Patent ID: 7729614

Claim:
A data distribution system comprising: a plurality of client devices accessible to the internet through a first optical fiber, and bus-connected through a second optical fiber to a data server that transmits and receives data as signal light, such that each client device of the plurality of client devices includes a respective client optical switch and is connected to a client access device having a laser light source that generates control light to the respective client optical switch, and such that each client device of the plurality of client devices is allowed to send an access command to the client access device connected therewith wherein each respective client optical switch is structured with a respective thermal-lens forming element having a light-absorbing layer having a wavelength band to absorb control light but transmit signal light and using a thermal lens based on a distribution of a refractive index caused reversibly by a temperature rise of the light-absorbing layer at and around a region where the control light is absorbed thus realizing, corresponding to a presence or an absence of the control light, (i) a state that the signal light is allowed to exit at a usual spread angle when no control light is irradiated and no thermal lens is formed, and (ii) a state that the signal light is allowed to exit at an angle greater than the usual spread angle when the control light is irradiated and the thermal lens is formed, wherein each respective client optical switch is structured with a respective signal-light path shifting member that (i) allows the signal light, transmitted from the thermal-lens forming element at the usual spread angle, to pass therethrough, and (ii) shifts an optical path for a portion of the signal light transmitted from the thermal-lens forming element at an angle greater than the usual spread angle, and wherein, when a client device of the plurality of client devices forwards the access command to the client access device connected therewith, the control light is irradiated to the client optical switch of the client device forwarding the access command from the client access device connected therewith to thereby cause a switchover thus storing transmission data from the data server to a data storage of a relevant client device.