Patent ID: 8712241

Claim:
A passive optical network, the network comprising: an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to transmit optical data and video signals; a first optical coupler in communication with said OLT via a first fiber, said first optical coupler configured to receive, split and transmit said optical data and video signals to at least a first and a second optical network unit (ONU); and a second optical coupler in communication with said OLT via a second fiber, said second optical coupler configured to receive, split and transmit said video signals to at least one of said first and said second ONU; where said first optic coupler is configured to receive second optical signals transmitted upstream from at least one of said first and second ONU, said first optic coupler further configured to transmit said second optical signals to said second optical coupler for transmission to at least one of said first and second ONUs; and where said first and second ONUs are configured to arbitrate upstream channel sharing via a channel sharing protocol configured from said second optical signals; and whereupon failure of said first optical coupler to transmit said optical data and video signals to at least one of said first and second ONU, said network is configured to responsively discontinue said video signals transmitted to said second optical coupler, and transmit said optical data and video signals to at least one of said first and second ONUs via said second optical coupler in communication with said OLT via said second fiber.