Communication system and method for an optical local area network
OwnerAlexander I. Soto, Walter G. Sotoinventors
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Abstract
An optical local area network includes a passive optical distribution fabric interconnecting a plurality of nodes including a first node and a plurality of remaining nodes, a hub that includes the first node and a control module, and a client network adapter coupled to each of the remaining nodes for responding to the control module. The control module controls timing for each of the client network adapters to transmit signals over the passive optical distribution fabric and distribution of signals to each of the nodes.
Claims55
An optical Local Area Network (LAN) of one or more LAN clients, the optical LAN comprising:
- a LAN manager for managing optical signals each incorporating both a LAN control channel and a LAN data channel in a single optical wavelength, including
- an optical interface having means for converting received optical signals to electrical signals and means for producing transmitted optical signals from electrical signals,
- a plurality of optical ports,
- a passive optical coupler coupled between the optical interface and the optical ports and having means for accepting received optical signals from and for distributing transmitted optical signals to the optical interface and the optical ports, and
- a control module coupled to the optical interface and having means for receiving electrical signals from and for transmitting electrical signals to the optical interface;
- a plurality of LAN client adapters including
- an optical interface having means for converting received optical signals to electrical signals and means for producing transmitted optical signals from electrical signals,
- an optical port coupled to the optical interface, and
- a control module having means for receiving electrical signals from and for transmitting electrical signals to the optical interface;
- and
- a plurality of optical waveguides each coupled between one of the LAN client adapter optical ports and the LAN manager;
- whereby the LAN manager can receive an optical signal incorporating both a LAN control channel and a LAN data channel in a single optical wavelength from any LAN client adapter, a LAN client adapter can receive an optical signal incorporating both a LAN control channel and a LAN data channel in a single optical wavelength from the LAN manager, and the LAN manager and LAN client adapters are in communication to facilitate sending and receiving LAN data across the optical waveguides.
A method for operating an optical local area network (LAN) including a network hub having an optical transceiver coupled to passive optical coupler that is also coupled to a plurality of optical ports and including a plurality of network terminals each coupled to a network hub optical port by means of at least one of a plurality of optical waveguides, the method comprising the steps of:
- accepting information from both a control channel and a data channel on a single wavelength at the network hub;
- communicating the information between the network hub and a network terminal in accordance with an OSI layer 2 or layer 3 protocol;
- managing the communications at the network hub;
- transmitting the information from the network hub to all network terminals in a broadcast time division multiplexed process;
- transmitting the information from a network terminal to the network hub in a time division multiple access process;
- and
- providing bandwidth allocation for the information transfers at the network hub.
A method for reducing the number of optical transceivers in a hub of an optical local area network, comprising:
- coupling an optical transceiver or optical module to a passive optical coupler;
- and
- coupling the passive optical coupler to a plurality of optical ports;
- and
- distributing transmitted optical signals incorporating both a control channel and a data channel in a single wavelength from the optical transceiver to each of the optical ports through the passive optical coupler;
- and
- combining received optical signals from each optical port to the optical transceiver through the passive optical coupler;
- whereby the optical ports serve as a connection site that connects an external optical waveguide to the internal optical transceiver through the passive optical coupler, thereby reducing the requisite number of optical transceivers in an optical LAN.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.