OPTICAL DETECTION NETWORK AND NETWORK DETECTION NODE FOR USE THEREIN

摘要

An optical detection network generally includes optical transmission stations, network detection nodes and optical transmission paths connecting the optical transmission stations and the network detection nodes. The network detection nodes detect or sense conditions in the surrounding environment and communicate data representing the detected or sensed conditions back to the optical transmission stations using optical data signals. In one example, the optical transmission stations and the network detection nodes may form a ring topology with bi-directional communication from the detection nodes to the transmission stations. In one application, the detection network may be used along a shoreline to detect conditions that may be indicative of a potential threat.