Patent ID: 8903240
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: H04J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a common optical receive port in communication with a first optical splitter; a plurality of optical output ports in communication with a second optical splitter disposed, in an optical path, after the first optical splitter, each one of the plurality of optical output ports configured to output at least one optical channel of a plurality of optical channels received in an optical signal via the common optical receive port; an auxiliary optical transmit port coupled to the common optical receive port via the first optical splitter; a common optical transmit port in communication with a first optical coupler; a plurality of optical input ports each configured to receive at least one optical channel of the plurality of optical channels to be output via the common optical transmit port via a second optical coupler disposed, in an optical path, prior to the first optical coupler; an auxiliary optical receive port coupled to the common optical transmit port and configured to supply at least one optical channel of the plurality of optical channels for transmission via the first optical coupler, and an optical path between the common optical transmit port and the common optical receive port via the first optical splitter and first optical coupler.