Multiqueue model approach to evaluate the performance of an EPON access network

The access infrastructure of a network plays an important role in its overall performance. Next generation access networks must be able to provide high bandwidth capacity over the access medium, while ensuring a given level of quality of service (QoS). The MPCP (multipoint control protocol) is the standard access protocol which arbitrates the access to the channel in an EPON (Ethernet passive optical network), and it is of the request-permit type. As with any new standard, it still remains an open issue to develop efficient protocols that deal with challenges such as fairness, dynamic bandwidth allocation taking into account the QoS and the SLA, easiness and cost effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to present an analytical model to analyze the performance of the protocols proposed for the EPON network. The approach used is based on the Multiqueue model theory. Expected values of the performance of the protocol are easily computed, allowing the OLT to compute in real time the configuration parameters (i.e.: cycles per second, packet size, maximum transmission window size) to the traffic status in the most efficient way.