Improved polling strategies for efficient flow control for buffer reduction in PON/xDSL hybrid access networks

Hybrid PON/xDSL access networks offer a cost effective alternative to passive optical networks (PONs). However, the drop-point device that bridges the fiber and copper portions of this network requires a power source potentially limiting where it can be deployed. To lift deployment restrictions, remote powering from a subscriber's power source can be utilized but available power will be limited. We explore polling strategies that provide flow control to limit the amount of buffering that occurs at the drop point device. The objective is to enable the use of a small memory capacity at the drop-point to reduce its energy consumption.