Abstract: A packet switch router that processes downstream digital information to provide dedicated bandwidth to each subscriber destination in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network. The router includes a network module that terminates a network connection, a switch that forwards data from the network module, and a channel module. The channel module includes a switch interface, a cell processing engine, one or more modulators, and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter network. The switch interface forwards packetized data from the switch to the cell processing engine. The cell processing engine organizes the packetized data into multiple data streams, encapsulates data in each data stream into data cells, and multiplexes the data cells into a multiplexed cell stream. Each modulator is configured to modulate a multiplexed cell stream into an analog signal. The RF transmitter network up converts and combines a plurality of analog signals into a combined electrical signal for transmission.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for reverse digitized communications. A method includes: providing at least one optical fiber from at least one member selected from the group consisting of a headend and a hub, a minifibernode coupled to said at least one optical fiber, and an electrical conductor coupled to said minifibernode; transforming a forward optical signal from said at least one optical fiber to a forward analog electrical signal on said electrical conductor at said minifibernode; and transforming a reverse analog electrical signal on said electrical conductor to a reverse digital optical signal at said minifibernode. The systems and methods provide advantages because the need for muxnode units is eliminated, the cost of the node units is reduced, the amount of optical fiber is reduced and the reverse bandwidth is increased.

Abstract: In a signal demultiplexing device formed by a probe light source, a wavelength converter, and a wavelength demultiplexer, the probe light source is formed by a plurality of sub-probe light sources configured to respectively generate the sub-probe lights with the prescribed different wavelengths for respective time-slots, a multiplexer configured to multiplex the sub-probe lights generated by the plurality of sub-probe light sources, and a phase different giving unit configured to give phase differences corresponding to time-slot positions to the sub-probe lights multiplexed by the multiplexer, and to sequentially output the sub-probe lights with the phase differences in correspondence to respective time-slots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing channel provisioning in optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks. The method and apparatus provide a distributed framework to provision channels (i.e., wavelengths) in WDM networks. The method includes managing configuration of underlying lower layer optical devices and processing inter-node and client messages and alarm events. The processing of inter-node messages further includes setting-up bandwidth channels between peer nodes in wavelength division multiplexing networks using a channel request message, the channel request message specifying an associated channel feature set for a requested channel, releasing a preexisting channel using a channel release message and managing a resource update message for distributing network information used for route resolution.

Abstract: A communication system includes plural nodes interconnected with an optical transmission medium capable of carrying plural bands of optical channels. A device at each node is coupled to the medium for dropping one or more bands, adding one or more bands, and passively transmitting other bands such that a pair of nodes can communicate directly using a band common to the respective bands. One band of the bands associated with each of a first set of nodes overlaps with one band of the bands associated with each of a second set of nodes. Multiple overlapping bands provide a high level of wavelength termination diversity. An optical management bus system and method connects plural hybrid optical/electrical cables between transmission equipment and optical modules which connect to network fibers to provide a set of electrical connections that can be used to determine optical interconnections in an optical shelf configuration.

Abstract: An optical network for transmitting optical data signals is proposed, wherein a first network operates with a WDM method, a second network used a CDM method and a third network uses a time-division multiplex method.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing groups of low duty cycle WDM transmission channels such that each group can be demultiplexed either via conventional WDM (e.g., by optically filtering each channel and receiving that channel at its line rate) or via TDM (e.g., directing an entire group of WDM channels onto a signal higher speed detector, receiving them all and demultiplexing the channels in a temporal (electronic) domain).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical subscriber network system for performing bidirectional transmission/reception of digital broadcast signals and Internet signals. The optical subscriber network system of the invention includes a server-end bidirectional optical transmitter and a subscriber-end bidirectional optical receiver. The server-end bidirectional optical transmitter includes: a first semiconductor laser for transmitting digital broadcast signals; a second semiconductor laser for transmitting downstream Internet data; a server-end photodiode for receiving upstream Internet data; a BPF (Band Pass Filter) mounted in front of the service-end photodiode, for selecting the upstream Internet data only; and, a multi-branch optical waveguide element for selecting I/O (Input/Output) data.

Abstract: A high speed optical communication and data transfer network comprises fiber optic links interconnecting a plurality of hybrid electronic-optical switch devices, each hybrid switch circuit including an electronic switch, electronic switch controller and optical switch. The hybrid switch circuits and nodes on the periphery of the core network communicate amongst each other over a first dedicated wavelength. Optical signals on the first dedicated wavelength are converted to electronic signals which are monitored by the electronic controller in each hybrid switch circuit. Routing in the network is optimized by transmitting lower volume data traffic on the first dedicated wavelength which is typically slower due to optical/electronic signal conversions and which uses more resources. Higher capacity data transfers are achieved by transmitting data on an assigned carrier wavelength over an established flow path among the optical switches of multiple hybrid switch circuits.

Abstract: A communication system between head-ends and end-users is provided which expands bandwidth and reliability. A concentrator receives communication signals from a head-end and forwards the received communication signals to one or more fiber nodes and/or one or more mini-fiber nodes. The concentrator demultiplexes/splits received signals for the mini-fiber nodes and the fiber nodes and forwards demultiplexed/split signals respectively. The mini-fiber nodes may combine signals received from the head-end with loop-back signals used for local medium access control prior to forwarding the signals to the end-users. Upstream data are received by the mini-fiber nodes and/or fiber node and transmitted to the concentrator. The concentrator multiplexes/couples the mini-fiber node and the fiber node upstream signals and forwards multiplexed/coupled signals to the head-end.

Abstract: A reconfigurable liquid crystal based optical add/drop multiplexer system and method are provided which incorporates switching, variable attenuation, and multiplexing/demultiplexing capabilities. In a preferred embodiment, an array of optical rails is provided such that the integration of multiplexing/demultiplexing, switching, and variable optical attenuation functionalities are achieved. The module is also able to perform add and drop functions independently. The system has no moving parts so that the module is durable and very reliable. The system may include a feedback system for performing channel equalization.