Patent ID: 7181142
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method of bandwidth arbitration among a plurality of network units of a broadband optical network, said optical network having at least first and second optical couplers and an access protocol, the method comprising: splitting first optical signals derived from at least one of said network units at said at least first coupler to produce at least second and third signals; splitting at least a portion of said second signals using said second coupler; distributing at least a portion of said split second signals to each of said plurality of network units; determining at each of said plurality of network units whether said at least portion of said split optical signal is present; and permitting the respective ones of said plurality of network units to transmit optical signals onto said network only when said at least portion of said split signal is not detected for an interval, said interval comprising an amount of time that equals or exceeds an inter-frame gap; wherein said act of splitting first optical signals comprises splitting a plurality of first signals derived from respective ones of said plurality of network units.