1. A system for communicating a subset of electrical signals downstream between a central location and a customer's premises, the central location and the customer's premises being interconnected by a dedicated optical fiber, the system comprising
- an electrical switch, at the central location, for receiving the electrical signals at an input of the switch and for delivering the subset of the electrical signals at an output of the switch, the electrical switch operable to provide only the subset of the electrical signals at its output as subscribed to by the customer,
- a downstream electrical-optical converter, coupled to the switch at the central location, for converting the subset of electrical signals onto a single downstream optical signal propagated over the optical fiber at a first optical wavelength, and
- a downstream optical-electrical converter, coupled to the optical fiber at the customer's premises, for detecting the downstream optical signal and for converting the detected downstream optical signal into electrical received versions of the subset of electrical signals for use by the customer.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 to further transmit second electrical signals between the central location and the customer's premises, the downstream electrical-optical converter being adapted for receiving the second electrical signals at its input and for changing the downstream optical signal in correspondence to the second electrical signals, and the downstream optical-electrical converter being adapted for converting the detected downstream optical signal into second electrical received versions of the second electrical signals for use by the customer.
3. The system as recited in claim 2 further including an upstream electrical-optical converter, at the customer's premises, for converting third electrical signals into an upstream optical signal, and for transmitting the upstream optical signal over the optical fiber at a second optical wavelength, and wherein the central location further includes an upstream optical-electrical converter for detecting the upstream optical signal and for converting the upstream optical signal to detected electrical versions of the third electrical signals.
4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein the downstream electrical-optical converter includes
- a downstream radio-frequency (RF) combiner for receiving the subset of modulated electrical signals and the second electrical signals and for combining each of the modulated electrical signals in the subset and each of the second electrical signals to a pre-determined frequency band to produce a single downstream electrical signal, and
- a downstream laser operating at the first wavelength, coupled to the downstream RF combiner, for generating the downstream optical signal from the single downstream electrical signal.
5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein the downstream electrical-optical converter includes a downstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the downstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the downstream optical signal onto the optical fiber.
6. The system as recited in claim 5 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes
- an upstream radio-frequency (RF) combiner for receiving the third electrical signals and for modulating each of the third electrical signals to a pre-determined frequency band to produce a single upstream electrical signal, and
- an upstream laser operating at the second wavelength, coupled to the upstream RF combiner, for generating the upstream optical signal from the single upstream electrical signal.
7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes an upstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the upstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the upstream optical signal onto the optical fiber.
8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the upstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the downstream optical signal to the downstream optical-electrical converter.
9. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the downstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the upstream optical signal to the upstream optical-electrical converter.
10. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the downstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
11. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein the upstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
12. A system for communicating a subset of first electrical signals and second electrical signals downstream and third electrical signals upstream between a central location and a customer's premises, the third electrical signals including the upstream counterparts to the second electrical signals, the central location and the customer premises being interconnected by a dedicated optical fiber, the system comprising
- an electrical switch, at the central location, for receiving the first electrical signals at its input and for delivering the subset of first electrical signals in parallel at its output,
- a first radio frequency combiner for converting the parallel subset of the first electrical signals and the second electrical signals originating at the central location into a single downstream electrical signal,
- a first laser for converting the downstream electrical signal to a first modulated optical signal at a first wavelength,
- a first wave division multiplexer/demultiplexer for coupling the first optical signal to the optical fiber,
- a second wave division multiplexer/demultiplexer, coupled to the optical fiber at the customer's premises, for detecting the first optical signal,
- a customer receiver, coupled to the second multiplexer/demultiplexer, for converting the first optical signal into detected versions of the subset of first electrical signals and downstream versions of the second electrical signals,
- a second radio frequency combiner for converting the third electrical signals for upstream transmission into a single electrical upstream signal,
- a second laser for converting the upstream electrical signal to a second modulated optical signal at a second wavelength, the second optical signal serving as an input to second multiplexer/demultiplexer, and
- a central location receiver, coupled to the first multiplexer/demultiplexer, for converting the second optical signal into upstream versions of the third electrical signals.
13. A transmitter for communicating a subset of electrical signals downstream from a central office to a customer's premises, the central office and the customer's premises being interconnected by a dedicated optical fiber, the transmitter comprising
- an electrical switch, at the central office, for receiving the electrical signals at an input of the switch and for delivering the subset of the electrical signals at an output of the switch, the electrical switch operable to provide only the subset of the electrical signals at its output as subscribed to by the customer, and
- a downstream electrical-optical converter, coupled to the switch at the central location, for converting the subset of electrical signals into a single downstream optical signal propagated over the optical fiber at a first optical wavelength.
14. The transmitter as recited in claim 13 to further transmit second electrical signals from the central location to the customer's premises, the downstream electrical-optical converter being adapted for receiving the second electrical signals at its input and for changing the downstream optical signal in correspondence to the second electrical signals.
15. The transmitter as recited in claim 14 wherein the downstream electrical-optical converter includes
- a downstream radio-frequency (RF) combiner for receiving the parallel subset of modulated electrical signals and the second electrical signals and for combining each of the modulated electrical signals in the subset and each of the second electrical signals to a pre-determined frequency band to produce a single downstream electrical signal, and
- a downstream laser operating at the first wavelength, coupled to the downstream RF combiner, for generating the downstream optical signal from the single downstream electrical signal.
16. The transmitter as recited in claim 15 wherein the downstream electrical-optical converter includes a downstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the downstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the downstream optical signal onto the optical fiber.
17. The transmitter as recited in claim 16 for receiving an upstream optical signal being propagated upstream on the fiber at a second optical wavelength, the transmitter further including
- an upstream optical-electrical converter, and
- wherein the downstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the upstream optical signal to the upstream optical-electrical converter.
18. The transmitter as recited in claim 17 wherein the upstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
19. A receiver, located at a customer's premises, for detecting a downstream optical signal propagating at a first optical wavelength over an optical fiber connecting a central location to the customer's premises, the downstream optical signal including a first subset of electrical signals and second electrical signals, and for propagating third electrical signals upstream on the optical fiber at a second optical wavelength, the third electrical signals being paired with the second electrical signals to produce bi-directional signals, the receiver comprising
- a downstream optical-electrical converter, coupled to the optical fiber, for detecting the downstream optical signal and for converting the detected downstream optical signal into electrical received versions of the subset of electrical signals and electrical detected versions of the second electrical signals for use by the customer, and
- an upstream electrical-optical converter for converting the third electrical signals into an upstream optical signal, and for transmitting the upstream optical signal over the optical fiber at the second wavelength.
20. The receiver as recited in claim 19 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes an upstream radio-frequency (RF) combiner for receiving the third electrical signals and for modulating each of the third electrical signals to a pre-determined frequency band to produce a single upstream electrical signal, and
- an upstream laser operating at the second wavelength, coupled to the upstream RF combiner, for generating the upstream optical signal from the single upstream electrical signal.
21. The receiver as recited in claim 20 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes an upstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the upstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the upstream optical signal onto the optical fiber at the second wavelength.
22. The receiver as recited in claim 21 wherein the upstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the downstream optical signal to the downstream optical-electrical converter.
23. The receiver as recited in claim 22 wherein the downstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
24. A multiple-customer system for communicating a customer-dependent subset of electrical signals downstream between a central location and each of a plurality of customer's premises, the central location and each of the customer's premises being interconnected by a dedicated optical fiber, the system comprising for each customer
- an electrical switch, at the central location, for receiving the electrical signals at an input of the switch and for delivering the subset of the electrical signals at an output of the switch, the electrical switch being controlled to provide only the subset of the electrical signals at its output as subscribed to by said each customer,
- a downstream electrical-optical converter, coupled to the switch at the central location, for converting the subset of electrical signals onto a single downstream optical signal propagated over the optical fiber at a first optical wavelength, and
- a downstream optical-electrical converter, coupled to the optical fiber at said each customer's premises, for detecting the downstream optical signal and for converting the detected downstream optical signal into electrical received versions of the subset of electrical signals for use by said each customer.
25. The system as recited in claim 24 to further transmit second electrical signals between the central location and said each customer, the downstream electrical-optical converter being adapted for receiving the second electrical signals at its input and for changing the downstream optical signal in correspondence to the second electrical signals, and the downstream optical-electrical converter being adapted for converting the detected downstream optical signal into second electrical received versions of second electrical signals for use by said each customer.
26. The system as recited in claim 25 further including an upstream electrical-optical converter, at said each customer's premises, for converting third electrical signals into an upstream optical signal, and for transmitting the upstream optical signal over the optical fiber at a second optical wavelength, and wherein the central location further includes an upstream optical-electrical converter for detecting the upstream optical signal and for converting the upstream optical signal to detected electrical versions of the third electrical signals.
27. The system as recited in claim 26 wherein the downstream electrical-optical converter includes
- a downstream radio-frequency (RF) combiner for receiving the parallel subset of modulated electrical signals and the second electrical signals and for combining each of the modulated electrical signals in the subset and each of the second electrical signals to a pre-determined frequency band to produce a single downstream electrical signal, and
- a downstream laser operating at the first wavelength, coupled to the downstream RF combiner, for generating the downstream optical signal from the single downstream electrical signal.
28. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein the downstream electrical-optical converter includes a downstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the downstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the downstream optical signal onto the optical fiber.
29. The system as recited in claim 28 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes
- an upstream radio-frequency (RF) combiner for receiving the third modulated electrical signals and for combining each of the third modulated electrical signals to a pre-determined frequency band to produce a single upstream electrical signal, and
- an upstream laser operating at the second wavelength, coupled to the upstream RF combiner, for generating the upstream optical signal from the single upstream electrical signal.
30. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes an upstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the upstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the upstream optical signal onto the optical fiber.
31. The system as recited in claim 30 wherein the upstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the downstream optical signal to the downstream optical-electrical converter.
32. The system as recited in claim 30 wherein the downstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the upstream optical signal to the upstream optical-electrical converter.
33. The system as recited in claim 30 wherein the downstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
34. The system as recited in claim 30 wherein the upstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
35. A communication system for communicating a plurality of electrical signals from a central office to each of a plurality of subscribers' premises over a corresponding dedicated optical fibers comprising
- a first electrical switching device for selectively passing a first subset of the plurality of electrical signals,
- a first optical communication circuit, coupled to the first switching device, for transmitting the first subset of the electrical signals as a first optical signal over a first one of the optical fibers to a first one of the subscribers,
- a receiver located at the first subscriber premises, coupled to the first optical fiber, for converting the first subset transmitted as the first optical signal into electrical signals,
- a second electrical switching device for selectively passing a second subset of the plurality of electrical signals,
- a second optical communication circuit, coupled to the second switching device, for transmitting the second subset of the electrical signals as a second optical signal over a second one of the optical fibers to a second one of the subscribers, and
- a receiver located at the second subscriber premises, coupled to the second optical fiber, for converting the second subset transmitted as the second optical signal into electrical signals.
36. The system of claim 35 further comprising a laser transmitter, coupled to the first optical fiber and located at the first subscriber premises, for transmitting information over the first optical fiber to the central office.
37. The system of claim 35 further comprising a laser transmitter, coupled to the second optical fiber and located at the second subscriber premises, for transmitting information over the second optical link to the central office.
38. A system for communicating a subset of signals downstream between a central location and a customer's premises, the central location and the customer's premises being interconnected by a dedicated optical fiber, the system comprising
- an electrical switch, at the central location, for receiving the signals at an input of the switch and for delivering the subset of the signals at an output of the electrical switch, the electrical switch operable to provide only the subset of the signals at its output as subscribed to by the customer,
- a downstream electrical-optical converter, coupled to the switch at the central location, for converting the subset of signals onto a single downstream optical signal propagated over the optical fiber, and
- a downstream optical-electrical converter, coupled to the optical fiber at the customer's premises, for detecting the downstream optical signal and for converting the detected downstream optical signal into electrical received versions of the subset of signals for use by the customer.
39. The system as recited in claim 38, further comprising additional fiber optic lines and additional customer premises, each of said additional customer premises being coupled to said central office by at least one of said additional fiber optic lines, each of said additional fiber optic lines carrying signals between only one of said additional customer premises and said central office.
40. The system as recited in claim 38 further including an upstream electrical-optical converter, at the customer's premises, for converting second electrical signals into an upstream optical signal, and for transmitting the upstream optical signal over the optical fiber at a second optical wavelength, and wherein the central location further includes an upstream optical-electrical converter for detecting the upstream optical signal and for converting the upstream optical signal to detected electrical versions of the second electrical signals.
41. The system as recited in claim 40 wherein the downstream optical converter includes a downstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the downstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the downstream optical signal onto the optical fiber.
42. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes
- an upstream radio-frequency (RF) combiner for receiving the second modulated electrical signals and for combining each of the second modulated electrical signals to a pre-determined frequency band to produce a single upstream electrical signal, and
- an upstream laser operating at the second wavelength, coupled to the upstream RF combiner, for generating the upstream optical signal from the single upstream electrical signal.
43. The system as recited in claim 42 wherein the upstream electrical-optical converter includes an upstream wave division multiplexer, coupled to the upstream laser and the optical fiber, for multiplexing the upstream optical signal onto the optical fiber.
44. The system as recited in claim 43 wherein the upstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the downstream optical signal to the downstream optical-electrical converter.
45. The system as recited in claim 43 wherein the downstream wave division multiplexer is further arranged as a wave division demultiplexer for delivering the upstream optical signal to the upstream optical-electrical converter.
46. The system as recited in claim 43 wherein the downstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
47. The system as recited in claim 43 wherein the upstream optical-electrical converter includes a photodetector.
48. A method for communicating a subset of electrical signals downstream between a central location and a customer's premises, the central location and the customer's premises being interconnected by a dedicated optical fiber, the method comprising the steps of
- switching at the central location the electrical signals received at an input to a switch to deliver the subset of the electrical signals at an output of the switch by controlling the switch to provide only the subset of the electrical signals at the output of the switch as subscribed to by the customer,
- converting, at the central location, the subset of electrical signals into a single downstream optical signal for propagation over the optical fiber at a first optical wavelength, and
- converting, at the customer's premises, the downstream optical signal propagated over the optical fiber into electrical received versions of the subset of the electrical signals for use by the customer.
49. The method as recited in claim 48 to further transmit second electrical signals between the central location and the customer's premises,
- the step of converting, at the central location, further including the steps of receiving the second electrical signals and for changing the downstream optical signal in correspondence to the second electrical signals, and
- the step of converting, at the customer's premises, further including the step of transforming the downstream optical signal into second electrical received versions of the second electrical signals for use by the customer.
50. The method as recited in claim 49 further including the steps of
- converting, at the customer's premises, third electrical signals into an upstream optical signal,
- transmitting the upstream optical signal over the optical fiber at a second optical wavelength, and
- converting, at the central location, the upstream optical signal into detected electrical versions of the third electrical signals.
51. A method of communicating information between an information provider and at least one subscriber premises comprising the steps of
- configuring a plurality of communication pathways to transmit information,
- operating a first electrical switching device located at the information provider to selectively pass information transmitted on a subset of the communication pathways and to block information included on at least one of the communication pathways,
- transmitting the information passed by the first switching device to the first subscriber premises as an optical signal using a first optical pathway positioned between the switching device and the first subscriber location, and
- converting information passed to the first subscriber premises as the optical signal into an electrical signal.
52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of transmitting information from the first subscriber to the information provider using the first optical pathway and an optical transmitter located at the first subscriber premises.
53. The method of claim 51 further comprising the steps of
- operating a second electrical switching device located at the information source to selectively pass information to a second subscriber premises transmitted on a subset of the communication pathways and to block information included on at least one of the communication pathways, at least some of the information passed by the second switching device being different than the information passed by the first switching device,
- transmitting the information passed by the second switching device to the second subscriber premises as a second optical signal using a second optical pathway positioned between the switching device and the second subscriber location, and
- converting information passed to the second subscriber premises as the second optical signal into an electrical signal.
54. The method of claim 53 further comprising the step of transmitting information from the second subscriber to the information provider using the second optical pathway and another optical transmitter located at the second subscriber premises.
55. A communications system, comprising:
- a first electrical switch for receiving a plurality of signals and outputting a first subset of signals to be supplied to a first customer premises, said first subset of signals including fewer than all of said plurality of signals;
- a first electrical to optical converter for modulating said first subset of electrical signals onto a first optical signal;
- a first fiber optic line coupled to said electrical to optical converter for communicating signals corresponding to a single subscriber premises, said first optical signal being transmitted over said fiber optic line; and
- an optical to electrical conversion means for converting said first optical signal into a received first subset of electrical signals, said received first subset of electrical signals being available for use at said first customer premises.
56. The communication system of claim 55, further comprising:
- an electrical signal combiner for combining electrical telephone signals to be supplied to the first customer premises with said first subset of signals prior to said signals being supplied to the first electrical to optical converter.
57. The communication system of claim 56, wherein said optical to electrical conversion means is located at said first customer premises, the system further comprising:
- an electrical to optical converter, also located at said first customer premises, for converting electrical telephone signals into an optical signal transmitted over said first fiber optic line.
58. The communication system of claim 56, further comprising:
- a second electrical switch for receiving said plurality of signals and outputting a second subset of signals to be supplied to a second customer premises, said second subset of signals including fewer than all of said plurality of signals and being different from said first subset of signals;
- a second electrical to optical converter for modulating said second subset of electrical signals onto a second optical signal;
- a second fiber optic line coupled to said second electrical to optical converter for communicating signals corresponding to a single subscriber premises, said second optical signal being transmitted over said second fiber optic line; and
- a second optical to electrical conversion means for converting said second optical signal into a received second subset of electrical signals, said received second subset of electrical signals being available for use at said second customer premises.
59. The communication system of claim 58, wherein said first subset of signals includes at least one unencrypted analog video signal corresponding to a premium video channel which is subscribed to by a service subscriber corresponding to said first customer premises, said second subset of signals not including said at least one unencrypted analog video signal.
60. The communication system of claim 55, further comprising:
- an electrical signal combiner for combining electrical telephone signals to be supplied to the first customer premises with said first subset of signals prior to said signals being supplied to the first electrical to optical converter.
