Location-independent packet scheduling for wireless EPON

Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) is the latest access technology, based on IEEE standards, utilizing an optical network architecture optimized for simple, economical delivery of voice, data, and video over native Ethernet to residential, business, and enterprise customers. With the recent explosion of wireless enterprise Local Area Networks (LANs) and the widespread implementation of Wi-Fi networks in public hot-spots the need for convergence of wired access networks (such as EPON) and wireless enterprise LANs is rapidly evolving and expanding. This converged wired/wireless access system will provide high-speed connection, mobility, and seamless wireless handover for customers within large enterprise buildings and campuses. The convergence can be achieved by collocating the functionalities of the EPON customer premises equipment - called Optical Network Units (ONUs) -- with those of the wireless base stations. This allows ONUs to forward the information to both wired and wireless End-user Terminals (ETs). Since every customer has different needs, the converged network must ensure fair and proportional distribution of upstream bandwidth between ETs. Moreover the handover between wireless coverage areas must be designed to guarantee minimum packet delay and loss.;Using simulation methodology, we evaluate the performance of LIPS and compare it to the existing dynamic bandwidth allocation algorithms. Through the simulation we prove that the LIPS scheme is capable of maintaining throughput/time-share fairness in asymmetric situations where the mobile users require different levels of service, while still offering the same level of delay performance.;We also present an improvement over the proposed architecture aimed to increase the maximum number of ETs that can be concurrently attached to a given ONU referred to as "ONU Shelving". Then we present a shadow buffer system that nullifies the handover packet loss. We compare the packet loss of the shadow buffer system to those of the original design. We conclude that ONU shelving and "Shadowing" can increase the maximum number of ETs per ONU and minimize the handover packet loss.;We present novel bandwidth allocation architecture for the hybrid (converged) network that spans both the wired and wireless legs of the wireless EPON. It is aimed to support a variety of users with different needs, characteristics and bandwidth requirements. Moreover its unique design does not limit the network to the choice of wireless or wired connection, and it supports mobility management and handover between wireless LANs. Part of the proposed architecture is a packet scheduling scheme, referred to as "Location-Independent Packet Scheduling Scheme" further mentioned as LIPS. It distributes bandwidth between ETs in the Optical Line Terminal (OLT). The OLT-based central control ensures global fairness between different Classes of Service (CoS) on a given ET, as well as with CoSs of other ETs. To meet the design goals, the OLT employs a credit pooling scheme so that the combined per-CoS traffic from all ETs will add up to the level agreed upon during the process of bandwidth negotiation. The OLT uses a weighted-share policy to determine how much of the ONU's bandwidth to allocate to each ET-CoS pair. The OLT also controls traffic from every ET in order to place a limit on the number of packets transmitted during each transmission interval. We show how the ET mobility can be easily handled by implementing a dedicated buffer to each ET at the ONUs and by extending/modifying the Standard Multi-Point Control Protocol. Dedicated buffers allow the data transmitted from the ET to be stored in the ONU, thus allowing an ONU to act on behalf of the ETs connected to it. The modifications to the MPCP Gate and Report message provide the OLT with the ability to control every ET. Thus an ET does not trigger a bandwidth re-negotiation after roaming to the new ONU.