Broadband optical network apparatus and method

A method for providing data signals in a passive optical network comprising an optical line terminal (OLT) in communication with at least one of a first and second optical coupler, said first and second optical couplers each in communication with each other and with a plurality of optical network units (ONU), said method comprising:

• receiving at said first optical coupler first data and video signals from said OLT via a first fiber;
• receiving at said second optical coupler second video signals from said OLT via a second fiber;
• receiving at said first optical coupler second upstream data only signals generated at a first one of said plurality of ONU for delivery to a second one of said plurality of ONU;
• transmitting to said first one of said plurality of ONU said first data and video signals;
• and
• transmitting to said second one of said plurality of ONU said first data and video signals and said second data only signals;
• wherein said first data and video signals and said second data only signals are carried on a single distribution fiber using different wavelengths of light to said plurality of ONU;
• and
• whereupon failure of said first optical coupler to transmit said first data and video signals to said first one of said plurality of ONU, said network is configured to responsively transmit said first data and video signals to said first one of said plurality of ONU via said second optical coupler from said OLT via said second fiber.

A optical network unit (ONU) apparatus for use in an optical network configured to have first and second fibers, said optical network configured to utilize protection switching upon failure of said first fiber, each individual ONU comprising:

• a first optical interface configured to receive a first downstream optical data stream from a first optical coupler in communication with said first fiber, said first optical interface further configured to transmit a first upstream optical data stream to said first optical coupler in communication with said first fiber, said first downstream data stream and said first optical upstream data stream comprising first and second wavelengths, respectively;
• a second optical interface configured to receive a second downstream video stream from a second optical coupler in communication with said second fiber and to said first optical coupler, said second downstream optical video stream configured to have said first wavelength;
• and
• a third optical interface configured to receive a redirected portion of said first upstream optical data stream to enable local networking among said one or more ONUs to arbitrate upstream channel sharing of said one or more ONUs via a channel sharing protocol;
• whereupon said failure of said first fiber, said third optical interface is configured to receive a second downstream optical data stream from said second optical coupler via said second fiber, said third optical interface further configured to transmit a second upstream optical data stream to said second optical coupler, said second downstream data stream and said second upstream optical data stream comprising first and second wavelengths, respectively.

A redundant passive optical network configured to utilize protection switching between first and second fibers, the network comprising:

• a first optical coupler in communication with an optical line terminal (OLT) via said first fiber, said first optical coupler configured to receive, split and transmit at least one of encapsulated data, voice, and video signals to at least a first and a second optical network unit (ONU);
• and
• a second optical coupler in communication with said OLT via said second fiber, said second optical coupler configured to receive, split and transmit video signals to at least said first and said second ONUs;
• wherein at least one of said first and second optic couplers is configured to receive second upstream optical signals transmitted from at least one of said first and second ONUs, at least one of said first and second optic couplers further configured to redirect a portion of said second upstream optical signals for downstream transmission to at least one of said first and second ONUs;
• and
• where said network is configured to, upon failure of said first optical coupler to transmit said at least one of encapsulated data, voice, and video signals to at least one of said first and second ONU via said first fiber, transmit said at least one of encapsulated data, voice, and video signals to at least said first and second ONU via said second optical coupler in communication with said OLT via said second fiber.