Patent ID: 7925162

Claim:
An optical Local Area Network (LAN) of one or more LAN clients, the optical LAN comprising: a LAN manager for managing optical signals each incorporating both a LAN control channel and a LAN data channel in a single optical wavelength, including an optical interface having means for converting received optical signals to electrical signals and means for producing transmitted optical signals from electrical signals, a plurality of optical ports, a passive optical coupler coupled between the optical interface and the optical ports and having means for accepting received optical signals from and for distributing transmitted optical signals to the optical interface and the optical ports, and a control module coupled to the optical interface and having means for receiving electrical signals from and for transmitting electrical signals to the optical interface; a plurality of LAN client adapters including an optical interface having means for converting received optical signals to electrical signals and means for producing transmitted optical signals from electrical signals, an optical port coupled to the optical interface, and a control module having means for receiving electrical signals from and for transmitting electrical signals to the optical interface; and a plurality of optical waveguides each coupled between one of the LAN client adapter optical ports and the LAN manager; whereby the LAN manager can receive an optical signal incorporating both a LAN control channel and a LAN data channel in a single optical wavelength from any LAN client adapter, a LAN client adapter can receive an optical signal incorporating both a LAN control channel and a LAN data channel in a single optical wavelength from the LAN manager, and the LAN manager and LAN client adapters are in communication to facilitate sending and receiving LAN data across the optical waveguides.