| 摘要 |
After the claims, please insert the following Abstract:-The invention provides a broadband mass communications network system and method comprising a plurality of patches (10), each patch including a plurality of subscribers, and each subscriber having a respective subscriber unit (12) for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from other subscribers. Each subscriber unit comprises an indoor interface unit (20) for user access to the system and an outdoor mounted communication unit (18) for the transmission and reception of signals. The signals are impressed on a carrier signal operating at frequencies in the range from infra-red to ultra-violet, the subscriber units of a respective patch being arranged to transmit the carrier signals substantially omni-directionally and to communicate by way of direct line of sight connections within the patch. Objects (16) within and/or around the respective patch are employed to determine and/or modify the propagation pattern of the carrier signal and to define boundaries for the patch. Respective patches are inter-connected by way of patch interface points (46), each patch interface point being connected to respective subscriber units from at least two adjacent patches by communication means other than that between respective subscriber units within the patches. |
