Point-to-multipoint broadband services drop with multiple time slot

Abstract

A broadband fiber optic communication system conveys telecommunication messages over a fiber optic link between a master site and one or more remote sites. The remote sites are coupled over an unshielded twisted pair-configured, communication link to an optical network unit, which is ported to the fiber optic link. In order to convey broadband information signals that have been downlinked, from the master site to the optical network unit, to the remote sites, and to provide for return messages from the remote sites, a point-to-multi-point communication scheme is provided. Pursuant to this scheme, an upstream transceiver in the optical interface unit transmits STS-1 frames, which contain broadband information signals, such as asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data cells, intended for one or more remote sites, and a return time slot-representative control code associated with each destination remote site, over the communication link to the remote sites. At a respective remote site, a downstream transceiver uses the return time slot-representative control code to control its time of transmission over an uplink slotted bus return channel. The remote site also transmits communication signals that encapsulate asynchronous transfer mode data cells. The data in these cells is extracted by the optical network unit and forwarded over the fiber optic link to the master site.