Onu with wireless connectivity capability

Abstract

The embodiments herein relate to a method in an optical network unit, referred to as an ONU, for providing wireless connectivity capability to the ONU. The ONU is comprised in a communications network. The ONU is interconnected to an optical line terminal, referred to as an OLT, via a wireline communications link and a wireless communications link. The ONU is configured to support a sleep mode. The ONU obtains information about entry into the sleep mode. The ONU identifies whether the wireless communications link is activated or deactivated, and activates the wireless communications link if the wireless communications link is identified as deactivated. The ONU enters sleep mode, and provides wireless connectivity capability to the ONU by means of the wireless communications link during the sleep mode.

1 . A method in an optical line terminal (OLT) for providing wireless connectivity capability to an optical network unit (ONU) which OLT is comprised in a communications network, the OLT being interconnected to the ONU via a wireline communications link and via a wireless communications link, the method comprising:
 identifying bearer traffic to the ONU when ONU is in a sleep mode;   buffering the identified bearer traffic;   transmitting information about exit out of sleep mode to the ONU via the wireless communications link;   transmitting, after the ONU has exited sleep mode, the buffered bearer traffic to the ONU using the wireline communications link; and   providing wireless connectivity capability to the ONU by means of the wireless communications link during the sleep mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting control or management data from the OLT to the ONU via the wireless communications link, while the ONU is in sleep mode.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 receiving control or management data from the ONU via the wireless communications link, while the ONU is in sleep mode.   
     
     
         4 . An optical line terminal (OLT) for providing wireless connectivity capability to an optical network unit (ONU) which OLT is comprised in a communications network, the OLT being interconnected to the ONU via a wireline communications link and via a wireless communications link, the OLT comprising:
 an identifying unit configured to identify bearer traffic to the ONU, the ONU being in a sleep mode;   a buffering unit configured to buffer the identified bearer traffic; and   a transmitting unit configured to:
 transmit information about exit out of sleep mode to the ONU via a wireless communications link; and 
 transmit, after the ONU has exited sleep mode, the buffered bearer traffic to the ONU using the wireline communications link. 
   
     
     
         5 . The OLT according to  claim 4 , wherein the transmitting unit is further configured to:
 transmit control or management data from the OLT to the ONU via the wireless communications link, while the ONU is in sleep mode.   
     
     
         6 . The OLT according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive control or management data from the ONU via the wireless communications link, while the ONU is in sleep mode.