Scalability of a hitless λ-tuning sequence to upstream transmission at dynamic wavelength allocation in WDM/TDM-PON [invited]

This paper clarifies the scalability of the hitless wavelength-tuning (λ-tuning) sequence for dynamic wavelength allocation (DWA) on a λ-tunable wavelength-division-multiplexing/time-division-multiplexing passive optical network (WDM/TDM-PON). The λ-tuning that induces no data-frame loss, i.e., hitless λ-tuning, is essential in DWA. We derive requirements to prevent two types of upstream data-frame loss that the λ-tuning causes. To clarify the scalability of the hitless λ-tuning sequence against system parameters, we theoretically analyze the maximum input data rate to the optical network units (ONUs) to achieve λ-tuning without upstream data-frame loss while varying values for buffer size and λ-tuning time of the transceivers in ONUs and the DWA cycle. Then, using media access control boards that we developed for symmetric 40 Gbit/s λ-tunable WDM/TDM-PONs, we demonstrate hitless λ-tuning and confirm the validity of the theoretical analysis.