Patent ID: 6978093

Claim:
An optical communication network, comprising: a plurality of buildings, wherein each building houses at least one of a residence and a business; a plurality of free-space optical links, where each of the plurality of free-space optical links is defined between two of the plurality of buildings and data is communicated across the plurality of optical links; each of the plurality of buildings includes a distribution system configured to receive the data communicated across at least one of the plurality of optical links and to distribute the data to an intended recipient within the building; the plurality of optical links are configured to form a network topology providing alternate communication paths for at least two of the plurality of buildings; and an external network is coupled with the optical communication network, wherein at least some of the data is communicated between the external network and the optical communication network; wherein at least one of the distribution systems includes a roof top transceiver mounted on a building and communicationally coupled with at least one of the plurality of optical links to receive data, where the roof top transceiver is configured to transmit a first optical signal across free-space along an exterior of a building to impinge on a first POD; wherein the first POD is configured to redirect the first optical signal to be received by a first customer premises equipment (CPE); wherein the first CPE is configured to transmit a second optical signal to impinge on the first POD; wherein the first POD is configured to redirect the second optical signal to impinge on a second POD; and wherein the second POD is configured to redirect the second optical signal to be received by a second CPE.