Abstract: A Time Divison Multiplex Ring (TDM Ring) comprising a plurality of nodes (central offices) connected together by interchange trunks (main and standby paths) in a ring type configuration.

Abstract: An optical fiber wiring center comprising a base, an optical fiber receiver means attached to and spaced apart from the base, the receiver means containing parallel first and second rows of individual open top cavities, the number of cavities in said first row being essentially equal to the number of cavities in said second row and any given cavity in the first row being essentially coplanar with one other cavity in the second row, and a splice holding means disposed between coplanar cavities.

Abstract: A fiber optic Local Area Network containing more than one transmitter-receiver combination capable of transmitting and receiving light energy over optical fibers and being deactivatable during transmission upon receiving a jam signal, a coupler means, a collision detection means for detecting when more than one transmitter is transmitting at the same time, and a plurality of optical fibers connecting the coupler means to said transmitter-receiver combinations and forming transmitting and receiving light paths there between, the collision-detection means comprising a tap means connected to each transmitting optical fiber for diverting a portion of the transmitted light energy; an optical receiver means for each optical fiber containing a tap adapted to detect that portion of an optical signal diverted by said tap means; an optical path between each tap means and a single optical receiver means; a logic means connected to said optical receiver means responsive to and adapted to transmit a predetermined signal w