A wavelength-division-multiplexed passive optical network with flexible optical network unit internetworking capability

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel flexible optical network unit (ONU) internetworking architecture over a wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON). By employing our designated wavelength assignment and remodulating the downstream differential phase-shift keying signal as the ONU internetworking carrier, one ONU can broadcast its own message to all other ONUs, with negligible signal interference. Moreover, the inter-ONU communication can further be partitioned into arbitrary virtual private groups of ONUs by employing designated RF tones for identification and control. It was experimentally demonstrated that the performance degradation due to the introduction of RF tones is negligible compared with the full broadcast case. Our proposed scheme can provide high flexibility and practical implementation for. WDM-PONs.