Multiple star, passive optical network based on remote interrogation of terminal equipment

Claim 2

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 1, wherein said second order optical node is optically linked to at least one of: an optical transceiver and a third-order optical node.

Claim 3

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 2, wherein said optical transceivers comprise optical receiver means for receiving said downstream optical signals, processing means responsive to said optical receiver means for processing upstream data and optical transmission means responsive to said processing means for converting upstream data into said upstream optical signals.

Claim 4

The optical network defined by claim 3, wherein said optical transceivers provide said upstream optical signals by relaying a portion of said downstream optical signals received at said transceivers to said optical transmission means.

Claim 5

The optical network defined by claim 4, wherein said optical transmission means includes means for overmodulating said relayed portion of said downstream signals with said upstream data to provide said upstream optical signals.

Claim 6

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 1, wherein said first-order optical router demultiplexes a downstream optical signal received at one of said input ports to form up to N 1 first-order downstream optical signals, and wherein each said first-order downstream optical signal is defined by a distinct set of one or more wavelength bands separated by a free spectral range approximately equal to N 1 Δλ 1 .

Claim 7

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 6, wherein each said second-order optical router demultiplexes one of said N 1 first-order downstream optical signals received at one of said second-order optical router input ports to form up to N 2 second-order downstream optical signals, and wherein each said second-order optical signal is defined by a distinct set of one or more wavelength bands separated by a free spectral range approximately equal to N 2 Δλ 2 .

Claim 8

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 7, wherein at least one of said N 2 second-order downstream optical signals are directed to at least one third-order optical node.

Claim 9

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 6, wherein at least one wavelength band within at least one of said N 1 first order downstream optical signals is defined by a sequence of up to N 2 second order downstream signals which are contiguous in wavelength.

Claim 10

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 6, wherein wavelength bands defining a plurality of second-order downstream signals are included within each of said N 1 first-order downstream signals

Claim 11

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 8, wherein said third-order optical router demultiplexes one of said N 2 second-order downstream optical signals into up to N 3 third-order downstream optical signals, each of which is defined by a distinct set of one or more wavelength bands separated by a fine spectral range approximately equal to N 3 Δλ 3 .

Claim 12

The multiple star, passive optical network define by claim 11, wherein each said first-order remote node is capable of serving up to N 1 xN 2 xN 3 distinct wavelength users.

Claim 13

The multiple star passive optical network defined by claim 1, wherein said channel spacing Δλ 1 of said first-order optical router is substantially an integer multiple of said channel spacing Δλ 2 of said second-order optical router, such that Δλ 1 approximately equals to N 2 Δλ 2 or a multiple of N 2 Δλ 2 .

Claim 14

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 1, whercin said channel spacing Δλ 2 of said second-order optical router is substantially an integer multiple of said channel spacing Δλ 1 of said first-order optical router such that Δλ 2 approximately equals N 1 Δλ 1 .

Claim 15

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 1, wherein said channel spacing Δλ 1 of said first-order optical router is a ratio of integers to said channel spacing Δλ 2 of said second-order optical router such that (Δλ 1 ) MOD (Δλ 2 ) is substantially non-zero.

Claim 16

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 1, wberein said channel spacing of said first-order and second-order optical routers approximately equal Δλ, N 1 equals a number of channels defined within said first-order optical router, N 2 equals a number of channels defined within said second-order optical router, and N 1 does not equal N 2 .

Claim 17

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 1, wherein said first-order optical node is optically linked to one of: a central office and/or a host digital terminal.

Claim 18

The multiple star, passive optical network defined by claim 17, wherein said first-order remote node is capable of serving up to N 1 N 2 distinct wavelength users.

Claim 19

A multiple star, passive optical network, comprising : a) a central office including: i) a plurality of upstream/downstream optical signal ports; ii) at least one multiple wavelength, optical transmission means linked to at least one of said plurality of downstream optical signal ports; and iii) at least one optical receiving means linked to at least one of said plurality of upstream optical signal ports ; b) at least one first-order optical node optically linked to said central office for an exchange of upstream/downstream optical signals therebetween, said first-order optical node including a first-order optical router for demultiplexing downstream optical signals to form and direct up to N 1 first-order downstream signals by wavelength, and for multiplexing up to N 1 first-order upstream signals to form and direct an upstream optical signal by wavelength; and c) at least one second-order optical node linked to said at least one first-order optical node, said second-order optical node including a second-order optical router for an exchange of first-order upstream/downstream signals with said at least one first-order optical node, said second-order optical router for demultiplexing said first order dowmstream signals to form and direct up to N 2 second-order downstream signals by wavelength, and for multiplexing up to N 2 second-order upstream optical signals to form and direct at least one first-order optical signal by wavelength; d) wherein said upstream/downstream optical signals directed between said central office and said at least one first-order optical node are defined by essentially periodically spaced wavelength bands with a band-to-band wavelength period approximately equal to Δλ 1 , and wherein said first-order optical signals directed between said first- and second-order are defined by periodically spaced wavelength bands with a band-to-band wavelength period approximately equal to Δλ 2 .

Claim 20

The network deftned in claim 19, wherein said at least one multiple wavelength optical transmission means is defined by sequentially addressable wavelength bands.

Claim 21

The network defined in claim 19, wherein said at least one multiple wavelength optical transmission means is defined by simultaneously addressable wavelength bands.

Claim 22

The network defined by claim 19, further including at least one optical transceiver optically linked to said second-order optical node.

Claim 23

The network defined by claim 22, wherein said second-order optical signals directed between said second-order nodes and said at least one optical transceiver are defined by bandwidths approximately equal to Δλ 3 .

Claim 24

The network defined by claim 19, wherein said bandwidth Δλ 1 is substantially an integer multiple of said bandwidth Δλ 2 such that Δλ 1 approximately equals N 2 Δλ 2 .

Claim 25

The network defined by claim 19, wherein said central office includes at least two of said multiple wavelength optical transmission means.

Claim 26

The network defined by claim 25, wherein said central office includes a zeroth-order optical router optically linked to said at least two multiple wavelength optical transmission means, said zeroth-order optical router multiplexing downstream signals from said transmission means to form a zeroth order downstream optical signal.

Claim 27

The network defined by claim 26, wherein said zeroth-order optical router has approximately identical properties to said first-order optical router.

Claim 28

The network defined by claim 19, wherein said bandwidth Δλ 2 is substantially an integer multiple of said bandwidth Δλ 1 such that Δλ 2 approximately equals N 1 Δλ 1 .

Claim 29

The network defined by claim 19, wherein said bandwidth Δλ 1 , is a ratio of integers to said bandwidth Δλ 2 , such that Δλ 1 MOD Δλ 2 is substantially non-zero.

Claim 30

The network defined by claim 19, wherein said channel spacing of said first-order and said second-order optical routers approximately equals Δλ, N 1 is a maximum number of channels defined by said first-order optical router, N 2 is a maximum number of channels defined by said second-order optical router, and N 1 is not equal to N 2 .

Claim 31

The network defined by claim 19, wherein one of said at least one first-order optical nodes is optically linked to at least one optical transceiver and said at least one second-order optical nodes is optically linked to at least one optical transceiver.

Claim 32

The optical network defined by claim 19, wherein said at least one second-order optical node is optically linked to at least one third-order optical node.

Claim 33

The optical network defined by claim 32, wherein each one of said at least one first-, second- and third-order optical nodes is linked to at least one optical transceiver.

Claim 34

The optical network of claim 32, wherein said at least one third-order node is optically linked to at least one fourth-order optical node.

Claim 35

A passive optical network, comprising : A) a zeroth order star formed of a plurality of optical transmitter/receivers, each connected to a zeroth order optical pathway extending from each said transmitter/receiver for carrying zeroth order optical signals; B) at least one first order star, comprising: i) a first waveguide grating router optically linked to one of said optical transmitter/receivers via at least one of said plurality of zeroth order optical pathways, wherein said first waveguide grating router comprises: a) first means for receiving and demultiplexing zeroth optical signals into up to N 1 first order secondary optical signals, said first means defined by a free spectral ranges of N 1 Δλ 1 ; b) first means for downstream routing said first order optical signals; c) second means for receiving and multiplexing at least one first order optical signal to form a zeroth order optical signal and directing the same to said transmitter/receiver; and ii) a plurality of first order optical pathways extending from said first waveguide grating router for carrying said first order optical signals; C) at least one of: i) first optical transceiver means optically linked to said first waveguide router via one of said plurality of first order optical pathways, said optical transceiver means comprising: a) primary receiving means for receiving one of said first order optical signals; and b) means for providing first order optical signals to said first waveguide grating router; and ii) a second order star, comprising: a) a second waveguide grating router optically linked to said first waveguide grating router via one of said plurality of first order optical pathways, wherein said second waveguide grating router comprises: i) third means for receiving and demultiplexing first order optical signals into up to N 2 second order optical signals, said third means defined by a free spectral ranges of N 3 Δλ 3 ; ii) second means for downstream routing said second order optical signals; and iii) fourth means for receiving and multiplexing at least one second order optical signal to form a first order optical signal and directing the same to said first waveguide grating router; and b) a plurality of second order optical pathways extending from said second waveguide grating router for carrying said second order optical signals ; and D) an optical termination comprising at least one second optical transceiver means optically linked to said second waveguide router via one of said plurality of second order optical pathways, said second optical transceiver means, comprising : a) secondary receiving means for receiving one of said second order optical signals; and b) means for providing second order optical signals to said second waveguide grating router.