Patent ID: 7349629
Filing Date: 2008-03-25
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. An optical communication network, comprising: a bi-directional optical bus for routing optical digital signals at a plurality of different wavelengths; a plurality of nodes having terminal equipment for performing at least one of transmitting digital optical signals onto the bi-directional optical bus and receiving optical digital signals from the bi-directional optical bus; a plurality of passive optical interface devices connected to the bi-directional optical bus; each node connected to the bi-directional optical bus through no more than one passive optical interface device; the passive optical interface devices routing optical digital signals from the terminal equipment at the nodes onto the bi-directional optical bus in both directions; the passive optical interface devices routing optical digital signals traveling along the bi-directional optical bus in either direction toward the nodes; each node being assigned a unique wavelength of transmission for transmitting optical digital signals; each node receiving optical digital signals at least at one wavelength of reception, the wavelength of reception for a node being different than the wavelength of transmission for that node; the bi-directional optical bus and the passive optical interface devices serving as a digital interconnect fabric for the plurality of nodes, wherein each of the nodes receives optical control signals at a first wavelength and each node has a tunable receiver for selecting a second wavelength for receiving optical digital signals at the wavelength of reception.