Downstream burst transmission in passive optical networks

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 network unit (ONU) to:

• receive a message comprising a downstream bandwidth map indicating active periods by indicating associated inactive periods, wherein the inactive periods indicate scheduled periods during which data communicated over a passive optical network (PON) is not relevant to the ONU, and wherein the downstream bandwidth map comprises:
• an identifier field that identifies the ONU;
• a plurality of start time fields that indicate start times of the inactive periods;
• and
• a plurality of stop time fields that indicate completion times of the inactive periods;
• power up an ONU receive data processor during the active periods;
• and
• power down the GNU receive data processor for all periods outside of the active periods.

A method implemented at an optical line terminal (OLT) in a passive optical network (PON) comprising:

• calculating a downstream bandwidth map that indicates active periods of time when the OLT is scheduled to transmit data frames to an optical network unit (ONU), wherein the downstream bandwidth map indicates the active periods by indicating associated inactive periods, and wherein the downstream bandwidth map comprises:
• an identifier field that identifies the ONU;
• a plurality of start time fields that indicate start times of the inactive periods;
• and
• a plurality of stop time fields that indicate completion times of the inactive periods;
• generating a message comprising the downstream bandwidth map;
• and
• sending the message to the ONU via an optical transmitter and the PON, wherein the message instructs the ONU to power on at least one ONU receive data processor during the active periods.