US 6,151,144 A · Wavelength division multiplexing for unbundling downstream fiber-to-the-home

Abstract

The passive optical network system and method for providing a predetermined wavelength of data to remote users according to the present invention includes a multiple wavelength transmitter for transmitting a multiwavelength signal. The multiwavelength signal includes a plurality of signal components of predetermined wavelengths provided by a plurality of access providers. Each access provider provides a signal component of wavelength different from that of the other access providers. A power-splitting passive optical network receives and power-splits the multiwavelength signal into a plurality of distributed multiwavelength signals each associated with a respective remote user. A filter selectively filters out, for each remote user, ones of the signal components of the associated distributed multiwavelength signal to provide the remote user with a selected one signal component of predetermined wavelength.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of operating a passive optical network providing a predetermined wavelength of data to remote users comprising the steps of:

a) providing, by a plurality of access providers, a plurality of signal components of predetermined wavelengths, each access provider providing a signal component of wavelength different from that of the other access providers;
b) transmitting the signal components as a multiwavelength signal;
c) receiving and power-splitting the multiwavelength signal into a plurality of distributed multiwavelength signals each associated with a respective remote user;
and
d) selectively filtering out, for each remote user, one of the signal components to provide the remote user with a selected one signal component of predetermined wavelength;
wherein step (d) further includes providing a card containing an optical filter, inserting the card into a remote optical network unit associated with the remote user, and positioning the card so that the optical filter is in position to intercept the respective multiwavelength signal and pass the selected one signal component.

3 more elements

A passive optical network system for providing a predetermined wavelength of data to remote users comprising:

a multiple wavelength transmitter for transmitting a multiwavelength signal having a plurality of signal components each of predetermined wavelength, the multiwavelength signal being provided by a plurality of access providers, each access provider providing a signal component of wavelength different from that of the other access providers;
a power-splitting passive optical network for receiving and power-splitting the multiwavelength signal into a plurality of distributed multiwavelength signals each associated with a respective remote user;
a filter provided on a card for selectively filtering out, for each remote user, one of the signal components of the associated distributed multiwavelength signal to provide the remote user with a selected one signal component of predetermined wavelength and
a plurality of remote optical network units each associated with a respective remote user and receiving a respective distributed multiwavelength signal from the power-splitting passive optical network;
wherein the card is inserted into a respective remote optical network unit and positioned to intercept the respective distributed multiwavelength signal for selectively passing the selected one signal component.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wavelength division multiplexing for unbundling downstream fiber-to-the-home

Life of this patent

Wavelength division multiplexing for unbundling downstream fiber-to-the-home

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17