Method and device for data processing

1. A method for data processing in an optical network element, wherein the optical network element switches between a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode of data transmission, which comprises the steps of:

analyzing at least one of the following criteria:

a queue fill grade;

an expected delivery delay for high priority packages; and

a currently traffic situation, a future traffic situation or a past traffic situation;

selecting automatically a selected mode of data transmission being either the low-speed mode or the high-speed mode of data transmission;

switching to the selected mode of data transmission;

performing the following steps when operating in the low-speed mode of data transmission:

reducing a processing speed of a signal processing logic and a modulation rate;

providing received data with an intermediate frequency via a heterodyne optical receiver unit; and

undersampling the received data by undersampling the intermediate frequency which reduces the processing speed of the signal processing logic.

2. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises operating in the low-speed mode when data traffic reaches or falls below a predetermined value.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical network element is or is associated with an optical network unit or with an optical line termination.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical network element switches between the low-speed mode and the high-speed mode of data transmission at least one of in an upstream direction or in a downstream direction.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before changing a mode of the data transmission, the optical network element waits for a current data packet delivery to be at least partially finished.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical network element switches the mode of data transmission by the further steps of:

stopping a current data transmission;

signaling a switching of the mode of data transmission to a receiver;

switching the mode of data transmission and forwarding data to the receiver after a predetermined time has lapsed and/or after the receiver acknowledged a change of the mode of data transmission.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a local oscillator or the optical network element is adjusted by the further steps of:

detecting a frequency drift in the low-speed mode;

switching to the high-speed mode; and

correcting the frequency drift.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical network element changes from the low-speed mode to the high-speed mode substantially immediately.

9. The method according to claim 8 , which further comprises retransmitting an interrupted data packet at the high-speed mode of transmission.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical network element changes from the low-speed mode to the high-speed mode when user data are to be conveyed.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the low-speed mode, a modulation scheme is modified.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the low-speed mode, a bandwidth for a modulated signal is reduced in the low-speed mode.

13. A device, comprising:

at least one apparatus selected from the group consisting of a processor unit, a hard-wired circuit and a logic device; and

said apparatus programmed to perform a method for data processing in an optical network element, wherein the optical network element switches between a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode of data transmission, said apparatus programmed to:

analyze at least one of the following criteria:

a queue fill grade;

an expected delivery delay for high priority packages; and

a currently traffic situation, a future traffic situation or a past traffic situation;

select automatically a selected mode of data transmission being either the low-speed mode or the high-speed mode of data transmission;

switch to the selected mode of data transmission;

perform the following steps when operating in the low-speed mode of data transmission:

reduce a processing speed of a signal processing logic and a modulation rate;

provide received data with an intermediate frequency via a heterodyne optical receiver unit; and

undersample the received data by undersampling the intermediate frequency which reduces the processing speed of the signal processing logic.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the device is a communication device.

15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the device is an optical network element.

16. A device, comprising:

a processor unit programmed to perform a method for data processing in an optical network element, wherein the optical network element switching between a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode of data transmission, said processor unit programmed to:

analyze at least one of the following criteria:

a queue fill grade;

an expected delivery delay for high priority packages; and

a currently traffic situation, a future traffic situation or a past traffic situation;

select automatically a selected mode of data transmission being either the low-speed mode or the high-speed mode of data transmission;

switch to the selected mode of data transmission;

perform the following steps when operating in the low-speed mode of data transmission:

reduce a processing speed of a signal processing logic and a modulation rate;

provide received data with an intermediate frequency via a heterodyne optical receiver unit; and

undersample the received data by undersampling the intermediate frequency which reduces the processing speed of the signal processing logic.