Method and Apparatus for Controlling an Optical
Network Unit to Restart upon Completion of
Downloading New Software
Field of the invention
The present application relates to an optical communication network
and particularly to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and an Optical
Network Unit (ONU) in systems of an Ethernet Passive Optical Network
(EPON) and a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON).
Background of the invention
In EPON and GPON systems, an optical line terminal must be able to
upgrade remotely the software version of an optical network unit. After all
the data blocks of the new software version are received accurately, the
optical network unit will immediately restart and automatically activate
the new software version. From the perspective of downloading software,
the foregoing operation of the optical network unit is proper, but the
operation may interrupt user services, particularly voice and video
services.
Therefore it is desirable to provide a solution which can address this
technical problem.
Summary of the invention
In view of the foregoing problem, the usage of an active image request
has been extended in the invention, that is, the original active image
request (hereinafter referred to as "a first active image request") is
reserved while a second active image request and a third active image
request are newly introduced.
The flag field of the original first active image request is assigned with
0, for example, that is, flag=0, to instruct the optical network unit to
immediately restart and activate the new software version that has been
downloaded.
The flag field of the newly introduced second active image request is
assigned with 1, for example, that is, flag=l, to instruct the optical
network unit to set an activation flag to indicate that the new software
version that has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of
restarting.
The flag field of the newly introduced third active image request is
assigned with 2, for example, that is, flag=2, to instruct the optical
network unit to immediately restart.
Particularly the first active image request is used alone, and the second
active image request and the third active image request are used in
combination, which will be described below in details.
Furthermore two attributes of the optical network unit are also
introduced in the invention, respectively the Restart Delay Time Range
(RstDelayTimeRange) attribute and the Restart Delay Traffic Threshold
(RstDelayTrafficThreshold) attribute.
The RstDelayTimeRange attribute is used for indicating the time range
or the time value in or at which the traffic detection is performed on the
optical network unit, and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute is used
for indicating the upper traffic limit below or at which the optical network
unit is determined to be in a silent state, which will be described below in
details.
Hereupon in an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a
method, in an optical line terminal of an optical communication network,
of instructing an optical network unit to restart. The method comprises the
steps of: a. upon completion of downloading a new software version,
determining a type of an active image request to be transmitted based
upon stored values of an RstDelayTimeRange attribute and of an
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute corresponding to the optical network
unit, wherein the RstDelayTimeRange attribute is used for indicating a
time range or a time value in or at which a traffic detection is performed
on the optical network unit, and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute is
used for indicating an upper traffic limit below or at which the optical
network unit is determined to be in a silent state; and b. transmitting the
active image request to the optical network unit.
Optionally the step a comprises the step of: if the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute and the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicate that no time delay is required
and no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network
unit, then a first active image request is determined to be the active image
request to be transmitted, and the step b comprises the step of:
transmitting the first active image request to the optical network unit,
wherein the first active image request is used for instructing the optical
network unit to immediately restart and activate the new software version
that has been downloaded, and wherein after the step b, the method
further comprises the step of: receiving a first active image response
corresponding to the first active image request from the optical network
unit.
Optionally the step a comprises the step of: if the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that no traffic detection is
required to be performed on the optical network unit and the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute indicates a specific time value, then
determining a second active image request to be the active image request
to be transmitted, and the step b comprises the step of: transmitting the
second active image request to the optical network unit, wherein the
second active image request is used for instructing the optical network
unit to set an activation flag to indicate that the new software version that
has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
wherein after the step b, the method further comprises the steps of: c.
receiving a second active image response corresponding to the second
active image request from the optical network unit; d. transmitting a third
active image request to the optical network unit at the specific time value
indicated by the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute, wherein the
third active image request is used for instructing the optical network unit
to immediately restart; and e. receiving a third active image response
corresponding to the third active image request from the optical network
unit.
Optionally the step a comprises the step of: if the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that the traffic detection is
required to be performed on the optical network unit, then a second active
image request is determined to be the active image request to be
transmitted, and the step b comprises the step of: transmitting the second
active image request to the optical network unit, wherein the second
active image request is used for instructing the optical network unit to set
an activation flag to indicate that the new software version that has been
downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and wherein
after the step b, the method further comprises the steps of: c' . receiving a
second active image response corresponding to the second active image
request from the optical network unit; d'. performing the traffic detection
on the optical network unit in the time range or at the time value indicated
by the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute; e' . when the detected
traffic is below or equal to the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold
attribute, transmitting a third active image request to the optical network
unit, wherein the third active image request is used for instructing the
optical network unit to immediately restart; and . receiving a third active
image response corresponding to the third active image request from the
optical network unit.
In another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method, in
an optical line terminal of an optical communication network, of
instructing an optical network unit to restart. The method comprises the
steps of: A. upon completion of downloading a new software version,
detecting traffic of the optical network unit based upon stored values, of
an RstDelayTimeRange attribute and of an RstDelayTrafficThreshold
attribute, corresponding to the optical network unit, wherein the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute is used for indicating a time range in which
a traffic detection is performed on the optical network unit, and the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute is used for indicating an upper traffic
limit below or at which the optical network unit is determined to be in a
silent state; B. when the detected traffic is below or equal to the value of
the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, transmitting a first active image
request to the optical network unit, wherein the first active image request
is used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately restart and
activate the new software version that has been downloaded; and C.
receiving a first active image response corresponding to the first active
image request from the optical network unit.
In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method,
in an optical network unit of an optical communication network, for
restarting in response to an instruction of an optical line terminal. The
method comprises the steps of: i . upon completion of downloading a new
software version, receiving an active image request from the optical line
terminal; and ii. determining a type of the active image request and
performing an operation corresponding to the type of the active image
request according to the type.
Optionally the step ii comprises the step of: if the active image request
is a first active image request, then transmitting a first active image
response corresponding to the first active image request to the optical line
terminal and immediately restarting and activating the new software
version that has been downloaded.
Optionally the step ii comprises the step of: if the active image request
is a second active image request, then transmitting a second active image
response corresponding to the second active image request to the optical
line terminal and setting an activation flag to indicate that the new
software version that has been downloaded shall be activated upon next
time of restarting, and after the step ii, the method further comprises the
steps of: iii. receiving a third active image request from the optical line
terminal; and iv. transmitting a third active image response corresponding
to the third active image request to the optical line terminal and restarting
immediately.
By applying the technical solution of the invention, upon completion
of downloading a new software version, the optical network unit will
restart only if the optical network unit is in a silent status, that is, the
optical network unit will not restart to activate the new software version
when the optical network unit is busy with providing a network service,
thereby ensuring to the maximum extent that the ongoing network service
will not be interrupted.
In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus, in an optical line terminal of an optical communication
network, for instructing an optical network unit to restart. The apparatus
comprises: a first determination device for, upon completion of
downloading a new software version, determining a type of an active
image request to be transmitted based upon stored values, of a
RstDelayTimeRange attribute and of a RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute,
corresponding to the optical network unit, wherein the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute is used for indicating a time range or a time
value in or at which a traffic detection is performed on the optical network
unit, and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute is used for indicating an
upper traffic limit below or at which he optical network unit is determined
to be in a silent state; and a first transmission device for transmitting the
determined active image request to the optical network unit.
Optionally the first determination device is for: if the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute and the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicate that no time delay is required
and no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network
unit, then determining a first active image request to be the active image
request to be transmitted, and the first transmission device is for:
transmitting the first active image request to the optical network unit,
wherein the first active image request is used for instructing the optical
network unit to immediately restart and activate the new software version
that has been downloaded, and wherein the apparatus further comprises: a
first reception device for receiving a first active image response
corresponding to the first active image request from the optical network
unit.
Optionally the first determination device is for: if the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that no traffic detection is
required to be performed on the optical network unit and the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute indicates a specific time value, then
determining a second active image request to be the active image request
to be transmitted, and the first transmission device is for: transmitting the
second active image request to the optical network unit, wherein the
second active image request is used for instructing the optical network
unit to set an activation flag to indicate that the new software version that
has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises: a second reception device for
receiving a second active image response corresponding to the second
active image request from the optical network unit; a second transmission
device for transmitting a third active image request to the optical network
unit at the specific time value indicated by the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute, wherein the third active image request is
used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately restart; and a
third reception device for receiving a third active image response
corresponding to the third active image request from the optical network
unit.
Optionally the first determination device is for: if the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that the traffic detection is
required to be performed on the optical network unit, then determining a
second active image request to be the active image request to be
transmitted, and the first transmission device is for: transmitting the
second active image request to the optical network unit, wherein the
second active image request is used for instructing the optical network
unit to set an activation flag to indicate that the new software version that
has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises: a fourth reception device for
receiving a second active image response corresponding to the second
active image request from the optical network unit; a first detection
device for performing the traffic detection on the optical network unit in
the time range or at the time value indicated by the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute; a third transmission device for, when the
detected traffic is below or equal to the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, transmitting a third active image
request to the optical network unit, wherein the third active image request
is used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately restart; and
a fifth reception device for receiving a third active image response
corresponding to the third active image request from the optical network
unit.
In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus, in an optical line terminal of an optical communication
network, of instructing an optical network unit to restart. The apparatus
comprises: a second detection device for, upon completion of
downloading a new software version, detecting traffic of the optical
network unit based upon stored values, of a RstDelayTimeRange attribute
and of a RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, corresponding to the optical
network unit, wherein the RstDelayTimeRange attribute is used for
indicating a time range or a time value in or at which a traffic detection is
performed on the optical network unit, and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold
attribute is used for indicating an upper traffic limit below or at which the
optical network unit is determined to be in a silent state; a fourth
transmission device for, when the detected traffic is below or equal to the
value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, transmitting a first active
image request to the optical network unit, wherein the first active image
request is used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately
restart and activate the new software version that has been downloaded;
and a sixth reception device for receiving a first active image response
corresponding to the first active image request from the optical network
unit.
In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus, in an optical network unit of an optical communication
network, for restarting in response to an instruction of an optical line
terminal. The apparatus comprises: a seventh reception device for
receiving an active image request from the optical line terminal upon
completion of downloading a new software version; and an execution
device for determining a type of the active image request and performing
an operation corresponding to the type of the active image request
according to the type.
Optionally the execution device is for: if the active image request is a
first active image request, then transmitting a first active image response
corresponding to the first active image request to the optical line terminal
and immediately restarting and activating the new software version that
has been downloaded.
Optionally the execution device is for: if the active image request is a
second active image request, then transmitting a second active image
response corresponding to the second active image request to the optical
line terminal and setting an activation flag to indicate that the new
software version that has been downloaded shall be activated upon next
time of restarting, and the apparatus further comprises: an eighth
reception device for receiving a third active image request from the
optical line terminal; and a fifth transmission device for transmitting a
third active image response corresponding to the third active image
request to the optical line terminal and immediately restarting.
Respective aspects of the invention will become more apparent from
the following description of embodiments thereof.
Brief description of drawings
The foregoing and other features of the invention will become more
apparent upon review of the following detailed description of non-limiting
embodiments with reference to the drawings in which:
Fig.l is a flow chart of a method of controlling an optical network unit
to restart upon completion of downloading new software according to an
embodiment of the invention.
Identical or similar reference numerals denote identical or similar
components throughout the drawings.
Detailed description of embodiments
In order to implement technical solutions of the invention, the use of
the active image request defined in "CTC EPON Device Technique
Requirement Specification V2.1" shall be extended. As described above,
in the invention, the original active image request (hereinafter referred to
as "a first active image request") is reserved while a second active image
request and a third active image request are newly introduced.
The flag field of the original first active image request is assigned with
0, for example, that is, flag=0, to instruct the optical network unit to
immediately restart and activate a new software version that has been
downloaded. The first active image request is in the following format.
2 bytes 1 byte
Opcode=8 Flag=0
Wherein Opcode is an operation code field assigned with 8 and in a
length of 2 bytes, and Flag is a flag field assigned with 0 and in a length
of 1 byte.
The flag field of the newly introduced second active image request is
assigned with 1, for example, that is, flag=l, to instruct the optical
network unit to set an activation flag to indicate that the new software
version that has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of
restarting. The second active image request is in the following format.
2 bytes 1 byte
Opcode=8 Flag=l
Wherein Opcode is an operation code field assigned with 8 and in a
length of 2 bytes, and Flag is a flag field assigned with 1 and in a length
of 1 byte.
The flag field of the newly introduced third active image request is
assigned with 2, for example, that is, flag=2, to instruct the optical
network unit to immediately restart. The third active image request is in
the following format.
2 bytes 1 byte
Opcode=8 Flag=2
Wherein Opcode is an operation code field assigned with 8 and in a
length of 2 bytes, and Flag is a flag field assigned with 2 and in a length
of 1 byte.
Moreover, in the invention, the active image response defined in "CTC
EPON Device Technique Requirement Specification V2.1" remains
unaltered and is in the following format.
2 bytes 1 byte
Opcode=9 ACK
Wherein Opcode is an operation code field assigned with 9 and in a
length of 2 bytes, and ACK is an acknowledgement field in a length of 1
byte.
Furthermore, in order to implement technical solutions of the
invention, two attributes of the optical network unit are newly introduced
in the invention, respectively a Restart Delay Time Range
n
(RstDelayTimeRange) attribute and a Restart Delay Traffic Threshold
(RstDelayTrafficThreshold) attribute. The two new attributes are as
depicted in Table below.
In a practical application, the values of the foregoing pair of attributes
are well preset dependent upon the practical condition and stored in the
optical line terminal by the operator. In the case that one optical line
terminal manages and controls a plurality of optical network units, the
values of the foregoing pair of attributes corresponding to each optical
network unit are well preset and stored in the optical line terminal.
It shall be noted the first active image request mentioned above is used
alone, that is, in the case that the value of the RstDelayTimeRange
attribute and the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicate
that no time delay is required and no traffic detection is required to be
performed on the optical network unit, the optical line terminal transmits
the first active image request to the optical network unit upon completion
of downloading the new software version.
The second active image request and the third active image request
mentioned above are used in combination.
In the case that the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute
indicates that the traffic detection is required to be performed on the
optical network unit, the optical line terminal firstly transmits the second
active image request to the optical network unit upon completion of
downloading the new software version. Then the optical line terminal
performs the traffic detection on the optical network unit in the time range
or at the time value indicated by the value of the RstDelayTimeRange
attribute, and transmits the third active image request to the optical
network unit when the detected traffic is below or equal to the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute.
In the case that the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute
indicates no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical
network unit and the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute indicates
a specific time value, the optical line terminal firstly transmits the second
active image request to the optical network unit and then transmits the
third active image request to the optical network unit at the specific time
value indicated by the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute upon
completion of downloading the new software version.
Examples of the values of the foregoing pair of attributes (i.e. the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold) will be
given below.
- (IMMEDIATE, 0): which indicates that no time delay is required and
no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network unit,
so the optical line terminal transmits the first active image request to the
optical network unit upon completion of downloading the new software
version.
- (120, 0): which indicates that no traffic detection is required to be
performed on the optical network unit, so the optical line terminal
transmits the second active image request to the optical network unit upon
completion of downloading the new software version and then transmits
the third active image request to the optical network unit after an elapse of
120 minutes.
- (2011-5-27 02:00, 0): which indicates that no traffic detection is
required to be performed on the optical network unit, so the optical line
terminal transmits the second active image request to the optical network
unit upon completion of downloading the new software version and then
will not transmit the third active image request to the optical network unit
until 2:00 a.m. May 27, 201 1 comes.
- (IMMEDIATE, 5): which indicates that the optical line terminal
performs the traffic detection on the optical network unit immediately
after transmitting the second active image request and transmits the third
active image request to the optical network unit when the detected traffic,
for example, the number of data packets transmitted and received per
minute is below or equal to 5.
- (120, 5): which indicates that after transmitting the second active
image request, the optical line terminal will not perform the traffic
detection on the optical network unit until an elapse of 120 minutes is
reached, and the optical line terminal transmits the third active image
request to the optical network unit when the detected traffic, for example,
the number of data packets transmitted and received per minute is below
or equal to 5.
- (201 1-5-27 02:00-06:00, 5): which indicates that after transmitting
the second active image request, the optical line terminal will not perform
the traffic detection on the optical network unit until 2:00 a.m. May 27,
201 1 comes, and the optical line terminal transmits the third active image
request to the optical network unit when the detected traffic, for example,
the number of data packets transmitted and received per minute is below
or equal to 5 in the time range of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., and if the case
that the number of data packets transmitted and received per minute is
below or equal to 5 is absent in the time range of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.,
then the optical line terminal transmits the third active image request to
the optical network unit at the end of the time range, i.e., 6:00 a.m.
- (EVERDAY 02:00-06:00, 5): which indicates that after transmitting
the second active image request, the optical line terminal performs the
traffic detection on the optical network unit in the time range of 2:00 a.m.
to 6:00 a.m. every day, and transmits the third active image request to the
optical network unit when the detected traffic, for example, the number of
data packets transmitted and received per minute is below or equal to 5.
The technical solutions of the invention will be described below with
reference to the drawings.
Fig.l illustrates a flow chart of a method of controlling an optical
network unit to restart upon completion of downloading new software
according to an embodiment of the invention.
When the optical line terminal 10 is required to provide the optical
network unit 20 with a new software version, the optical line terminal 10
firstly transmits a software version information inquiry request (Get
Request) to the optical network unit 20 to inquire about the software
version currently used by the optical network unit 20. The optical network
unit 20 transmits information of its currently used software version to the
optical line terminal 10 via a software version information inquiry
response (Get Response) upon reception of the software version
information inquiry request (Get Request).
When the optical line terminal 10 determines whether the information
of the software version in the software version information inquiry
response (Get Response) matches the new software version thereof to be
provided upon reception of the software version information inquiry
response (Get Response). If there is no match, then the optical line
terminal 10 transmits a File Write Request to the optical network unit 20.
The optical network unit 20 transmits a File Transfer Acknowledgement
to the optical line terminal 10 upon reception of the File Write Request.
Then the optical line terminal 10 divides the new software version into
a plurality of data blocks and transmits them to the optical network unit
20 sequentially.
At the end of transmitting the last data block, the optical line terminal
10 transmits an End Download Request to the optical network unit 20.
The optical network unit 20 writes the received respective data blocks
from a memory into Flash upon reception of the End Download Request.
The optical network unit 20 transmits an End Download Response to the
optical line terminal 10 at the end of the write operation.
To this end, the downloading of the new software version has been
completed.
It shall be noted that the foregoing respective steps are similar to
downloading steps in the prior art, and a repeated description thereof will
be omitted here for the sake of conciseness.
With reference to Fig.l, upon completion of downloading the new
software version, the optical line terminal 10 determines the type of the
active image request to be transmitted based on the stored values, of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute,
corresponding to the optical network unit 20 in Step Sll .
If the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute and the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicate that no time delay is required
and no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network
unit 20, then the optical line terminal 10 determines the first active image
request to be the active image request to be transmitted.
Then in Step SI 2a, the optical line terminal 10 transmits the first
active image request to the optical network unit 20.
The optical network unit 20 transmits the first active image response
corresponding to the first active image request to the optical line terminal
10 and immediately restarts and activates the new software version that
has been downloaded upon reception of the first active image request.
If the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that no
traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network unit 20
and the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute indicates a specific
time value, then the optical line terminal 10 determines the second active
image request to be the active image request to be transmitted.
Then in Step SI 2b, the optical line terminal 10 transmits the second
active image request to the optical network unit 20.
The optical network unit 20 transmits the second active image
response corresponding to the second active image request to the optical
line terminal 10 upon reception of the second active image request, and
sets an activation flag to indicate that the new software version that has
been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting.
In Step SI 3b, the optical line terminal 10 receives the second active
image response from the optical network unit 20.
Next, in Step S14b, the optical line terminal 10 transmits the third
active image request to the optical network unit 20 at the specific time
value indicated by the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute.
The optical network unit 20 transmits the third active image response
corresponding to the third active image request to the optical line terminal
10 and immediately restarts upon reception of the third active image
request. Since the optical network unit 20 sets the activation flag upon
reception of the second active image request, the optical network unit 20
activates the new software version after restarting.
Then in Step SI 5b, the optical line terminal 10 receives the third
active image response from the optical network unit 20.
If the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that
the traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network
unit 20, then the optical line terminal 10 determines the second active
image request to be the active image request to be transmitted.
Then in Step 12c, the optical line terminal 10 transmits the second
active image request to the optical network unit 20.
The optical network unit 20 transmits the second active image
response corresponding to the second active image request to the optical
line terminal 10 upon reception of the second active image request, and
sets an activation flag to indicate that the new software version that has
been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting.
In Step SI 3c, the optical line terminal 10 receives the second active
image response from the optical network unit 20.
Next in Step SI 4c, the optical line terminal 10 performs the traffic
detection on the optical network unit 20 in the time range or at the time
value indicated by the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute.
When the detected traffic, for example, the number of data packets
transmitted and received per minute, is below or equal to the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, the optical line terminal 10 transmits
the third active image request to the optical network unit 20 in Step S15c.
The optical network unit 20 transmits the third active image response
corresponding to the third active image request to the optical line terminal
10 and immediately restarts upon reception of the third active image
request. Since the optical network unit 20 sets the activation flag upon
reception of the second active image request, the optical network unit 20
activates the new software version after restarting.
Then in Step SI 6c, the optical line terminal 10 receives the third
active image response from the optical network unit 20.
Upon reception of the first active image response or the third active
image response from the optical network unit 20, the optical line terminal
10 will not transmit a Commit Image Request to the optical network unit
20 until the optical network unit 20 restarts.
The optical network unit 20 transmits a Commit Image Response to
the optical line terminal 10 upon reception of the Commit Image
Request.
In another embodiment, the optical network unit 20 is manually
restarted after the optical line terminal 10 transmits the second active
image request to the optical network unit 20 and the optical network unit
20 sets the activation flag in response to the second active image request
and before the optical line terminal 10 transmits the third active image
request. And then after the optical network unit 20 is manually restarted,
for example, the optical line terminal 10 can transmit the third active
image request to the optical network unit 20. Since the optical network
unit 20 has restarted and activated the new software version, the optical
network unit 20 will only return the third active image response to the
optical line terminal 10 without restarting upon reception of the third
active image request.
Alternatively, after the optical network unit 20 is manually restarted,
the optical line terminal 10 may fetch on its own initiative from the
optical network unit 20 the currently run software version thereof, and if
the currently run software version is the new software version, then the
optical line terminal 10 will not transmit the third active image request to
the optical network unit 20 any more but instead directly transmit the
Commit Image Request to the optical network unit 20.
In a further embodiment, it is assumed that the optical line terminal 10
does not know whether the optical network unit 20 supports the restart
delay solution of the invention. Then the optical line terminal 10 will
firstly acquire capability information of the optical network unit 20, the
capability information indicating whether the optical network unit 20
supports the restart delay solution.
If the optical line terminal 10 fails to acquire the capability
information or knows from the acquired capability information that the
optical network unit 20 does not support the restart delay solution, then it
means that the optical network unit 20 can not recognize the separately
transmitted two new active software version requests (i.e., the second new
active software version request and the third new active software version
request transmitted in sequence), so in this case the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute of the optical network unit 20 can be set to
"IMMEDIATE" and the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute
thereof can preferably be set to 20.
Hereupon the optical line terminal 10 detects traffic data of the optical
network unit 20 immediately upon completion of downloading the new
software version.
The optical line terminal 10 transmits the first active image request to
the optical network unit 20 when the detected traffic, for example, the
number of data packets transmitted and received per minute, is below or
equal to 20.
Upon reception of the first active image request, the optical network
unit 20 transmits the first active image response corresponding to the first
active image request to the optical line terminal 10, and immediately
restarts and activates the new software version that has been downloaded.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention will not
be limited to the details of the foregoing illustrative embodiments but can
be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or
essential principle of the invention. Therefore the embodiments shall be
construed in any aspect as illustrative but not limiting, and any reference
numerals in the claims shall not be taken as limiting the claims where they
appear. Furthermore it will be apparent that the term "comprise" will not
preclude another element(s) or step(s), and the term "a/an" preceding an
element will not preclude "a plurality of" such elements. A plurality of
elements recited in a product claim can alternatively be embodied as a
single element in software or hardware. The terms "first", "second",
will be used to represent a name instead of any specific order.
CLAIMS
1. A method, in an optical line terminal of an optical communication
network, of instructing an optical network unit to restart, the method
comprising the steps of:
a. upon completion of downloading a new software version,
determining a type of an active image request to be transmitted based upon
stored values of a RstDelayTimeRange attribute and of a
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute corresponding to the optical network unit,
wherein the RstDelayTimeRange attribute is used for indicating a time range
or a time value in or at which a traffic detection is performed on the optical
network unit, and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute is used for
indicating an upper traffic limit below or at which the optical network unit is
determined to be in a silent state; and
b. transmitting the active image request to the optical network unit.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step a comprises the
step of:
if the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute and the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicate that no time delay is required and
no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network unit,
then a first active image request is determined to be the active image request
to be transmitted, and
the step b comprises the step of: transmitting the first active image
request to the optical network unit, wherein the first active image request is
used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately restart and
activate the new software version that has been downloaded, and
after the step b, the method further comprises the step of: receiving a
first active image response corresponding to the first active image request
from the optical network unit.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step a comprises the
step of:
if the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that no
traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network unit and
the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute indicates a specific time value,
determining a second active image request to be the active image request to
be transmitted, and
the step b comprises the step of: transmitting the second active image
request to the optical network unit, wherein the second active image request
is used for instructing the optical network unit to set an activation flag, the
activation flag being used to indicate that the new software version that has
been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
after the step b, the method further comprises the steps of:
c. receiving a second active image response corresponding to the
second active image request from the optical network unit;
d. transmitting a third active image request to the optical network unit
at the specific time value indicated by the value of the RstDelayTimeRange
attribute, wherein the third active image request is used for instructing the
optical network unit to restart immediately; and
e. receiving a third active image response corresponding to the third
active image request from the optical network unit.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step a comprises the
step of:
if the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates that the
traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network unit,
determining a second active image request to be the active image request to
be transmitted, and
the step b comprises the step of: transmitting the second active image
request to the optical network unit, wherein the second active image request
is used for instructing the optical network unit to set an activation flag, the
activation flag being used to indicate that the new software version that has
been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
after the step b, the method further comprises the steps of:
c' . receiving a second active image response corresponding to the
second active image request from the optical network unit;
d'. performing the traffic detection on the optical network unit in the
time range or at the time value indicated by the value of the
RstDelayTimeRange attribute;
e' . when detected traffic is below or equal to the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, transmitting a third active image request
to the optical network unit, wherein the third active image request is used for
instructing the optical network unit to restart immediately; and
. receiving a third active image response corresponding to the third
active image request from the optical network unit.
5. A method, in an optical line terminal of an optical communication
network, of instructing an optical network unit to restart, the method
comprising the steps of:
A. upon completion of downloading a new software version, detecting
traffic of the optical network unit based upon stored values of a
RstDelayTimeRange attribute and of a RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute
corresponding to the optical network unit, wherein the RstDelayTimeRange
attribute is used for indicating a time range in which a traffic detection is
performed on the optical network unit, and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold
attribute is used for indicating an upper traffic limit below or at which the
optical network unit is determined to be in a silent state;
B. when the detected traffic is below or equal to the value of the
RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, transmitting a first active image request
to the optical network unit, wherein the first active image request is used for
instructing the optical network unit to immediately restart and activate the
new software version that has been downloaded; and
C. receiving a first active image response corresponding to the first
active image request from the optical network unit.
6. A method, in an optical network unit of an optical communication
network, for restarting in response to an instruction of an optical line terminal,
the method comprising the steps of:
i . upon completion of downloading a new software version, receiving
an active image request from the optical line terminal; and
ii. determining a type of the active image request and performing an
operation corresponding to the type of the active image request according to
the type.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step ii comprises the
step of:
if the active image request is a first active image request, then
transmitting a first active image response corresponding to the first active
image request to the optical line terminal, and immediately restarting and
activating the new software version that has been downloaded.
8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step ii comprises the
step of:
if the active image request is a second active image request, then
transmitting a second active image response corresponding to the second
active image request to the optical line terminal, and setting an activation flag,
the activation flag being used to indicate that the new software version that
has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
after the step ii, the method further comprises the steps of:
iii. receiving a third active image request from the optical line terminal;
and
iv. transmitting a third active image response corresponding to the third
active image request to the optical line terminal, and restarting immediately.
9. An apparatus, in an optical line terminal of an optical communication
network, for instructing an optical network unit to restart, the apparatus
comprising:
a first determination device for, upon completion of downloading a new
software version, determining a type of an active image request to be
transmitted based upon stored values of a RstDelayTimeRange attribute and
of a RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute corresponding to the optical network
unit, wherein the RstDelayTimeRange attribute is used for indicating a time
range or a time value in or at which a traffic detection is performed on the
optical network unit, and the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute is used for
indicating an upper traffic limit below or at which the optical network unit is
determined to be in a silent state; and
a first transmission device for transmitting the active image request to
the optical network unit.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first determination
device is for: if the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute and the value
of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicate that no time delay is
required and no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical
network unit, then determining a first active image request to be the active
image request to be transmitted, and
the first transmission device is for: transmitting the first active image
request to the optical network unit, wherein the first active image request is
used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately restart and
activate the new software version that has been downloaded, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a first reception device for receiving a first active image response
corresponding to the first active image request from the optical network unit.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first determination
device is for: if the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates
that no traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network
unit and the value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute indicates a specific
time value, then determining a second active image request to be the active
image request to be transmitted, and
the first transmission device is for: transmitting the second active
image request to the optical network unit, wherein the second active image
request is used for instructing the optical network unit to set an activation
flag, the activation flag being used to indicate that the new software version
that has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a second reception device for receiving a second active image response
corresponding to the second active image request from the optical network
unit;
a second transmission device for transmitting a third active image
request to the optical network unit at the specific time value indicated by the
value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute, wherein the third active image
request is used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately restart;
and
a third reception device for receiving a third active image response
corresponding to the third active image request from the optical network unit.
12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first determination
device is for: if the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute indicates
that the traffic detection is required to be performed on the optical network
unit, then determining a second active image request to be the active image
request to be transmitted, and
the first transmission device is for: transmitting the second active
image request to the optical network unit, wherein the second active image
request is used for instructing the optical network unit to set an activation
flag, the activation flag being used to indicate that the new software version
that has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of restarting, and
wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a fourth reception device for receiving a second active image response
corresponding to the second active image request from the optical network
unit;
a first detection device for performing the traffic detection on the
optical network unit in the time range or at the time value indicated by the
value of the RstDelayTimeRange attribute;
a third transmission device for, when detected traffic is below or equal
to the value of the RstDelayTrafficThreshold attribute, transmitting a third
active image request to the optical network unit, wherein the third active
image request is used for instructing the optical network unit to immediately
restart; and
a fifth reception device for receiving a third active image response
corresponding to the third active image request from the optical network unit.
13. An apparatus, in an optical network unit of an optical
communication network, for restarting in response to an instruction of an
optical line terminal, the apparatus comprising:
a seventh reception device for receiving an active image request from
the optical line terminal upon completion of downloading a new software
version; and
an execution device for determining a type of the active image request,
and performing an operation corresponding to the type of the active image
request according to the type.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the execution device
is for:
if the active image request is a first active image request, then
transmitting a first active image response corresponding to the first active
image request to the optical line terminal, and immediately restarting and
activating the new software version that has been downloaded.
15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the execution device
is for:
if the active image request is a second active image request, then
transmitting a second active image response corresponding to the second
active image request to the optical line terminal, and setting an activation
flag, the activation flag being used to indicate that the new software
version that has been downloaded shall be activated upon next time of
restarting, and
the apparatus further comprises:
an eighth reception device for receiving a third active image request
from the optical line terminal; and
a fifth transmission device for transmitting a third active image
response corresponding to the third active image request to the optical line
terminal, and immediately restarting.