• Detailed descriptions of the architectural differences of three basic PON types,
the standards governing them, and the rationales for their development.
• Illustrations of FTTP implementation concepts and criteria in various cate-
gories of neighborhoods, optical power-budget analyses for various network
designs, and options for supplying electrical power to optical network units and
optical network terminations.
• Discussions of FTTP cable plant implementations, including cabling interfaces
and enclosures in the central office, types of optical cables and distribution cab-
inets used in the outside plant, and fiber cable installation procedures.
• Descriptions of measurement techniques for verifying that the network has
been configured properly and that its constituent components are functioning
correctly.
• An overview of the issues related to the operation, administration, maintenance,
and provisioning functions of a PON.
• Web access through the book website to an interactive FTTP network simula-
tion tool for educational purposes (see ftp://ftp.wiley.com/public/sci_tech_med/
fttx_concepts/).
This book provides the basic material for an introductory senior-level course on
the principles and applications of passive optical network technology. It also will
serve well as a working reference for practicing engineers and managers dealing
with FTTP network design, implementation, installation, testing, and maintenance.
Others who can benefit from the material in the book include service provider man-
agement and engineering personnel, optoelectronic device and module manufactur-
ers who want a better understanding of how their devices fit into FTTP networks,
investment personnel who need to know the technical and implementation issues
related to FTTP networks, and technical sales and marketing people.
Since modern communication networks make extensive use of acronyms, a list of
the most common ones is given at the end of the book. A collection of 126 home-
work problems is included to help test the reader’s comprehension of the material
covered and to extend and elucidate the text. A number of the homework problems
can be expanded to serve as student projects.
Simulation tools are being used extensively for modeling the behavior of local,
metro, and long-haul networks. These tools also can be useful in the physical-layer
design of FTTP networks. The book Web site gives an example application note of
such a tool and related applications from RSoft Design Group. In addition, there is
a link to the company Web site (www.rsoftdesign.com) that will allow readers access
to a downloadable interactive model for an example FTTP network.
In preparing this book, many thanks go to the manuscript reviewers, whose com-
ments enhanced and clarified the content and organization of the material. An initial
trial run of the material in this book was presented at a 2004 summer course at the
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Tainan, Taiwan. Special thanks go to
San-Liang Lee of the National University of Science and Technology and Hen-Wai
Tsao of the National Taiwan University for inviting me to give this course, to Jen-Fa
xvi PREFACE
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