Digital information transmitting system through an optical transmission medium

Claim 2

A digital distributed information signal transmitting system comprising: plural stations, an optical transmission medium, means interconnected to said stations via said medium for managing information signal exchanges between said stations, each station being fit to transmit information signals to every other station and itself and to receive information signals from every other station and itself through said managing means, each station including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, said managing means including: plural optical signal receiving means for converting said optical information signals derived by said station emitters into corresponding electric information signals for the optical information signal emitted by each of said stations, means for processing said electric station information signals to form a combined electric information signal, and a single optical emitting means for converting said combined electric information signal into a combined optical information signal to be distributed to all of said station receivers, said optical transmission medium comprising: plural unidirectional optical forward lines, each of said forward lines being connected to unidirectionally carry one of said optical information signals from one of said station emitters to one of said receiving means in said managing means, a different forward line being provided for each of said station emitters, and a single unidirectional optical backward line for carrying and distributing said optical combined information signal from said emitting means in said managing means to all of said station receivers.

Claim 3

The system according to claim 1 wherein said combined information signals in said backward line has a higher rate than the information rate of the signal in each of said forward lines.

Claim 4

The system according to claim 1 wherein said information signals derived from said station emitters are in a synchronous mode.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 1 wherein said information signals emitted from said station emitters are in an asynchronous mode.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 1 wherein the information signal emitted from said emitter in each of said stations includes a heading and useful data information, and wherein said processing means comprises: means connected to said receiving means for recovering clock signals relative to said stations respectively, means connected to said clock signal recovering means for recognizing and detecting said headings in said message emitted from said station emitters, means connected to said heading recognizing and detecting means for storing said useful data information in said messages emitted from said station emitters, means connected to said storing means and controlled by said heading recognizing and detecting means for grouping the stored useful information signals in each message with a predetermined heading, and means for encoding the grouped information signals into said electrical combined information signal so it is emitted by said single emitting means.

Claim 7

The system according to claim 1 wherein each of said stations includes: means for recognizing an optical information signal on the backward line directed to it, and means for coupling the recognized signal to the signal receiver to the exclusion of the remaining signals on the backward line.

Claim 8

The system according to claim 6 wherein each of said optical information signals includes a heading segment and a useful information data segment, the heading segment including an indication of the station to receive the optical information signal, each of said stations including means for transducing the optical information signal on the backward line into an electric signal that represents the heading segment and the useful information data segment, the recognizing means including means for comparing the heading segment electric signal with a stored indication of the particular station.

Claim 9

A digital information signal transmitting system comprising: plural stations each including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, first and second means for managing information signal exchanges between said stations, each of said managing means including several optical means for receiving information signals emitted by said emitters of said stations respectively, a single optical means for emitting information signals to be supplied to all of said receivers of said stations, and optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said single emitting means of the other managing means, and an optical transmission medium connected between said stations and said first and second managing means, said medium comprising plural optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station to a respective receiving means of one of said managing means and to a respective receiving means of the other managing means through an optical distributing means, and a single optical bidirectional distributed backward line for linking said single emitting means of said first and second managing means to said receivers of said stations and said additional receiving means of said first and second managing means.

Claim 10

A digital information signal transmitting system comprising: plural stations each including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, first and second means for managing information signal exchanges between said stations, each of said managing means including several optical means for receiving information signals emitted by said emitters of said stations respectively, a single optical means for emitting information signals to be supplied to all of said receivers of said stations, and optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said single emitting means of the other managing means, and an optical transmission medium connected between said stations and said first and second managing means, said medium comprising plural optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station to a respective receiving means of one of said managing means and to a respective receiving means of the other managing means through an optical distributing means, and a single optical bidirectional distributed backward line for linking said single emitting means of said first and second managing means to said receivers of said stations and said additional receiving means of said first and second managing means.

Claim 11

A digital information transmitting system comprising: plural stations, each including an optical information signal emitter and first and second optical information signal receivers, first and second means for managing exchanges of information signals between said stations, each of said managing means including several optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of said stations respectively, a single optical means for emitting information signals to one of said first and second receivers of all said stations and to an additional optical means for receiving an information signal emitted from said single emitting means of the other managing means, and an optical transmission medium between said stations and said first and second managing means, said transmission medium comprising plural optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said lines linking said emitter of a respective station to a respective receiving means of one of said managing means and to a respective receiving means of the other managing means through an optical distributing means, and first and second optical unidirectional distributed backward lines, each of said backward lines linking said single emitting means of one of said first and second managing means to one of said first and second receivers of said stations and said additional receiving means of said other managing means.

Claim 12

A digital information transmitting system comprising: plural stations, each including an optical information signal emitter and first and second optical information signal receivers, first and second means for managing exchanges of information signals between said stations, each of said managing means including several optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of said stations respectively, a single optical means for emitting information signals to one of said first and second receivers of all said stations and to an additional optical means for receiving an information signal emitted from said single emitting means of the other managing means, and an optical transmission medium between said stations and said first and second managing means, said transmission medium comprising plural optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said lines linking said emitter of a respective station to a respective receiving means of one of said managing means and to a respective receiving means of the other managing means through an optical distributing means, and first and second optical unidirectional distributed backward lines, each of said backward lines linking said single emitting means of one of said first and second managing means to one of said first and second receivers of said stations and said additional receiving means of said other managing means.

Claim 13

A digital information transmitting system comprising: first and second groups of stations, each station including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, an additional station including an optical information signal emitter and first and second optical information signal receivers, first and second means respectively assigned to said first and second station groups, each of said first and second means managing exchanges of information signals between said stations of said respective group and the other managing means, each of said managing means including several optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of said stations of said respective group respectively, a single optical means for emitting information signals to said receivers of said stations of said respective group and to one of said first and second receivers of said additional station, and an additional optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitter of said additional station, and first and second optical transmission mediums respectively assigned to said first and second station groups, each transmission medium being interconnected between said stations and said managing means of said respective group and said additional station and comprising several optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said several unidirectional forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station of said respective group to a respective receiving means of said managing means of said respective group, a single optical unidirectional distributed backward line for linking said single emitting means of said managing means of said respective group to said receivers of all said stations of said respective group and to one of said two emitters of said additional station, and an additional optical unidirectional forward line for linking said emitter of said additional station to said additional receiving means of said managing means of said respective group.

Claim 14

A digital information transmitting system comprising: first and second groups of stations, each station including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, an additional station including an optical information signal emitter and first and second optical information signal receivers, first and second means respectively assigned to said first and second station groups, each of said first and second means managing exchanges of information signals between said stations of said respective group and the other managing means, each of said managing means including several optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of said stations of said respective group respectively, a single optical means for emitting information signals to said receivers of said stations of said respective group and to one of said first and second receivers of said additional station, and an additional optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitter of said additional station, and first and second optical transmission mediums respectively assigned to said first and second station groups, each transmission medium being interconnected between said stations and said managing means of said respective group and said additional station and comprising several optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said several unidirectional forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station of said respective group to a respective receiving means of said managing means of said respective group, a single optical unidirectional distributed backward line for linking said single emitting means of said managing means of said respective group to said receivers of all said stations of said respective group and to one of said two emitters of said additional station, and an additional optical unidirectional forward line for linking said emitter of said additional station to said additional receiving means of said managing means of said respective group.

Claim 15

A digital information transmitting system comprising: first and second groups of stations, each station including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, first and second means respectively assigned to said first and second station groups, each of said first and second means exchanging information signals between said stations of said respective group and the other managing means, each of said managing means including optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of all said stations of said respective group respectively, a single optical means for deriving information signals supplied to said receivers of said stations of said respective group and to the managing means of the other group, and an additional optical means for receiving information signals derived by said single driving means of said managing means of said other group, and first and second optical transmission mediums respectively assigned to said station groups, each transmission medium being interconnected between said stations and said managing means of said respective group and comprising several optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said unidirectional forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station of said respective group to a respective receiving means of said managing means of said respective group, and a single optical bidirectional distributed backward line linking said single emitting means of said managing means of said respective group to said receivers of said stations of said respective group and to said additional receiving means of said managing means of the other group.

Claim 16

A digital information transmitting system comprising: first and second groups of stations, each station including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, first and second means respectively assigned to said first and second station groups, each of said first and second means exchanging information signals between said stations of said respective group and the other managing means, each of said managing means including optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of all said stations of said respective group respectively, a single optical means for deriving information signals supplied to said receivers of said stations of said respective group and to the managing means of the other group, and an additional optical means for receiving information signals derived by said single driving means of said managing means of said other group, and first and second optical transmission mediums respectively assigned to said station groups, each transmission medium being interconnected between said stations and said managing means of said respective group and comprising several optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said unidirectional forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station of said respective group to a respective receiving means of said managing means of said respective group, and a single optical bidirectional distributed backward line linking said single emitting means of said managing means of said respective group to said receivers of said stations of said respective group and to said additional receiving means of said managing means of the other group.

Claim 17

A digital information transmitting system comprising: several groups of stations, each of said stations including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, several station information managing means respectively assigned to said several station groups, each managing means including: several optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of said stations of the respective group respectively, a single optical means for deriving information signals supplied to said receivers of said stations of said respective group, and additional information receiving and emitting means, several optical transmission mediums respectively assigned to said station groups, each transmission medium being interconnected to said stations and said managing means of the respective group and comprising several optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station of said respective group to a respective receiving means of said managing means of said respective group, and a single optical unidirectional distributed backward line, said single backward line linking said single emitting means of said managing means of said respective group to said receivers of said stations of said respective group, additional means for managing information signals exchanged between said station groups, said additional managing means including several optical means for respectively receiving information signals emitted by said additional emitting means of said managing means of said groups, and a single optical means for supplying grouped information signals to said additional receiving means of said managing means of said groups, and an additional optical transmission medium interconnected between said managing means of said groups and comprising several additional optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said several additional forward lines linking said additional emitting means of said managing means of said groups to said receiving means of said additional managing means respectively, and a single additional optical unidirectional distributed backward line for linking said single emitting means of said additional managing means to said additional receiving means of said managing means of said groups.

Claim 18

A digital information transmitting system comprising: several groups of stations, each of said stations including an optical information signal emitter and an optical information signal receiver, several station information managing means respectively assigned to said several station groups, each managing means including: several optical means for receiving information signals emitted from said emitters of said stations of the respective group respectively, a single optical means for deriving information signals supplied to said receivers of said stations of said respective group, and additional information receiving and emitting means, several optical transmission mediums respectively assigned to said station groups, each transmission medium being interconnected to said stations and said managing means of the respective group and comprising several optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said forward lines linking said emitter of a respective station of said respective group to a respective receiving means of said managing means of said respective group, and a single optical unidirectional distributed backward line, said single backward line linking said single emitting means of said managing means of said respective group to said receivers of said stations of said respective group, additional means for managing information signals exchanged between said station groups, said additional managing means including several optical means for respectively receiving information signals emitted by said additional emitting means of said managing means of said groups, and a single optical means for supplying grouped information signals to said additional receiving means of said managing means of said groups, and an additional optical transmission medium interconnected between said managing means of said groups and comprising several additional optical unidirectional forward lines, each of said several additional forward lines linking said additional emitting means of said managing means of said groups to said receiving means of said additional managing means respectively, and a single additional optical unidirectional distributed backward line for linking said single emitting means of said additional managing means to said additional receiving means of said managing means of said groups.

Claim 19

A digital distributed information transmitting system comprising plural stations, an optical transmission medium, first and second optical filtering means, means interconnected to said stations via the transmission medium and said filters for managing information signal exchanges between said stations, each station being fit to transmit an information signal to every other station and to itself and to receive information signals from every other station and itself through said managing means, each station including an optical information signal emitter operating at a first wavelength and an optical information signal receiver operating at a second wavelength, said managing means including plural optical receiving means operating at said first wavelength for converting said optical information signals emitted from said station emitters into electric information signals respectively, means for processing said electric station information signals to form a combined electric information signal, and a single optical emitting means operating at said second wavelength for converting said electrical combined information signal into an optical combined information signal to be distributed to all said station receivers; said optical transmission medium comprising plural optical lines, each optical line unidirectionally carrying said optical information at said first wavelength from said emitter of one of said stations to one of said receiving means in said managing means respectively, and unidirectionally carrying said optical combined information at said second wavelength from said emitting means in said managing means to said receiver of said station, said first optical filtering means comprising plural first optical filters, each first filter coupling said emitter and receiver in one respective station to a first end of one respective optical line, and said second optical filtering means comprising plural second optical filters, each second filter coupling one respective receiving means and said single emitting means to a second end of one respective optical line.

Claim 20

A digital distributed information transmitting system comprising plural stations, an optical transmission medium, first and second optical filtering means, means interconnected to said stations via the transmission medium and said filters for managing information signal exchanges between said stations, each station being fit to transmit an information signal to every other station and to itself and to receive information signals from every other station and itself through said managing means, each station including an optical information signal emitter operating at a first wavelength and an optical information signal receiver operating at a second wavelength, said managing means including plural optical receiving means operating at said first wavelength for converting said optical information signals emitted from said station emitters into electric information signals respectively, means for processing said electric station information signals to form a combined electric information signal, and a single optical emitting means operating at said second wavelength for converting said electrical combined information signal into an optical combined information signal to be distributed to all said station receivers; said optical transmission medium comprising plural optical lines, each optical line unidirectionally carrying said optical information at said first wavelength from said emitter of one of said stations to one of said receiving means in said managing means respectively, and unidirectionally carrying said optical combined information at said second wavelength from said emitting means in said managing means to said receiver of said station, said first optical filtering means comprising plural first optical filters, each first filter coupling said emitter and receiver in one respective station to a first end of one respective optical line, and said second optical filtering means comprising plural second optical filters, each second filter coupling one respective receiving means and said single emitting means to a second end of one respective optical line.