Patent ID: 7623786

Claim:
An optical network system comprising: a data service hub for producing downstream optical signals comprising video information; at least one optical tap; at least one multi-subscriber optical interface connected to the optical tap for servicing two or more subscribers, the multi-subscriber optical interface comprising an analog optical receiver for converting the downstream optical signals from the data service hub into downstream electrical signals destined for subscribers, an RF splitter for dividing the downstream electrical signals between at least two electrical waveguides, a service disconnect switch coupled to each electrical waveguide for controlling video service for respective subscribers, the service disconnect switch having a first state that prevents all downstream video signals from reaching a respective subscriber, the service disconnect switch having a second state which allows video signals to pass through the service disconnect switch to a respective subscriber, the service disconnect switch being alternatable between the first and second states, each multi-subscriber optical interface further comprising a processor and a first routing device for managing upstream and downstream electrical, data, non-video signals and which operates independently and without controlling the service disconnect switch, and the first routing device using a first look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals; a laser transceiver node disposed between and coupled to the data service hub and the optical tap, for communicating optical signals between the data service hub and the optical tap, the laser transceiver node comprising a second routing device for apportioning bandwidth in an electrical domain between subscribers of the optical network system and using a second look-up table for managing at least one of upstream and downstream electrical signals, and one or more optical waveguides connected between that at least one optical tap, the laser transceiver node, and the least one multi-subscriber optical interface, for carrying the upstream optical signals and the downstream optical signals, whereby optical bandwidth for subscribers is controllable by at least one of the laser transceiver node and multi-subscriber optical interface in response to subscriber demand.