Optical network termination apparatus with shared components and passive optical network system comprising same

A method for facilitating signal transmission in a passive optical network, comprising:

• directing a downstream signal toward a designated user device interface in response to receiving the downstream signal from downstream transmission portion of a shared electrical interface apparatus;
• selectively controlling an upstream transmission portion of the shared electrical interface apparatus for enabling transmission of an upstream signal via a shared optical transmission apparatus, and
• broadcasting the downstream signal from a prioritizing-type buffer of the shared electrical interface apparatus for reception by a plurality of transmission convergence termination units, wherein the signal transmission shares front end components of the plurality of transmission convergence termination units such that the plurality of transmission convergence termination units are devoid of optical module components for facilitating optical signal transmission functionality, thereby enabling delivery of the downstream signal to the designated user device interface of a corresponding one of said transmission convergence termination units;
• wherein the upstream transmission portion includes an electrical multiplexing device unit enabling upstream transmission functionality to facilitate the bi-directional signal transmission;
• wherein the shared optical transmission apparatus includes an upstream laser driver.

A transmission system for a passive optical network, comprising:

• at least one data processing device configured for facilitating transmission convergence functionality;
• instructions processable by said at least one data processing device;
• and
• an apparatus from which said instructions are accessible by said at least one data processing device;
• wherein said instructions are configured for enabling said at least one data processing device to facilitate:
• directing a downstream signal toward a designated user device interface in response to receiving the downstream signal from downstream transmission portion of a shared electrical interface apparatus;
• and
• selectively controlling an upstream transmission portion of the shared electrical interface apparatus for enabling transmission of an upstream signal via a shared optical transmission apparatus, broadcasting the downstream signal from a prioritizing-type buffer of the shared electrical interface apparatus via a shared optical transmission apparatus for reception by a plurality of transmission convergence termination units, wherein the transmission system shares front end components of the plurality of transmission convergence termination units such that the plurality of transmission convergence termination units are devoid of optical module components for facilitating optical signal transmission functionality, thereby enabling delivery of the downstream signal to the designated user device interface of a corresponding one of said transmission convergence termination units;
• wherein the upstream transmission portion includes an electrical multiplexing device of the shared optical transmission apparatus, wherein the shared optical transmission apparatus is comprised of the prioritizing-type buffer and the electrical multiplexing device;
• wherein the shared optical transmission apparatus includes an upstream laser driver.