Patent ID: 6898206
Filing Date: 2005-05-24
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
1. In an existing optical network comprising a multiplicity of destination terminals, an intermediate terminal, and a primary terminal, each of said multiplicity of destination terminals including an optical interface unit (OIU) having an OIU input optical connector and an OIU output optical connector and each OIU for extracting data on lightwaves received at said OIU input optical connector and injecting data onto lightwaves transmitted from said OIU output optical connector, each of said destination terminals having a corresponding pair of optical fibers extending to said intermediate terminal, each of said corresponding pairs of optical fibers including a first fiber and a second fiber, and each of said OIU connected by said OIU input optical connector and said OIU output optical connector to each corresponding first fiber and second fiber, and said intermediate terminal connected to said primary terminal by at least a primary pair of optical fibers, apparatus for providing optical data transmission comprising: a first conversion circuit located in said intermediate terminal having a first conversion input optical connector and a first conversion output optical connector, said first conversion circuit for converting optical data to electrical data and electrical data to optical data, said first conversion circuit further including electrical connections; a transmission loop comprising said multiplicity of destination terminals and said corresponding pairs of optical fibers wherein; a second conversion circuit located in said intermediate terminal for converting optical data to electrical data and electrical data to optical data and electrically connected to said electrical connections of said first conversion circuit, said second conversion circuit also optically connected to said primary pair of optical fibers extending between said intermediate terminal and said primary terminal.