Time division multiple access optical subcarriers

A system, comprising:

• a transmitter, including:
• a laser operable to output an optical signal,
• a digital signal processor operable to receive data and provide a plurality of electrical signals based on the data, and
• a modulator operable to modulate the optical signal to provide a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the plurality of electrical signals, one of the plurality of subcarriers carries first information during a first time slot and second information during a second time slot;
• a first receiver provided in a first node, the first receiver being optically coupled to the transmitter;
• and
• a second receiver provided in a second node, the second receiver being optical coupled to the transmitter, the first and second receivers being remote from the transmitter, such that the first information is associated with the first node and the second information is associated with a second node remote from the transmitter.

A receiver, comprising:

• a local oscillator laser;
• an optical hybrid circuit that receives a plurality of optical subcarriers and an optical signal supplied from the local oscillator laser, the optical hybrid circuit supplying a plurality of mixing products, one of the optical subcarriers carrying first information during a first time slot and second information during a second time slot, the first information being designated for the receiver and the second information being designated for another receiver;
• a photodiode circuit that receives the plurality of mixing products and outputs a plurality of electrical signals;
• a digital signal processor that outputs, based on the plurality of electrical signals, data associated with the first information.