Method and system for bi-directional communication over a single optical fiber

Abstract

Gigabit Ethernet connectivity is realized using off-the-shelf GIGABIT INTERFACE CONVERTER transceivers, wave division multiplexer/demultiplexers, and a single optical fiber. Simultaneous and bi-directional optical communication over a single optical fiber connecting two or more nodes is achieved by using at least one GIGABIT INTERFACE CONVERTER transceiver having at least one optical signal output and an optical signal input that are of different wavelengths from each other.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for bi-directional data connectivity over a single optical fiber, comprising:
 receiving, at a first Gigabit Interface Converter, a first signal to be communicated in a first direction;   converting, using the first Gigabit Interface Converter, the first signal from an optical signal of a first wavelength to an electrical signal;   communicating the first signal as the electrical signal from the first Gigabit Interface Converter to a second Gigabit Interface Converter;   converting, using the second Gigabit Interface Converter, the first signal from the electrical signal to an optical signal of a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength; and   coupling the first signal of the second wavelength to an optical fiber to transmit the first signal in the first direction.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the first signal of the second wavelength is coupled to the optical fiber via a wave-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving from the optical fiber, at the wave-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device, a second signal to be communicated in a second direction;   communicating the second signal from the wave-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device to the second Gigabit Interface Converter;   converting, using the second Gigabit Interface Converter, the second signal from a second optical signal of the second wavelength to a second electrical signal;   communicating the second signal as the second electrical signal from the second Gigabit Interface Converter to a first Gigabit Interface Converter; and   converting, using the first Gigabit Interface Converter, the second signal from the second electrical signal to a second optical signal of the first wavelength.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are transmitted simultaneously on the optical fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving from the optical fiber, at the wave-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device, a second signal to be communicated in a second direction;   communicating the second signal from the wave-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device to a third Gigabit Interface Converter;   converting the second signal from an optical signal of a third wavelength to a second electrical signal, the third wavelength being different from the first wavelength and the second wavelength;   communicating the second signal as the second electrical signal from the third Gigabit Interface Converter to the first Gigabit Interface Converter;   converting the second signal from the second electrical signal to an optical signal of the first wavelength; and   communicating the second signal of the first wavelength from the first Gigabit Interface Converter in the second direction.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are transmitted simultaneously on the optical fiber. 
     
     
         8 . A wavelength converter, comprising:
 a first Gigabit Interface Converter including a first optical transmitter, a first optical receiver, a first electrical input and a first electrical output, the first optical transmitter and the first optical receiver operating at a first wavelength; and   a second Gigabit Interface Converter including a second optical transmitter, a second optical receiver, a second electrical input and a second electrical output, the second optical transmitter and the second optical receiver operating at a second wavelength, the first wavelength being different from the second wavelength, the first electrical output being coupled to the second electrical input.   
     
     
         9 . The wavelength converter according to  claim 8 , wherein the second electrical output is coupled to the first electrical input. 
     
     
         10 . The wavelength converter according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third Gigabit Interface Converter including a third optical transmitter, a third optical receiver, a third electrical input and a third electrical output, the third optical transmitter and the third optical receiver operating at a third wavelength, the third wavelength being different from the first wavelength and the second wavelength,   wherein the third electrical output is coupled to the first electrical input.   
     
     
         11 . A system for bi-directional data connectivity over a single optical fiber, comprising:
 a first Gigabit Interface Converter including a first optical transmitter operating at a first wavelength and a first optical receiver operating at a second wavelength;   a first wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device coupled to the first Gigabit Interface Converter so as to be operable to receive a first optical signal of the first wavelength from the first optical transmitter and to transmit a second optical signal of the second wavelength to the first optical receiver; and   an optical fiber coupled to the first wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second Gigabit Interface Converter including a second optical transmitter operating at the second wavelength and a second optical receiver operating at the first wavelength; and   a second wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device coupled to the optical fiber, the second wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device being further coupled to the second Gigabit Interface Converter so as to be operable to receive the second optical signal of the second wavelength from the second optical transmitter and to transmit the first optical signal of the first wavelength to the second optical receiver.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 11 , further comprising a second Gigabit Interface Converter including a second optical transmitter operating at a third wavelength and a second optical receiver operating at the fourth wavelength, the first wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device being coupled to the second Gigabit Interface Converter so as to be operable to receive a third optical signal of the third wavelength from the second optical transmitter and to transmit a fourth optical signal of the fourth wavelength to the second optical receiver. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a third Gigabit Interface Converter including a third optical transmitter operating at the second wavelength and a third optical receiver operating at the first wavelength;   a fourth Gigabit Interface Converter including a fourth optical transmitter operating at the fourth wavelength and a fourth optical receiver operating at the third wavelength; and   a second wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device coupled to the optical fiber, the second wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device being coupled to the third Gigabit Interface Converter so as to be operable to receive the second optical signal of the second wavelength from the third optical transmitter and to transmit the first optical signal of the first wavelength to the third optical receiver, the second wavelength-division multiplexing/demultiplexing device being coupled to the fourth Gigabit Interface Converter so as to be operable to receive the fourth optical signal of the fourth wavelength from the fourth optical transmitter and to transmit the third optical signal of the third wavelength to the fourth optical receiver.   
     
     
         15 . A Gigabit Interface Converter, comprising:
 a signal processing circuit configured to convert a first electrical signal to a first optical signal and configured to convert a second optical signal to a second electrical signal;   at least one electrical input coupled to the signal processing circuit and configured to receive the first electrical signal;   at least one electrical output coupled to the signal processing circuit and configured to transmit the second electrical signal;   an optical signal output coupled to the signal processing circuit and configured to transmit the first optical at a first wavelength; and   an optical detector coupled to the signal processing circuit and configured to detect the second optical signal at a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different from the first wavelength.