Patent ID: 7945166
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A network interface apparatus comprising: (a) a bidirectional optical signal port; (b) an optical diplexer connected to the bidirectional optical signal port; (c) a first RF signal port; (d) a second RF signal port; (e) a first RF diplexer configured and connected to transmit a first received RF input signal from the first RF signal port to the optical diplexer to modulate an optical output signal transmitted by the optical diplexer to the optical signal port, the first RF signal port being a bidirectional RF signal port; and (f) an RF splitter configured and connected (i) to receive from the optical diplexer an RF signal derived from an RF-modulated optical input signal received from the bidirectional optical signal port, (ii) to transmit a first portion of the derived RF signal as a first RF output signal to the first RF signal port through the first RF diplexer, and (iii) to transmit a second portion of the derived RF signal as a second RF output signal to the second RF signal port, (g) wherein the first RF diplexer is configured so that (i) the first RF input signal is transmitted through the first RF diplexer only in a first RF input frequency range, (ii) the first RF output signal is transmitted through the first RF diplexer only in a first RF output frequency range, (iii) the first RF input and the first RF output frequency ranges are substantially non-overlapping, and (iv) the first RF input frequency range overlaps a second RF output frequency range in which the second RF output signal is transmitted.