Patent ID: 8401387

Claim:
A system comprising: an optical network terminal (ONT) that converts optical signals representing information packets received from a passive optical network (PON) via an optical fiber link to electrical signals, wherein the electrical signals comprise raw bits; and a subscriber gateway device coupled to the ONT via at least one cable, the subscriber gateway device including: an optical media access control (MAC) unit that receives the electrical signals from the ONT via at least one pair of electrical conductors included in the cable and converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals representing the information packets; and a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices, wherein the ONT converts the optical signals received from the PON to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any MAC layer functions including without converting the electrical signals into distinct data units and without providing addressing and channel access control mechanisms for transmission of the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device.