Seamless configuration update for optical network unit in ethernet passive optical network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9674035-B2
Application number	US-201213433235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2012
Priority date	Mar 28, 2011
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

Techniques for updating configuration of an Optical Network Unit (ONU) in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) include receiving a notification that an updated configuration file is available for the ONU, obtaining the updated configuration file, performing a first validation of the updated configuration file for structural errors, determining changes between a current configuration of the ONU and the updated configuration file to identify ONU resources to implement to the changes, performing a second validation about whether the ONU resources to implement the changes are available or not at the ONU and applying the changes to the ONU when it is determined that the ONU resources to implement the changes are available at the ONU.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of causing an update to a configuration file used for operation of an Optical Network Unit (ONU) operable in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON), the method comprising:
generating, using at least one computer, an updated configuration file for the ONU, wherein the ONU is configured with an existing configuration file;
notifying a virtual cable modem (vCM), prior to successful update of the ONU, that the updated configuration file is available for the ONU;
providing, when requested by the vCM, to the vCM, the updated configuration file; and
monitoring the vCM for an indication of successful update of the ONU by the vCM using the updated configuration file.

2. The method of claim 1 , further wherein the operation of generating the updated configuration file includes:
detecting a configuration change need for the ONU; and
modifying at least one service listed in the configuration file to generate the updated configuration file.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of notifying the vCM includes:
changing a variable in a management information base (MIB) of the vCM.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of providing the updated configuration file includes:
receiving a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) request from the vCM;
providing the vCM information about a location of the updated configuration file; and
permitting the vCM to download the updated configuration file using a file transfer protocol (FTP).

5. An apparatus for facilitating an update to a configuration file used for operation of an Optical Network Unit (ONU) operable in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON), the apparatus comprising:
a generator that generates an updated configuration file for the ONU, wherein the ONU is configured with an existing configuration file;
a notifier that notifies a virtual cable modem (vCM), prior to successful update of the ONU, that the updated configuration file is available for the ONU; and
a file provider that provides, when requested by the vCM, to the vCM, the updated configuration file; and
a monitor that monitors the vCM for an indication of successful update of the ONU by the vCM using the updated configuration file.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further wherein the generator includes:
a detector that detects a configuration change need for the ONU; and
a modifier that modifies at least one service listed in the configuration file to generate the updated configuration file.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the notifier includes:
a changer that changes a variable in a management information base (MIB) of the vCM.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the file provider includes:
a receiver receiving a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) request from the vCM;
a location provider that provides the vCM information about a location of the updated configuration file; and
a file transferor that permits the vCM to download the updated configuration file using a file transfer protocol (FTP).

9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having code stored thereon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a method of causing an update to a configuration file used for operation of an Optical Network Unit (ONU) operable in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON), the method comprising:
generating an updated configuration file for the ONU, wherein the ONU is configured with an existing configuration file;
notifying a virtual cable modem (vCM), prior to successful update of the ONU, that the updated configuration file is available for the ONU; and
providing, when requested by the vCM, to the vCM, the updated configuration file; and
monitoring the vCM for an indication of successful update of the ONU by the vCM using the updated configuration file.

10. The computer program product comprising the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , further wherein the operation of generating the updated configuration file includes:
detecting a configuration change need for the ONU; and
modifying at least one service listed in the configuration file to generate the updated configuration file.

11. The computer program product comprising the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation of notifying the vCM includes:
changing a variable in a management information base (MIB) of the vCM.

12. The computer program product comprising the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the operation of providing the updated configuration file includes:
receiving a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) request from the vCM;
providing the vCM information about a location of the updated configuration file; and
permitting the vCM to download the updated configuration file using a file transfer protocol (FTP).

13. An apparatus for causing an update to a configuration file used for operation of an Optical Network Unit (ONU) operable in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON), the apparatus comprising:
means for generating an updated configuration file for the ONU, wherein the ONU is configured with an existing configuration file;
means for notifying a virtual cable modem (vCM), prior to successful update of the ONU, that the updated configuration file is available for the ONU; and
means for providing, when requested by the vCM, to the vCM, the updated configuration file; and
means for monitoring the vCM for an indication of successful update of the ONU by the vCM using the updated configuration file.

14. A method of updating configuration of an Optical Network Unit (ONU) in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON), the method comprising:
receiving a notification that an updated configuration file is available for the ONU, wherein the ONU is configured with a current configuration file;
obtaining the updated configuration file;
performing, using at least one computer, a first validation of the updated configuration file for structural errors;
determining changes between the current configuration file of the ONU and the updated configuration file to identify ONU resources to implement to the changes;
performing a second validation about whether the ONU resources to implement the changes are available or not at the ONU; and
applying the changes to the ONU when it is determined that the ONU resources to implement the changes are available at the ONU.

15. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein the operation of receiving the notification includes detecting a change to a management information base (MIB) entry.

16. The method recited in claim 14 , wherein the operation of obtaining the updated configuration file includes:
sending a dynamic host control protocol (DHCP) message;
receiving one or more identities of servers storing the updated configuration file; and
obtaining the updated configuration file from one of the servers using a file transfer protocol (FTP).

17. The method recited in claim 14 , further including:
indicating an ongoing configuration update using a MIB entry during the updating operation.

18. The method recited in claim 14 , further including:
deleting the updated configuration file from a local memory after successful completion of the applying operation.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
performing a third validation about whether an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and a DOCSIS Ethernet passive optical network (DPoE) system include resources to implement the changes in the

Assignees

• Hajduczenia Marek
• Zang Meiyan
• Zhang Peng
• Zte Corp
• ZTE Portugal-Projectos de Telecommunicações Unipessoal Lda

Inventors

• Hajduczenia Marek
• Zang Meiyan
• Zhang Peng

Classifications

• H04Q2011/0079

  Operation or maintenance aspects · CPC title

• H04Q11/0067

  Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring · CPC title

• H04L41/0869

  Validating the configuration within one network element · CPC title

• H04L41/082 Primary

  the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality · CPC title