Patent ID: 7734179

Claim:
A concentrator for use in a communication system that enables communications between a head end and an end user, comprising: a first lightwave transceiver that optically receives a first signal intended for multiple end users and a second signal, said first lightwave transceiver producing an electrical communication signal based on at least one of said optically received first and second signals; a mux/demux device that receives said electrical communication signal from said first lightwave transceiver and separates out said first signal and said second signal, said first signal being transmitted for multicast reception by end users; a mux/demux/router that receives said second signal and extracts a plurality of communication signals that are each destined for a particular mini fiber node; and a second lightwave transceiver that forwards each of said extracted plurality of communication signals to a particular mini fiber node for subsequent distribution to one of a plurality of end users served by said particular mini fiber node.