Wavelength channel minimization-based energy-aware mechanism in a multichannel EPON

We propose an energy-aware mechanism (EAM) applicable to the multichannel Ethernet Passive Optical Network that can minimize the number of wavelength channels used and save energy. Wavelength channel minimization is processed by collecting the information such as request message, allocated grant, and start time of each optical network unit (ONU) transmission in the previously elapsed scheduling cycles and comparing it with the buffer occupancy and packet delay conditions of the ONUs required by the user’s quality-of-service requirement. They are exchanged between the optical line terminal (OLT) and the ONUs via the multipoint control protocol. In this way, at the beginning of each scheduling cycle, the ONU’s buffer occupancy and packet delay conditions can be evaluated, and then, the OLT decides the smallest number of wavelength channels to be used in the current scheduling cycle. By turning off the OLT receivers corresponding to the unused wavelength channels, the OLT can save energy. The performance of the proposed EAM was evaluated through simulations using nonjoint off-line dynamic bandwidth allocation and dynamic wavelength assignment algorithms. The results showed that the OLT receivers’ power consumption could be reduced by 48 % on average.