Protocol configuration method

1. A configuration method for use by a substation to be coupled to a main station in an optical access network, said configuration method comprising:

predefining for said substation a plurality of types of protocol;

after being coupled to said main station, determining by said substation a bit-rate and a line-coding for a bit-stream transmitted over said optical access network by said main station, thereby providing a downstream line-rate and a downstream line-coding; and

based upon at least one of said determined downstream line-rate and said determined downstream line-coding, selecting by said substation according to predefined rules and conditions a type of protocol out of said plurality of predefined types of protocol for said bit-stream; and

activating said selected type of protocol and thereby enabling said substation to communicate with said main station according to said selected type of protocol,

wherein the substation comprises an optical network terminator (ONT) of the optical access network and the main station comprises an optical line terminator (OLT) of the optical access network.

2. The configuration method of claim 1 , wherein said selecting comprises recognizing within said bit-stream one of a plurality of predefined patterns.

3. The configuration method of claim 2 , wherein said recognized predefined pattern is a Physical Layer Operation and Maintenance cell and said selecting further comprises counting a number of idle grants within said predefined pattern.

4. The configuration method of claim 1 , wherein said selecting is based upon said detected downstream line-rate.

5. A substation for coupling to a main station in an optical access network and for executing a configuration method, said substation being enabled to operate according to at least one of a plurality of predefined types of protocol, said substation comprising:

a first determiner that determines, after being coupled to said main station, a bit-rate and a line-coding for a bit-stream transmitted over said optical access network by said main station, and that provides thereby a downstream line-rate and a downstream line-coding;

a selector that selects, based upon at least one of said determined downstream line-rate and said determined downstream line-coding, and according to predefined rules and conditions, a type of protocol out of said plurality of predefined types of protocol for said bit-stream; and

an activator that activates said selected type of protocol and thereby enables said substation to communicate with said main station according to said selected type of protocol,

wherein the substation comprises an optical network terminator (ONT) of the optical access network and the main station comprises an optical line terminator (OLT) of the optical access network.

6. The substation according to claim 5 , wherein said selector comprises a second determiner that recognizes within said bit-stream one of a plurality of predefined patterns.

7. The substation according to claim 6 , wherein said recognized predefined pattern is a Physical Layer Operation and Maintenance cell and said selector further comprises a counter being coupled to said second determiner to count a number of idle grants within said predefined pattern.

8. The substation according to claim 5 , wherein said substation is further configured to form part of a passive optical network in a telecommunication system.

9. The configuration method of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of predefined types of protocol comprises a BPON protocol, an EPON protocol, and a GPON protocol.

10. The substation according to claim 5 , wherein said plurality of predefined types of protocol comprises a BPON protocol, an EPON protocol, and a GPON protocol.

11. A configuration method comprising:

coupling a substation to a main station in an optical access network;

predefining for said substation a plurality of types of protocol;

receiving a bit-stream transmitted over said optical access network by said main station;

determining by said substation a bit-rate and a line-coding for said bit-stream received from said main station;

selecting a type of protocol among said plurality of predefined types of protocol for said bit-stream based upon at least one of said determined bit-rate and said determined line-coding; and

activating said selected type of protocol and communicating with said main station according to said selected type of protocol,

wherein the substation comprises an optical network terminator (ONT) of the optical access network and the main station comprises an optical line terminator (OLT) of the optical access network.

12. The configuration method of claim 11 , wherein said selected type of protocol is one of a BPON protocol, an EPON protocol, and a GPON protocol.

13. The configuration method of claim 1 , wherein said ONT is coupled to a common branch of the optical access network and said OLT is coupled to the ONT through an individual branch among a plurality of branches of the common branch.

14. The substation according to claim 5 , wherein said ONT is coupled to a common branch of the optical access network and said OLT is coupled to the ONT through an individual branch among a plurality of branches of the common branch.

15. The configuration method of claim 11 , wherein said ONT is coupled to a common branch of the optical access network and said OLT is coupled to the ONT through an individual branch among a plurality of branches of the common branch.