Two-Stage Resource Allocation to Improve Utilization of Synchronous OFDM-PON Supporting Service Differentiation

We propose a two-stage resource allocation algorithm for the high link utilization of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing passive optical network (OFDM-PON). An OFDM-PON is assumed to use a synchronous frame structure in supporting service differentiation. In distributing resources, the proposed algorithm first allocates a time window for each optical network unit (ONU), and then it arranges a subchannel, which is a group of subcarriers. This algorithm needs to satisfy two constraints. First, computations for the resource allocation should be done using a frame unit. Second, an ONU has to use a single subchannel to send upstream data for multiple services within a frame duration. We show through a computer simulation that the proposed algorithm improves the link utilization.