Ethernet Passive Optical Network Over Coaxial (EPoC) Physical Layer Link and Auto-Negotiation

• US 20140072304A1
• Filed: 09/10/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: BOYD, Edward Wayne, Kliger, Avi
• Granted Patent: US 9,608,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/67
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0088 Signalling aspects

Abstract

A PHY auto-negotiation and link up procedure for Ethernet Passive Optical Network Over Coax (EPOC) is provided. The procedure is compliant with the Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) standard and can be used to bring an EPOC network to user traffic readiness. In addition, the procedure, or a variation thereof, can be used to enable periodic maintenance of the coaxial link of the EPOC network, thereby maintaining adequate communication conditions.

Claims

1. A method for performing physical layer auto-negotiation and link up in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coaxial (EPOC) network, the method comprising:

transmitting a link info broadcast message over a physical layer (PHY) link channel of the EPOC network;

transmitting a first link configuration unicast message over the PHY link channel of the EPOC network in response to receiving a reply message to the link info broadcast message; and

transmitting a second link configuration unicast message over the PHY link channel of the EPOC network in response to receiving a reply message to the first link configuration unicast message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the link info broadcast message is broadcast to a plurality of coaxial network units (CNUs).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the reply message to the link info broadcast message over the EPOC network from an unlinked coaxial network unit (CNU).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the reply message to the link info broadcast message includes an address of the unlinked CNU.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining an adjustment to a transmit power level of the unlinked CNU based on the reply message to the link info broadcast message.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining an adjustment to a transmit delay of the unlinked CNU based on a time between transmitting the link info broadcast message and receiving the reply message to the link info broadcast message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first link configuration unicast message includes configuration settings to adjust a transmit power and a transmit delay of an unlinked coaxial network unit (CNU).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link configuration unicast message informs an unlinked coaxial network unit (CNU) to transition to a linked state.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second link configuration unicast message informs an unlinked coaxial network unit (CNU) to transition to a linked state based on a transmission power level and a transmission symbol timing of the unlinked CNU.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the PHY link channel is dedicated to carrying PHY auto-negotiation and link information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the PHY link channel corresponds to one or more carriers or channels of a transmission spectrum of the EPOC network.

12. A method for performing physical layer auto-negotiation and link up in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coaxial (EPOC) network, the method comprising:

transmitting a reply message to a link info broadcast message received over a physical layer (PHY) link channel of the EPOC network;

transmitting a reply message to a first link configuration unicast message, the first link configuration message received over the PHY link channel of the EPOC network in response to the reply message to the link info broadcast message; and

transmitting a reply message to a second link configuration unicast message, the second link configuration message received over the PHY link channel of the EPOC network in response to the reply message to the first link configuration unicast message.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the link info broadcast message is broadcast to a plurality of coaxial network units (CNUs).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the reply message to the link info broadcast message is sent by an unlinked coaxial network unit (CNU) and includes an address of the unlinked CNU.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

adjusting a transmit power level of the unlinked CNU based on a configuration setting included in the first link configuration message.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

adjusting a transmit delay of the unlinked CNU based on a configuration setting included in the first link configuration message.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transitioning to a linked state based on an indication in the second link configuration message to transition to the linked state.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the PHY link channel is dedicated to carrying PHY auto-negotiation and link information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the PHY link channel corresponds to one or more carriers or channels of a transmission spectrum of the EPOC network.

20. A network comprising:

a cable line terminal (CLT) configured to implement a first Media Access Control (MAC) layer; and

a coaxial network unit (CNU) configured to implement a second MAC layer,

wherein the CLT and CNU exchange MAC-level messages over the network after performing a physical layer (PHY) auto-negotiation and link up procedure,

wherein the PHY auto-negotiation and link up procedure is performed over a PHY link channel of the network dedicated to carrying PHY auto-negotiation and link information.