Communication system and method for an optical local area network
OwnerAlexander Soto, Walter Sotoinventors
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Abstract
An optical local area network includes a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes, a hub that includes the first node and a control module, and a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module. The control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes.
Claims56
A method for broadcasting data comprising:
- receiving an incoming optical signal at a first port of a plurality of ports;
- converting the received incoming optical signal to an electrical signal;
- processing the electrical signal;
- converting the processed electrical signal to a broadcast optical signal;
- and
- coupling the broadcast optical signal to each of the plurality of ports.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of ports;
- a passive optical coupler coupled to each of the plurality of ports;
- an optical-electrical converter in optical communication with the passive optical coupler;
- and
- a control module in electrical communication with the optical-electrical converter for scheduling slots for incoming and outgoing signals over the plurality of ports.
An optical local area network comprising:
- a plurality of optical waveguides;
- a network manager that comprises
- an optical-electrical converter in optical communication with the plurality of optical waveguides;
- and
- a control module in electrical communication with the optical-electrical converter for scheduling slots for incoming and outgoing signals transmitted over the plurality of optical waveguides;
- and
- a plurality of network client adapters coupled to the plurality of optical waveguides, each network client adapter including an optical-electrical converter for processing transmitted and received optical signals at a client.
An optical local area network comprising:
- a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes;
- a hub that includes the first node and a control module;
- and
- a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module;
- wherein the control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes.
An optical local area network comprising:
- a hub;
- a plurality of external nodes interconnected by a passive optical distribution fabric, wherein the external nodes are located external to the hub, and the hub is operable to control traffic across all nodes;
- adaptors at each external node responsive to hub instruction;
- and
- an interface coupled to the hub coupling signals received from any individual external node for distribution to all external nodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.