Patent ID: 8064766

Claim:
A fiber optic network for transmitting data between a plurality of user systems, comprising: a hub node, comprising: a multi-wavelength optical transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of downstream optical carriers to at least one uni-directional fiber ring, each of said plurality of downstream optical carriers having a corresponding specific downstream wavelength selected from a plurality of wavelengths; a first multiplexer configured to orthogonal frequency division multiplex a corresponding specific downstream data stream onto each of said plurality of downstream optical carriers; a first parallel signal detector configured to receive from the at least one unidirectional fiber ring a plurality of upstream optical carriers, each of said plurality of upstream optical carriers having a corresponding specific upstream wavelength selected from said plurality of wavelengths and each of said plurality of upstream optical carriers carrying a corresponding specific upstream data stream multiplexed by orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; and a first demultiplexer configured to orthogonal frequency division demultiplex each of said corresponding specific upstream data streams; a first local node configured to communicate with a first user system selected from said plurality of user systems, comprising: a first single-wavelength optical transmitter configured to transmit to said at least one uni-directional fiber ring a first upstream optical carrier having a corresponding first upstream wavelength selected from said plurality of wavelengths; a second multiplexer configured to orthogonal frequency division multiplex a corresponding first upstream data stream onto said first upstream optical carrier; a second parallel signal detector configured to receive said plurality of downstream optical carriers; and a second demultiplexer configured to orthogonal frequency division demultiplex a corresponding specific downstream data stream on the specific downstream optical carrier whose corresponding specific downstream wavelength is equal to said corresponding first upstream wavelength; and a second local node configured to communicate with a second user system selected from said plurality of user systems, comprising: a second single-wavelength optical transmitter configured to transmit to said at least one unidirectional fiber ring a second upstream optical carrier having a corresponding second upstream wavelength selected from said plurality of wavelengths; a third multiplexer configured to orthogonal frequency division multiplex a corresponding second upstream data stream onto said second upstream optical carrier; a third parallel signal detector configured to receive said plurality of downstream optical carriers; and a third demultiplexer configured to orthogonal frequency division demultiplex a corresponding specific downstream data stream on the specific downstream optical carrier whose corresponding specific downstream wavelength is equal to said corresponding second upstream wavelength.