Patent ID: 6643255
Filing Date: 2003-11-04
Classification: H04B,H04H,H04L,H04N

Abstract:
A node (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5) of a point-to-multipoint network (NET) comprising:a center (HE) that transmits signals to two initial nodes (HUB1, HUB6), the two initial nodes (HUB1, HUB6) being interconnected via a series combination of several nodes (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5), wherein the node (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5) receives signals from and transmits signals to its two adjacent nodes (HUB1, HUB3; HUB2, HUB4; HUB3, HUB5; HUB4, HUB6), to which it is connected, and in a third direction, the node (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5) further comprising: a detector (DET1) that detects disturbances in the signals received from one (HUB1; HUB2; HUB5; HUB6) of its adjacent nodes, a switch (S1) controlled by the detector (DET1) to route the signals received from said one adjacent node (HUB1; HUB2; HUB5; HUB6) to the other adjacent node (HUB3; HUB4; HUB3; HUB4) and/or in the third direction, and, if a disturbance is detected in the signals received from said one adjacent node (HUB1; HUB2; HUB5; HUB6), to route the signals received from the other adjacent node (HUB3; HUB4; HUB3; HUB4) to said one adjacent node (HUB1; HUB2; HUB5; HUB6) and/or in the third direction, wherein the center (HE) is connected to the two initial nodes (HUB1, HUB6) via optical fiber links, and wherein the several nodes (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5) are connected to their adjacent nodes (HUB1, HUB3; HUB2, HUB4; HUB3, HUB5; HUB4, HUB6) via optical fiber links, wherein the node (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5) further comprises: a first input and a first output which are connected to said one adjacent node (HUB1; HUB2; HUB5; HUB6), a second input and a second output which are connected to the other adjacent node (HUB3; HUB4; HUB3; HUB4), wherein the switch (S1) is an optical switch, wherein the first input is connected to the second output via a series combination of an optical coupler (K1), the switch (S1), and an optical splitter (SP1), wherein one output of the optical coupler (K1) is connected to the detector (DET1), and wherein the second input of the node (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5) is connected to the switch (S1), and the first output of the node (HUB2, HUB3, HUB4, HUB5) is connected to the optical splitter (SP1).