Method and apparatus for preventing signal interference in a passive optical network

1. A method for removing signal interference in a passive optical network, the passive optical network having an optical line terminal, a splitting unit coupled with the optical line terminal, an optical network unit coupled with the splitting unit, and an identification signal uniquely associated with the optical network unit, which method comprises the steps of:

sending a first signal;

detecting the first signal;

comparing the first signal detected with the identification signal; and

decoupling the optical network unit from the splitting unit if the comparing step results in a mismatch;

wherein the splitting unit performs the steps of detecting the first signal, comparing the first signal detected with the identification signal and decoupling the optical network unit from the splitting unit if the comparing step results in the mismatch.

2. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises sending the first signal from the optical network unit.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the splitting unit maintains the optical network unit being coupled with the splitting unit if the comparing step results in a match.

4. The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises recoupling, via the splitting unit, the optical network unit with the splitting unit if the optical network unit is not coupled with the splitting unit and the comparing step results in a match.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the splitting unit further comprises a switch unit for coupling and re-coupling the optical network unit with the splitting unit and for decoupling the optical network unit from the splitting unit.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the switch unit further comprises a first detecting element for detecting the first signal, a first controlling means for storing the identification signal in a first recording medium and for comparing the detected first signal with the identification signal stored in the first recording medium, and a switching element for coupling and re-coupling the optical network unit with the splitting unit and for decoupling the optical network unit from the splitting unit.

7. The method according to claim 6 , which further comprises:

detecting the first signal with the first detecting element;

comparing, via the first controlling means, the first signal detected with the identification signal stored in the first recording medium; and

decoupling the optical network unit from the splitting unit via the switching element if the comparing step in the first controlling means results in a mismatch.

8. The method according to claim 6 , which further comprises maintaining, via the switching element, that the optical network unit is coupled with the splitting unit if the comparing step in the first controlling means results in a match.

9. The method according claim 6 , which further comprises recoupling, via the switching element, the optical network unit with the splitting unit if the optical network unit is not coupled with the splitting unit and if the comparing step in the first controlling means results in a match.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical line terminal contains a second detecting element for detecting the first signal, and a second controlling means for storing the identification signal in a second recording medium and for comparing the first signal detected with the identification signal stored in the second recording medium.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the passive optical network further comprises a supervisory channel linking the optical line terminal with the splitting unit.

12. The method according to claim 11 , which further comprises:

detecting the first signal via the second detecting element resulting in a detected first signal;

comparing, via the second controlling means, the detected first signal with the identification signal stored in the second recording medium; and

sending, via the optical line terminal, through the supervisory channel a request to the splitting unit to decouple the optical network unit from the splitting unit if the comparing step in the second controlling means results in a mismatch.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the identification signal has a continuous wave optical signal modulated at a low frequency.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the continuous wave optical signal modulated at a low frequency is expressed by the following:

s

⁡

(

t

)

=

CW

+

cos

⁡

(

2

⁢

π

⁢

⁢

v

0

⁢

t

)

·

rect

⁡

(

t

T

)

,

CW being a constant term representing the continuous wave, v 0 being a low frequency tone, t being time, T being a duration of the identification signal, and

rect

⁡

(

t

T

)

being a function being equal to one for

-

T

2

<

t

<

T

2

and being equal to zero elsewhere.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the identification signal further includes an acknowledgment data packet.

16. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

storing, via the optical line terminal, an updated identification signal in the second recording medium;

sending, via the optical line terminal, the updated identification signal to the splitting unit through the supervisory channel;

storing, via the splitting unit, the updated identification signal in the first recording medium; and

sending, via the optical line terminal, the updated identification signal to the optical network unit.

17. A system for removing signal interference in a passive optical network, the system comprising:

an optical line terminal;

a splitting unit coupled with said optical line terminal;

an optical network unit coupled with said splitting unit; and

an identification signal uniquely associated with the optical network unit;

wherein said optical network unit configured to send a first signal and said splitting unit configured to detect the first signal, compare a detected first signal with the identification signal and decouple said optical network unit from said splitting unit if the comparing results in a mismatch.