Reconfigurable ring system for the transport of RF signals over optical fibers

A reconfigurable ring architecture system for transporting RF signals to a plurality of different remote sites, said system comprising:

• host means for transmitting signals to said plurality of remote sites and for receiving signals from said plurality of remote sites;
• at least four remote units, with at least two of said remote units forming a first remote system and with at least two of said remote units forming a second remote system;
• means for serially interconnecting said host means to said remote units through all said remote units and back to said host means;
• each of said remote units in said first remote system and said second remote system having:
• means for receiving said transmitted signals and means for receiving other signals from another source;
• means for splitting said transmitted signals into two parts, one part of said signals being output from said remote unit and the other part of said signals being transferred through said interconnecting means to adjacent remote units upsteam therefrom;
• means for transferring said other signals from said remote unit through said interconnecting means to adjacent remote units downstream therefrom;
• and
• means, activated under certain conditions, for reversing the upstream and downstream paths of preselected signals through said interconnecting means;
• whereby transmission and reception of signals takes place even in the event of failure of a remote unit or a portion of said interconnection means.

A method of transporting RF signals to a plurality of different remote sites substantially unaffected by failures occurring with respect to the sites, said method containing the steps of:

• providing means for transmitting signals to said plurality of remote sites and for receiving signals from said plurality of remote sites;
• providing a different remote unit at each of said different remote sites;
• sequentially interconnecting said transmitting and receiving means with said remote units;
• receiving said transmitted signals at said remote units;
• outputting part of said signals from said remote units and transmitting the other part of said signals to adjacent remote units upstream therefrom and then back to said transmitting and receiving means;
• receiving other signals at said remote units;
• transferring said other signals from said remote units to adjacent remote units downstream therefrom and then back to said transmitting and receiving means;
• reversing, in the event of predetermined conditions, the upstream and downstream paths of preselected signals affected by said conditions;
• whereby substantially continuous transmission and reception of signals takes place between said transmitting and receiving means and said remote units even in the event of failures which occur with respect to said remote units.