame comprising a plurality of subframes that are each associated with a respective data rate;
• and
• transmit each subframe of the plurality of subframes of the multi-rate downstream frame at the respective data rate.

A method implemented by an optical line terminal (OLT), the method comprising:

• generating, by the OLT, a multi-rate downstream frame having a pre-defined length, the multi-rate downstream frame comprising a plurality of subframes that are each associated with a respective data rate;
• and
• transmitting, by the OLT, each subframe of the plurality of subframes at the respective data rate.

An optical network unit (ONU) comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive a multi-rate downstream frame, with the multi-rate downstream frame having a pre-defined length and comprising a plurality of subframes that are each associated with a different data rate;
• and
• a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to determine whether to process a subframe of the plurality of subframes based on a data rate indicated in a header of the subframe.