Data transfer in an optical network communication system

Communications apparatus, comprising:

• a first plurality of client interface units, coupled to network service lines so as to send and receive data carried by the service lines in accordance with respective communication protocols, the client interface units including at least first and second client interface units that communicate with respective first and second channels of the data operating in accordance with different, respective first and second protocols;
• a second plurality of optical interface units, coupled to a passive optical network (PON) and to modulate optical radiation responsive to the data so as to convey the data over the PON;
• and
• a connectivity unit, coupled to convey the data between the client interface units and the optical interface units, while mapping the channels to the optical interface units so that data from the first and second channels is carried in alternation by one of the optical interface units to first and second users of the passive optical network communicating respectively in accordance with the first and second protocols,
• wherein the connectivity unit comprises a second plurality of memories which store routing information for channels of the data sent and received by respective optical interface units, and
• wherein each of the second plurality of memories comprises an upstream label memory which stores the routing information indicative of the client interface unit, comprised in the first plurality of units, to which upstream data comprised in the channels of the data is to be sent.

A method for transferring data, comprising:

• coupling a first plurality of client interface units to network service lines so as to send and receive the data carried by the service lines in accordance with respective communication protocols, the client interface units including at least first and second client interface units that communicate with respective first and second channels of the data operating in accordance with different, respective first and second protocols;
• coupling a second plurality of optical interface units to a passive optical network (PON) so as to modulate optical radiation responsive to the data so as to convey the data over the PON;
• coupling a connectivity unit between the client interface units and the optical interface units so as to convey the data therebetween;
• and
• mapping the channels to the optical interface units so that data from the first and second channels is carried, via the connectivity unit, in alternation by one of the optical interface units to first and second users of the passive optical network communicating respectively in accordance with the first and second protocols,
• wherein the connectivity unit comprises a first plurality of memories, and comprising storing routing information for channels of the data sent and received by client interface units in the respective memories, and
• wherein each of the first plurality of memories comprises a downstream label memory which stores the routing information indicative of the optical interface unit, comprised in the second plurality of units, to which downstream data comprised in the channels of the data is to be sent.

A method for transferring data, comprising:

• coupling a first plurality of client interface units to network service lines so as to send and receive the data carried by the service lines in accordance with respective communication protocols, the client interface units including at least first and second client interface units that communicate with respective first and second channels of the data operating in accordance with different, respective first and second protocols;
• coupling a second plurality of optical interface units to a passive optical network (PON) so as to modulate optical radiation responsive to the data so as to convey the data over the PON;
• coupling a connectivity unit between the client interface units and the optical interface units so as to convey the data therebetween;
• and
• mapping the channels to the optical interface units so that data from the first and second channels is carried, via the connectivity unit, in alternation by one of the optical interface units to first and second users of the passive optical network communicating respectively in accordance with the first and second protocols,
• wherein the connectivity unit comprises a second plurality of memories, and comprising storing routing information for channels of the data sent and received by optical interface units in the respective memories, and
• wherein each of the second plurality of memories comprises an upstream label memory which stores the routing information indicative of the client interface unit, comprised in the first plurality of units, to which upstream data comprised in the channels of the data is to be sent.