Wavelength allocation in an optical fibre subscriber network

摘要

A wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical fibre subscriber network capable of expanding the number of the subscribers. A central office allocates a combination of common optical wavelengths to a subscriber upon receipt of a service request signal. These allocated wavelengths form a sub-set of all the common wavelengths in the network. Information destined for different subscribers is transmitted on each common wavelength. The central office also allocates to each subscriber appropriate bandwidth on the allocated wavelengths. Optical subscriber devices each optically distribute and filter the multiplexed optical signals to select their allocated optical wavelengths, and output the selected optical wavelengths to corresponding subscriber terminals. The sub-set of wavelengths allocated to each subscriber may be unique to that subscriber. The network may use A.T.M. or packet switching protocols.