Network transceiver

Abstract

A transceiver is provided for a station of a network of the type in which a plurality of stations are connected via links to a network common point through which a transmission received from any of the stations passes on its way to any other of the stations. The transceiver includes adjustment means for setting the output power level of the transceiver transmitter. The adjustment means is operative, when the transceiver is in a calibration mode, to measure the attenuation in the station/common point link by monitoring the transmitted and received power levels of a calibration signal. Thereafter, the transmitter output power level is set such as to bring about a desired power level at the network common point, this desired level being specified by a reference signal. By arranging for all transceivers to produce the same power level at the network common point, collision detection at each station is facilitated since in the event of two transmissions colliding, the received power will be double the normal received level. This power-level setting technique is particularly suitable for optical networks with passive star couplers, the latter constituting the aforesaid network common point.