Patent ID: 7630597
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: H04J,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An optical switching system comprising: a master module having a controller, a transmitter portion for use with a transmitter, and a receiver portion for use with a receiver; a slave module for distributing content in the optical cable distribution network having a controller and one or more transmitter portions for use with transmitters, the slave module controller being connected to the master module controller with a control line; the master module transmitter portion for distributing content and having a first port for connection to a primary downstream path and a second port for connection to a diverse downstream path; the master module receiver portion having a first port for connection to a primary upstream path and a second port for connection to a diverse upstream path; each slave module transmitter portion having a first port for connection to an additional primary downstream path and a second port for connection to an additional diverse downstream path, at least a portion of the primary downstream path and at least a portion of at least one of the additional primary downstream paths being contained within a same sheath; a first optical coupler for detecting an optical signal level provided to the master module receiver portion first port and providing a first electrical signal to a first input of the master module controller and a second optical coupler for detecting an optical signal level provided to the master module receiver portion second port and providing a second electrical signal to a second input of the master module controller; one or more switches responsive to the master module controller for switching between the master module first and second ports; and one or more further switches responsive to the slave module controller for switching between the slave module first and second ports, wherein the master module controller is configured to control the slave module over the control line to switch to the slave module first ports when switching to the master module first ports, and switch to the slave module second ports when switching to the master module second ports.