Optical subscriber line system

Claim 2

An optical subscriber line system, connected to subscriber terminals transmitting analog signals, having an optical transmission medium transferring a first multiplexed light signal, said optical subscriber line system comprising: a plurality of optical transmission paths, each optical transmission path having a plurality of channels including at least one idle channel used as a spare channel and transferring a second multiplexed light signal; a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to the optical transmission medium and to the plurality of optical transmission paths, said multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprising: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed light signal and first digital signals, and first interface means, respectively provided for each of the optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first digital signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and a plurality of relay units, connected to the plurality of optical transmission paths and to the subscriber terminals, each relay unit comprising: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second digital signals, and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second digital signals into analog signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting the analog signals transmitted from the subscriber terminals into the second digital signals, wherein the at least one idle channel is shared by the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the plurality of relay units.

Claim 3

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels comprise a first subset of channels and at least a second subset of channels and the first multiplexed light signal is transferred by the first subset channels and the second multiplexed light signals are transferred by the at least a second subset of channels, and wherein the first subset of channels is greater than the at least a second subset of channels.

Claim 4

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit further comprises access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the at least a second subset of channels.

Claim 5

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said interface means comprises: first converting means for converting one of the second multiplexed light signals into a first electric signal; demultiplexer means, coupled to said first converting means, for deriving said second digital signals from said first electric signal; multiplexing means for multiplexing the second digital signals from the speech processing means with each other to thereby generate second electric signals; and second converting means for converting the second electric signals into one of the second multiplexed light signals.

Claim 6

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit further comprises first access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the at least a second subset of channels, and each of said first interface means and said second interface means comprises: first converting means for converting one of the second multiplexed light signals into a first electric signal; demultiplexer means, coupled to said first converting means, for deriving said second digital signals from said first electric signal; multiplexing means for multiplexing the second digital signals from the speech processing means with each other to thereby generate second electric signals; and second converting means for converting the second electric signals into one of the second multiplexed light signals.

Claim 7

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spare channel is shared by the first interface means, and wherein said multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises spare channel specifying means for specifying which one of the first interface means respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths uses said spare channel.

Claim 8

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said access means comprises channel specifying means for specifying, for each of the first interface means, channels to be used, producing specified channels corresponding to said predetermined channels.

Claim 9

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said access means comprises channel specifying means for specifying, for each of the first interface means, channels to be used; and specified channels correspond to said predetermined channels.

Claim 10

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first digital signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first digital signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second digital signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second digital signals into analog signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting analog signals from the subscriber terminals into the second digital signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into an electric signal corresponding to one of the first digital signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; and buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electric signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means.

Claim 11

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first digital signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first digital signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second digital signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second digital signals into analog signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting analog signals from the subscriber terminals into the second digital signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into an electric signal corresponding to one of the first digital signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; and buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electric signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means.

Claim 12

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first digital signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first digital signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second digital signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second digital signals into analog signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting analog signals from the subscriber terminals into the second digital signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first digital signals and outputting the first digital signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first digital signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate an electric multiplexed signal; and converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 13

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first digital signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first digital signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second digital signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second digital signals into analog signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting analog signals from the subscriber terminals into the second digital signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first digital signals and outputting the first digital signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first digital signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate an electric multiplexed signal; and converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 14

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first digital signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first digital signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second digital signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second digital signals into analog signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting analog signals from the subscriber terminals into the second digital signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: first converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into a first electric signal corresponding to one of the first digital signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electrical signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first digital signals and outputting the first digital signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first digital signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate a second electric multiplexed signal; and second converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the second electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 15

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first digital signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first digital signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second digital signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second digital signals into analog signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting analog signals from the subscriber terminals into the second digital signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: first converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into a first electric signal corresponding to one of the first digital signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electrical signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first digital signals and outputting the first digital signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first digital signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate a second electric multiplexed signal; and second converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the second electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 16

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a first subset of channels and at least a second subset of channels, the first multiplexed light signal is transferred by a first subset of channels and the second multiplexed light signals are transferred by at least a second subset of channels, and the first subset of channels is equal to total of the at least a second subset of channels.

Claim 17

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first interface means comprises a bus transferring the first digital signals.

Claim 18

An optical subscriber line system, connected to subscriber terminals, having an optical transmission medium transferring a first multiplexed light signal, said optical subscriber line system comprising: a plurality of optical transmission paths, each optical transmission path having a plurality of channels including at least one idle channel used as a spare channel and transferring a second multiplexed light signal; a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to the optical transmission medium and to the plurality of optical transmission paths, said multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprising: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on the first multiplexed light signal and first electric signals, and first interface means, respectively provided for each of the optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and a plurality of relay units, connected to the plurality of optical transmission paths and to the subscriber terminals, each relay unit comprising: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals, and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting the third electric signals transmitted from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the at least one idle channel is shared by the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the plurality of relay units.

Claim 19

An optical subscriber line system, connected to subscriber terminals, having an optical transmission medium transferring a first multiplexed light signal, said optical subscriber line system comprising: a plurality of optical transmission paths, each optical transmission path having a plurality of channels including at least one idle channel used as a spare channel and transferring a second multiplexed light signal; a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to the optical transmission medium and to the plurality of optical transmission paths, said multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprising: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on the first multiplexed light signal and first electric signals, and first interface means, respectively provided for each of the optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and a plurality of relay units, connected to the plurality of optical transmission paths and to the subscriber terminals, each relay unit comprising: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals, and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting the third electric signals transmitted from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the at least one idle channel is shared by the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the plurality of relay units.

Claim 20

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of channels comprise a first subset of channels and at least a second subset of channels and the first multiplexed light signal is transferred by the first subset of channels and the second multiplexed light signals are transferred by the at least a second subset of channels, and wherein the first subset of channels is greater than the at least a second subset of channels.

Claim 21

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit further comprises access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the at least a second subset of channels.

Claim 22

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said interface means comprises: first converting means for converting one of the second multiplexed light signals into a fourth electric signal; demultiplexer means, coupled to said first converting means, for deriving said second electric signals from said fourth electric signal; multiplexing means for multiplexing the second electric signals from the speech processing means with each other to thereby generate fifth electric signals; and second converting means for converting the fifth electric signals into one of the second multiplexed light signals.

Claim 23

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 15, wherein: the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit further comprises first access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the at least a second subset of channels, and each of said first interface means and said second interface means comprises: first converting means for converting one of the second multiplexed light signals into a fourth electric signal; demultiplexer means, coupled to said first converting means, for deriving said second electric signals from said fourth electric signal; multiplexing means for multiplexing the second electric signals from the speech processing means with each other to thereby generate fifth electric signals; and second converting means for converting the fifth electric signals into one of the second multiplexed light signals.

Claim 24

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the spare channel is shared by the first interface means, and wherein said multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises spare channel specifying means for specifying which one of the first interface means respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths uses said spare channel.

Claim 25

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said access means comprises channel specifying means for specifying, for each of the first interface means, channels to be used, producing specified channels corresponding to said predetermined channels.

Claim 26

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said access means comprises channel specifying means for specifying, for each of the first interface means, channels to be used; and specified channels correspond to said predetermined channels.

Claim 27

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first electric signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting third electric signals from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into an electric signal corresponding to one of the first electric signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; and buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electric signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means.

Claim 28

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first electric signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting third electric signals from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into an electric signal corresponding to one of the first electric signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; and buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electric signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means.

Claim 29

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first electric signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting third electric signals from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first electric signals and outputting the first electric signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first electric signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate an electric multiplexed signal; and converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 30

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first electric signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting third electric signals from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first electric signals and outputting the first electric signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first electric signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate an electric multiplexed signal; and converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 31

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first electric signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting third electric signals from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: first converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into a fourth electric signal corresponding to one of the first electric signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electrical signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first electric signals and outputting the first electric signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first electric signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate a second electric multiplexed signal; and second converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the second electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 32

An optical subscriber line system comprising: a multiplexer/demultiplexer unit connected to an optical transmission medium; a plurality of relay units to which subscriber terminals are connected; and a plurality of optical transmission paths optically connecting the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit and the relay units to each other, wherein the multiplexer/demultiplexer unit comprises: multiplexer/demultiplexer means for selectively performing multiplexing and demultiplexing operations, variously on a first multiplexed signal and first electric signals, said first multiplexed signal being transferred, in the form of a light signal, through the optical transmission medium; first interface means, respectively provided for the plurality of optical transmission paths, for establishing a first interface between the first electric signals and second multiplexed light signals respectively transferred through the plurality of optical transmission paths; and access means for accessing, for each of the plurality of optical transmission paths, predetermined channels among the channels included in one of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein the relay units respectively comprise: second interface means for establishing a second interface between the second multiplexed light signals and second electric signals; and speech processing means, coupled to said second interface means, for converting the second electric signals into third electric signals supplied to the subscriber terminals and for converting third electric signals from the subscriber terminals into the second electric signals, wherein the first multiplexed signal is transferred by more channels than those transferring each of the second multiplexed light signals, wherein each of said first interface means comprises: first converting means for converting the second multiplexed light signal into a fourth electric signal corresponding to one of the first electric signals; pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal sequentially specifying the predetermined channels; buffer means, coupled to said converting means and said pulse generating means, for allowing the electrical signal to pass through the buffer means in response to receipt of the pulse signal from the pulse generating means; shift register means, coupled to said pulse generating means, for sequentially storing the first electric signals and outputting the first electric signals in parallel; multiplexer means, coupled to said shift register means, for multiplexing the first electric signals in parallel with each other to thereby generate a second electric multiplexed signal; and second converting means, coupled to said multiplexer means, for converting the second electric multiplexed signal into the second multiplexed light signal.

Claim 33

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plurality of channels comprises a first subset of channels and at least a second subset of channels, the first multiplexed light signal is transferred by a first subset of channels and the second multiplexed light signals are transferred by at least a second subset of channels, and the first subset of channels is equal to total of the at least a second subset of channels.

Claim 34

An optical subscriber line system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first interface means comprises a bus transferring the first electric signals.