Integrated electro-optic hybrid communication system
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
InventorsIrwin Gerszberg, Jeremiah A. Okoro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system according to embodiments of the invention may comprise a first communication path that converts an optically-modulated source signal to a radio signal based on a detected degradation in a quality of a received optical signal, and a second communication path that converts a radio-modulated source signal to an optical signal based on a detected degradation in a quality of a received radio signal. The system may therefore adapt to diverse weather conditions to improve the reliability of a communication link.
Claims20
A method for increasing the availability of a communication link, comprising:
- splitting an optically-modulated source signal into a first optical splitter output and a second optical splitter output;
- transmitting the first optical splitter output through a first optical switch to an optical transmitter using an optical-only communication path;
- detecting a degradation of a quality of a received optical signal;
- in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received optical signal:
- closing the first optical switch to cease transmitting the first optical splitter output to the optical transmitter;
- and
- opening a second optical switch to commence transmitting the second optical splitter output to an optical-to-electrical converter for transmission via a radio transmitter;
- splitting a radio-modulated source signal into a first radio splitter output and a second radio splitter output;
- transmitting the first radio splitter output through a first electrical switch to the radio transmitter using an electrical-only communication path;
- detecting a degradation of a quality of a received radio signal;
- in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received radio signal:
- closing the first electrical switch to cease transmitting the first radio splitter output to the radio transmitter;
- and
- opening a second electrical switch to commence transmitting the second radio splitter output to an electrical-to-optical converter for transmission via the optical transmitter.
A computer-usable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for increasing the availability of a communication link, the method comprising:
- splitting an optically-modulated source signal into a first optical splitter output and a second optical splitter output;
- transmitting the first optical splitter output through a first optical switch to an optical transmitter using an optical-only communication path;
- detecting a degradation of a quality of a received optical signal;
- in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received optical signal:
- closing the first optical switch to cease transmitting the first optical splitter output to the optical transmitter;
- and
- opening a second optical switch to commence transmitting the second optical splitter output to an optical-to-electrical converter for transmission via a radio transmitter;
- splitting a radio-modulated source signal into a first radio splitter output and a second radio splitter output;
- transmitting the first radio splitter output through a first electrical switch to the radio transmitter using an electrical-only communication path;
- detecting a degradation of a quality of a received radio signal;
- in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received radio signal:
- closing the first electrical switch to cease transmitting the first radio splitter output to the radio transmitter;
- and
- opening a second electrical switch to commence transmitting the second radio splitter output to an electrical-to-optical converter for transmission via the optical transmitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.