US 5,694,234 A · Wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network including broadcast overlay

Abstract

A passive optical network is provided that spectrally slices optical signals transmitted in both upstream and downstream directions utilizing wavelength division multiplexing routing. The passive optical network preferably includes an incoherent signal source at both ends to provide signals that are spectrally sliced according to optical frequency. The downstream information may be transmitted in a conventional data format. The upstream transmissions may be segregated by subcarrier multiplexing, time scheduling or wavelength division multiplexing. A broadcast signal can be overlayed with point-to-point information for transmission to plural network units.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A passive optical network utilizing bi-directional optical spectral slicing, comprising:

a) a remote node for receiving optically combined individual optical information and broadcast optical information and for routing said optical information through a plurality of output ports thereof by wavelength bands utilizing spectral slicing, said remote node having a periodicity property for placing said individual information into a different multiple wavelength band set at each one of said output ports, and for placing said broadcast information into a different multiple wavelength band set at each one of said output ports, wherein the wavelength bands within each of said multiple wavelength band sets are separated from each other;
and
b) a plurality of optical network units optically linked to said remote node output ports, each for receiving and separating said optically linked individual and broadcast optical information.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network including broadcast overlay

Life of this patent

Wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network including broadcast overlay

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20