A Framework for an Energy-Efficient Bandwidth Allocation Approach through Dynamic ONTs Grouping in Flexible GPON Access Networks

Abstract

The growing demands for high speed connectivity to keep pace with bandwidth intensive applications and services have spawned the idea of developing PONs with capabilities beyond those of copper and wireless-based technologies in access network. In this article, an approach for the design of an energy efficient bandwidth allocation mechanism for the shared upstream communication link in the Fiber to the Home (FTTH) access network is presented and evaluated using Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model. In the MILP model, two objective functions for minimization of power consumption and minimization of blocking were evaluated. The results have shown that with the objective of power minimization approach, Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) are efficiently grouped to the minimum number of active networking Optical Line Terminal (OLT) switches, traffic is groomed, ports are efficiently utilized, and hence total power consumption is minimized. Results have shown that with energy efficient bandwidth allocation approach consideration, energy savings can reach up to 80% for different examined traffic loads following uniform distribution.