Patent ID: 6570692
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: G02B,H01B,H04B,H04L

Abstract:
A point-to-multipoint wide area communications network employing atmospheric optical communication, comprising:a primary transceiver unit comprising a primary light source configured to generate a first light beam, wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate first data on said first light beam, and to transmit said modulated first light beam into the atmosphere; a first optical router; and a plurality of subscriber transceiver units; wherein said first optical router is configured to receive said modulated first light beam from the atmosphere and redirect portions of said modulated first light beam through the atmosphere to said plurality of subscriber transceiver units; wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to receive one or more of said portions of said modulated first light beam from said first optical router through the atmosphere; and wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to demodulate at least a portion of said first data from said one or more portions of said modulated first light beam; wherein said primary transceiver unit, said first optical router and said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprise a wide area optical telecommunications network.