MAC protocol designs for OFDMA-PONs

This paper provides specifications of the parameters defining the design of medium access control (MAC) protocols for orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) passive optical networks (PONs). Network architecture has been designed for MAC evaluation based on the wired-wireless converged topology, extendable in reach, subcarriers and optical network units (ONUs), the upstream and downstream bitrates and modulation formats and the explored bandwidth allocation schemes. Dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) in synergy with queue scheduling in ONUs, can handle rapidly fluctuating traffic while decreasing packet delay. The former is achieved using the granularity of OFDMA and time division multiple access (TDMA) sustained by capacity control. The foreseen functionalities have been attained by the extension of the upcoming 10-Gigabit-capable passive optical network (XG-PON) frame structures. The MAC requirements enabling wireless backhauling are uniquely explored with respect to centralization at the Optical Line Terminal (OLT).