Patent ID: 6701092
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: G02B,H01B,H04B,H04L

Abstract:
A point-to-multipoint bi-directional wide area communications network employing atmospheric optical communication, comprising:a primary transceiver unit comprising a primary light source configured to generate a first light beam, wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate first data on said first light beam, wherein said primary transceiver unit atmospherically transmits said first light beam including said first data; an optical router configured to atmospherically receive said first light beam including said first data from said primary transceiver unit; and a plurality of subscriber transceiver units; wherein said optical router atmospherically transmits a plurality of second light beams including said first data, wherein each of said plurality of second light beams is transmitted to one of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units; wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to atmospherically receive one of said plurality of second light beams including said first data from said optical router, wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to demodulate at least a portion of said first data from said second light beam; wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to modulate respective second data on a third light beam, wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units atmospherically transmits said third light beam including said respective second data to said optical router; wherein said optical router is configured to atmospherically receive a plurality of said third light beams each including said respective second data from said plurality of subscriber transceiver units, wherein said optical router atmospherically transmits a fourth light beam including said respective second data to said primary transceiver unit; and wherein said primary transceiver unit atmospherically receives said fourth light beam including said respective second data, wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to demodulate said respective second data from said fourth light beam; wherein said primary transceiver unit, said optical router and said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprise a wide area optical telecommunications network.