Patent ID: 7522838

Claim:
A distribution node for an optical network, comprising: a first distributor operable to: receive a first downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a first wavelength and traffic in a second wavelength from an upstream terminal; route the traffic in the first wavelength to a first plurality of downstream terminals; and route the traffic in the second wavelength to a second plurality of downstream terminals; a second distributor operable to: receive a second downstream signal comprising at least traffic in a third wavelength; and forward the traffic in the third wavelength to at least the first plurality of downstream terminals; a first combining element operable to: receive the traffic in the first wavelength from the first distributor; receive the traffic in the third wavelength from the second distributor; and forward the traffic in the first wavelength and the traffic in the third wavelength to the first plurality of downstream terminals; and a second combining element operable to: receive at least the traffic in the second wavelength from the first distributor; and forward the traffic in the second wavelength to the second plurality of downstream terminals.