Distributed termination system for two-way hybrid networks

A network comprising:

• a head-end;
• at least one node coupled to the head-end by an optical fiber network;
• at least one terminal coupled to the node by other than optical fiber, there being a return path via the node from the terminal to the head-end, the node including:
• an optical receiver coupled between the optical fiber network and the terminal to carry signals from the head-end to the terminal;
• and
• in the return path, at least one optical transmitter coupled to the optical fiber network;
• and
• at least one burst receiver coupled between the optical transmitter and the terminal;
• further comprising a hub apparatus coupled between the node and the head-end in the optical fiber network, the hub apparatus comprising:
• a plurality of optical receivers, each optical receiver being coupled to an associated node;
• a multiplexer having each of its input terminals coupled to an output terminal of one of the optical receivers;
• and
• an optical transmitter coupled between an output terminal of the multiplexer and the head-end;
• wherein the hub apparatus further comprises:
• a summer coupled to an output terminal of each of the optical receivers;
• and
• a plurality of demodulators coupled to the summer, wherein an output terminal of each of the demodulators is coupled to an input terminal of the multiplexer.

A hub apparatus for a network having a head-end coupled by an optical fiber network to the hub apparatus, the hub apparatus being coupled by optical fiber to a plurality of nodes, the hub apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of optical receivers, each optical receiver being coupled to an associated one of the nodes;
• a first multiplexer having each of its input terminals coupled to an output terminal of one of the optical receivers;
• an output terminal coupled between an output terminal of the multiplexer and the optical fiber network;
• an additional optical receiver coupled to the optical fiber network;
• a demodulator coupled to the additional optical receiver;
• a plurality of burst receivers, each coupled to one of the optical receivers;
• interface circuitry coupled between the demodulator and a control terminal of each of the burst receivers;
• and
• a second multiplexer having each of its input terminals coupled to one of the burst receivers and its output terminal coupled to the first multiplexer.