Patent ID: 6281996
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method of transmitting communication signals from two or more terminals (NT1, NT2) of a hybrid fiber/coax access network (NET) over an electric line and an optical line through an optical network termination unit (ONU) having a forward channel and a return channel to provide a direct link between the optical line and the electric line, wherein the forward channel is used to convey signals from the optical line to the two or more terminals by means of an optical-to-electrical transducer (O/E2), said method comprising the steps of:transmitting the communication signals of the two or more terminals in an electric form over the electric line to the optical network termination unit;digitizing the electric signals received in the optical network termination unit into digital signals;converting the digital signals to optical signals by means of a digital electrical-to-optical transducer (E2/0) in order to convey the communication signals to the electric line through the return channel.