Repeater system

A repeater system for data communication between terminal devices which uses an optical signal, the repeater system comprising an end repeater and a host repeater, wherein the end repeater includes:

• a first section including first means for receiving a first optical signal transmitted from a terminal device and for converting the first optical signal into a first electric signal, second means for frequency-converting the first electric signal to a second electric signal, and third means for converting the second electric signal into a second optical signal and for transmitting the second optical signal to the host repeater;
• and
• a second section including fourth means for receiving a third optical signal from the host repeater and for converting the third optical signal into a third electric signal, fifth means for frequency-converting the third electric signal to a fourth electric signal, and sixth means for converting the fourth electric signal into a fourth optical signal and for transmitting the fourth optical signal to a terminal device;
• and
• wherein the host repeater includes:
• seventh means for receiving a second optical signal from the end repeater and for converting the second optical signal into a fifth electric signal, eighth means for frequency-converting the fifth electric signal to a sixth electric signal, and ninth means for converting the sixth electric signal into a third optical signal and for transmitting the third optical signal to the end repeater.

A repeater system for packet data communication between terminal devices which uses an optical signal, the repeater system comprising a host repeater and a plurality of end repeaters, wherein each of the end repeaters includes:

• a first section including first means for receiving a first optical signal transmitted from a terminal device and for converting the first optical signal into a first electric signal, second means for frequency-converting the first electric signal to a second electric signal, and third means for converting the second electric signal into a second optical signal and for transmitting the second optical signal to the host repeater;
• and
• a second section including fourth means for receiving a third optical signal from the host repeater and for converting the third optical signal into a third electric signal, fifth means for frequency-converting the third electric signal to a fourth electric signal, and sixth means for converting the fourth electric signal into a fourth optical signal and for transmitting the fourth optical signal to a terminal device;
• and
• wherein the host repeater includes:
• seventh means for receiving a fifth optical signal from the end repeater and for converting the fifth optical signal into a fifth electric signal, eighth means for frequency-converting the fifth electric signal to a sixth electric signal, and ninth means for converting the sixth electric signal into a sixth optical signal and for transmitting the sixth optical signal to the end repeater.

A repeater for data communication between terminal devices which uses optical signals, the repeater comprising:

• a first section including first means for receiving a first optical signal transmitted from a terminal device and for converting the first optical signal into a first electric signal having a first frequency, second means for frequency-converting the first electric signal to a second electric signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency, and third means for converting the second electric signal into a second optical signal and for transmitting the second optical signal;
• a second section including fourth means for receiving a third optical signal and for converting the third optical signal into a third electric signal having the second frequency, fifth means for frequency-converting the third electric signal to a fourth electric signal having a third frequency different from both the first and second frequencies, and sixth means for converting the fourth electric signal into a fourth optical signal and for transmitting the fourth optical signal to a terminal device;
• and
• means for inhibiting a transmission of the second optical signal from the first section when the second section receives the third optical signal.

A repeater system for data communication between terminal devices which uses an optical signal, the repeater system comprising repeaters each including:

• a first section including first means for receiving a first optical signal transmitted from a terminal device and for converting the first optical signal into a first electric signal having a first frequency, second means for frequency-converting the first electric signal to a second electric signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency, and third means for converting the second electric signal into a second optical signal and for transmitting the second optical signal;
• a second section including fourth means for receiving a third optical signal and for converting the third optical signal into a third electric signal having the second frequency, fifth means for frequency-converting the third electric signal to a fourth electric signal having a third frequency different from both the first and second frequencies, and sixth means for converting the fourth electric signal into a fourth optical signal and for transmitting the fourth optical signal to a terminal device;
• and
• means for inhibiting a transmission of the second optical signal from the first section when the second section receives the third optical signal.

A repeater system for data communication between terminal devices which uses an optical signal, the repeater system comprising an end repeater and a host repeater, wherein the end repeater includes:

• a first section including first means for receiving a first optical signal transmitted from a terminal device and for converting the first optical signal into a first electric signal having a first frequency, second means for frequency-converting the first electric signal to a second electric signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency, and third means for converting the second electric signal into a second optical signal and for transmitting the second optical signal to the host repeater;
• and
• a second section including fourth means for receiving a third optical signal from the host repeater and for converting the third optical signal into a third electric signal having a third frequency different from both the first and second frequencies, fifth means for frequency-converting the third electric signal to a fourth electric signal having a fourth frequency different from the first, second, and third frequencies, and sixth means for converting the fourth electric signal into a fourth optical signal and for transmitting the fourth optical signal to a terminal device;
• and
• wherein the host repeater includes:
• seventh means for receiving a fifth optical signal from the end repeater and for converting the fifth optical signal into a fifth electric signal having the second frequency, eighth means for frequency-converting the fifth electric signal to a sixth electric signal having the third frequency, and ninth means for converting the sixth electric signal into a sixth optical signal and for transmitting the sixth optical signal to the end repeater.

A repeater system for packet data communication between terminal devices which uses an optical signal, the repeater system comprising a host repeater and a plurality of end repeaters, wherein each of the end repeaters includes:

• a first section including first means for receiving a first optical signal transmitted from a terminal device and for converting the first optical signal into a first electric signal having a first frequency, second means for frequency-converting the first electric signal to a second electric signal having a second frequency different from the first frequency, and third means for converting the second electric signal into a second optical signal and for transmitting the second optical signal to the host repeater;
• and
• a second section including fourth means for receiving a third optical signal from the host repeater and for converting the third optical signal into a third electric signal having a third frequency different from both the first and second frequencies, fifth means for frequency-converting the third electric signal to a fourth electric signal having a fourth frequency different from the first, second, and third frequencies, and sixth means for converting the fourth electric signal into a fourth optical signal and for transmitting the fourth optical signal to a terminal device;
• and
• wherein the host repeater includes:
• seventh means for receiving a fifth optical signal from the end repeater and for converting the fifth optical signal into a fifth electric signal having the second frequency, eighth means for frequency-converting the fifth electric signal to a sixth electric signal having the third frequency, and ninth means for converting the sixth electric signal into a sixth optical signal and for transmitting the sixth optical signal to the end repeater.