Access Networks provide the backbone to the Internet connecting the end-users to

the core network thus forming the most important segment for connectivity. Access

Networks have multiple physical layer medium ranging from fiber cables, to DSL links

and Wireless nodes, creating practically-used hybrid access networks. We explore the

hybrid access network at the Medium ACcess (MAC) Layer which receives packets

segregated as data and control packets, thus providing the needed decoupling of data

and control plane. We utilize the Software Defined Networking (SDN) principle of

centralized processing with segregated data and control plane to further extend the

usability of our algorithms. This dissertation introduces novel techniques in Dynamic

Bandwidth allocation, control message scheduling policy, flow control techniques and

Grouping techniques to provide improved performance in Hybrid Passive Optical Networks (PON) such as PON-xDSL, FiWi etc. Finally, we study the different types of

software defined algorithms in access networks and describe the various open challenges and research directions.

With internet traffic being bursty in nature, Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation(DBA) Algorithms have always been very important for any broadband access network to utilize the available bandwidth effciently. It is no different for Passive Optical Networks(PON), which are networks based on fiber optics in the physical layer of TCP/IP stack or OSI model, which in turn increases the bandwidth in the upper layers. The work in this thesis covers general description of basic DBA Schemes and mathematical derivations that have been established in research. We introduce a Novel Survey Topology that classifes DBA schemes based on their functionality. The novel perspective of classification will be useful in determining which scheme will best suit consumer's needs. We classify DBA as Direct, Intelligent and Predictive back on its computation method and we are able to qualitatively describe their delay and throughput bounds. Also we describe a recently developed DBA Scheme, Multi-thread polling(MTP) used in LRPON and describes the different viewpoints and issues and consequently introduce a novel technique Parallel Polling that overcomes most of issues faced in MTP and that promises better delay performance for LRPON.