Method and system for dynamic bandwidth allocation in an optical access network

A method of transmitting optical signals in a point-to-multipoint optical network comprising:

• generating a table that contains entries of the current sizes of data waiting to be transmitted from a plurality of remote terminals to a central terminal;
• transmitting a first grant message from said central terminal to a first remote terminal, said first grant message being indicative of a permission for said first remote terminal to transmit a specific amount of data waiting at said first remote terminal, said specific amount being dependent on an entry included in said table for said first remote terminal;
• receiving said specific amount of said data from said first remote terminal at said central terminal in response to said first grant message, including a first request message containing updated information about the current size of said data waiting at said first remote terminal when said first request message was sent;
• and
• updating said table using said updated information contained in said first request message received from said first remote terminal.

A point-to-multipoint optical network comprising:

• a plurality of remote terminals that receive and transmit optical data, each remote terminal configured to transmit a request message and an authorized amount of data waiting at said remote terminal in response to a grant message received by said remote terminal, said request message including updated information about the current size of data waiting at said remote terminal, said grant message including information that indicates said authorized amount;
• and
• a central terminal optically coupled to said remote terminals to transmit and receive said optical data, said central terminal comprising:
• memory that includes a table containing latest information about the current sizes of data waiting to be transmitted from said remote terminals to said central terminal;
• and
• a processor that is configured to selectively transmit grant messages to said remote terminals using said latest information contained in said table to indicate authorized amounts of data that can be sent by receiving remote terminals, said processor further configured to receive request messages from said remote terminals in response to said grant messages and to update said table in said memory using said updated information contained in said request messages.