Supporting Private Networking Capability in EPON

We propose a novel ring-based local access Passive Optical Network (PON) architecture that addresses some of the limitations of current tree-based PON. Specifically, we propose a simple ring-based Ethernet PON (EPON) architecture with a fully distributed control plane among the ONUs that supports a truly shared LAN capability among end users as well as upstream access to the central office. This architecture is well suited for an autonomous access environment such as a university campus or a private corporation where several buildings are closely dispersed within a 0.5-1 km diameter area. Unlike a typical ring-based PON topology in which Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and Optical Network Units (ONUs) are interconnected via a long fiber ring, under the proposed architecture, ONUs are interconnected via a short distribution fiber ring in the local loop but share the standard trunk feeder fiber for long reach connectivity to the Central Office (CO).