Patent ID: 7103907

Claim:
A method of providing first RF signals within a first frequency band from a first location to a multiplicity of second locations, providing bidirectional telephony signals between said first location and at least two of said multiplicity of said second locations, and providing second RF signals within a second frequency band from said at least two second locations to said first location on at least two separate optical paths and comprising: transmitting light at a first wavelength modulated by said first RF signals from said first location to at least two intermediate locations via said at least two separate optical paths and from each of said at least two intermediate locations to said multiplicity of second locations on a multiplicity of first paths, each having at least two electrical conductors; bidirectionally transmitting light at a second wavelength for carrying telephony signals both upstream and downstream on said at least two optical paths between said first location and said at least two intermediate locations and from said at least two intermediate locations to said second locations on a multiplicity of second paths having at least two electrical conductors; transmitting first and second RF signals at selected frequencies within a second frequency band from at least two of said multiplicity of second locations one each to said at least two intermediate locations on at least two of said multiplicity of first paths; further modulating said transmitted light having said second wavelength traveling from said at least two intermediate locations to said first location on said at least two optical paths with said first and second RF signals from said at least two second locations; and receiving said first and second RF signals within said second frequency band at said first location; receiving said light having said second wavelength at said first location traveling from a first one of said at least two intermediate locations on a first one of said at least two optical paths; receiving said light having said second wavelength at said first location traveling from a second one of said at least two intermediate locations on a second one of said at least two optical paths; recovering and attenuating first telephony signals received from light carried by said first one of said at least two optical paths by a first amount such that said first telephony signals are substantially at a preset value; recovering and attenuating second telephony signals received from light carried by said second one of said at least two optical paths by a second amount such that said second telephony signals are also substantially at said preset value; and recovering and attenuating said second RF signals traveling to said first location on said first one and said second one of said at least two optical paths by said first and second amounts respectively such that each of said attenuated second RF signals have substantially the same signal strength.