Bandwidth allocation with a particle swarm meta-heuristic for ethernet passive optical networks

This paper considers the bandwidth allocation problem for an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON). An EPON is one of the best options for high-speed access networks. This paper formulates the optimal bandwidth allocation problem with an analytical model to maximize throughput and weighted fairness simultaneously. First, the optimal solution under certain conditions is characterized. Then, two heuristic algorithms are devised which optimize the allocation problem under general conditions. One heuristic is a straightforward constructive one while the one use the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) meta-heuristic, the first known application of PSO to the EPON bandwidth allocation problem. The heuristics are tested and compared with previously published results. The computational experience shows that our algorithms are both effective and efficient in allocating bandwidth on an EPON.