Patent ID: 7450847

Claim:
A wavelength division multiplex fiber optic network for transmitting data between a plurality of end stations, comprising: a network node, comprising: a plurality of optical transmitters, each configured to transmit a corresponding transmitted optical beam having a corresponding transmitted wavelength; a wavelength division multiplexer configured to: receive said plurality of transmitted optical beams; multiplex said plurality of transmitted optical beams into a first multi-wavelength optical beam having a first plurality of wavelengths consisting of said transmitted wavelengths; and transmit said first multi-wavelength optical beam to a fiber optic feeder ring; a wavelength division demultiplexer configured to: receive from said fiber optic feeder ring a second multi-wavelength optical beam having a second plurality of wavelengths selected from said first plurality of wavelengths, said second multi-wavelength optical beam based at least in part on said first multi-wavelength optical beam; demultiplex said second multi-wavelength optical beam into a plurality of received optical beams, each received optical beam having a corresponding wavelength selected from said second plurality of wavelengths; and transmit each of said received optical beams; and a plurality of optical receivers, each configured to receive from said demultiplexer a corresponding received optical beam; and an access node connected via said fiber optic feeder ring to said network node and connected via a fiber optic distribution ring to said plurality of end stations, said access node configured to: receive from said fiber optic feeder ring said first multi-wavelength optical beam; and transmit via said fiber optic distribution ring to said plurality of end stations a third multi-wavelength optical beam having a third plurality of wavelengths selected from said first plurality of wavelengths, said third multi-wavelength optical beam based at least in part on said first multi-wavelength optical beam.