A passive optical network communication method, including receiving an Ethernet packet carrying an optical network unit identifier, determining a correspondence between the optical network unit identifier and an optical network unit type according to the optical network unit identifier, determining that an optical network unit that receives the Ethernet packet is a first type of optical network unit, where the optical network unit type includes the first and second type of optical network unit, and a packet receiving rate of the first type is different from that of the second type, determining a correspondence between the optical network unit type and a channel according to the first type, determining a channel corresponding to the first type, encapsulating the Ethernet packet into a gigabit-capable passive optical network encapsulation method (GEM) frame, and sending the GEM frame to the first type of optical network unit using the determined channel.

A satellite payload system is presented. The system includes plurality of optical processing modules, including a plurality of ring-connected optical processing modules and at least one inter-satellite optical processing module, and at least one optical fiber ring communicatively coupled to each of the ring-connected optical processing modules. At least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is configured to provide on-board signal processing of signals conveyed on the at least one optical fiber ring. At least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is communicatively coupled to a respective inter-satellite optical processing module. Each inter-satellite optical processing module is configured to optically communicatively couple to a respective remote satellite.

A satellite payload system is presented. The system includes plurality of optical processing modules, including a plurality of ring-connected optical processing modules and at least one inter-satellite optical processing module, and at least one optical fiber ring communicatively coupled to each of the ring-connected optical processing modules. At least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is configured to provide on-board signal processing of signals conveyed on the at least one optical fiber ring. At least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is communicatively coupled to a respective inter-satellite optical processing module. Each inter-satellite optical processing module is configured to optically communicatively couple to a respective remote satellite.

A passive optical device for implementing a direct interconnect network of nodes or clients in a network topology, said device comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of node port connectors and an internal fiber shuffle mechanism, wherein each of said plurality of node port connectors is connected to a node port shuffle cable that extends within the housing to the internal fiber shuffle mechanism, and wherein each of said plurality of node port shuffle cables comprises transmit and receive optical fibers that are cross connected within the internal fiber shuffle mechanism to transmit and receive optical fibers of other of the node port shuffle cables from the plurality of node port connectors to form optical paths between said node port connectors to implement the network topology, and wherein each of said node port connectors is also initially connected to a first-type R-key to maintain in-line connections within the network topology, and wherein said first-type R-key s are replaceable in a pre-determined order by a connection to a node or client to add said node or client at an optimal location within the network topology during build out of the direct interconnect network.

A satellite payload system is disclosed. The satellite payload system includes a plurality of optical processing modules, each including: a module input including an optical splitter, a module output including an optical coupler, a dynamic gain equalizer, an output bank of optical filters, and an input bank of optical filters; where the plurality of optical processing modules include ring-connected optical processing modules and inter-satellite optical processing modules; and at least one optical fiber ring communicatively coupled to each of the ring-connected optical processing modules; where at least one of the ring-connected optical processing modules is configured to provide on-board signal processing of wavelengths; where a plurality of the ring-connected optical processing modules are each communicatively coupled to a respective inter-satellite optical processing module; where each inter-satellite optical processing module is configured to optically communicatively couple to a respective remote satellite via its module input and via its module output.

Methods and systems for unifying an EPON network and a coax-based access network may include, in a network with an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) optical line terminal (OLT), coaxial network units (CNUs), and an optical coax bridge (OCB) with a plurality of virtual optical network units (vONUs) each comprising a plurality of logical link identifiers (LLIDs) and having its own MAC address, each vONU corresponding to one CNU: forming, in the OCB, each of the plurality of vONUs when a respective CNU is admitted to a coax network coupled to the OCB; communicating data transmissions from an optical fiber network to the coax network, and data transmissions from the coax network to the optical fiber network, via said OCB; and transmitting and receiving data packets between the OLT and the at least one CNU. The OCB may emulate an optical network unit (ONU) relative to the OLT.

Multi-functional units incorporating lighting capabilities in converged networks, and related networks and methods are disclosed. The multi-functional units are configured to be included at end points in a wireless communications network to serve as distribution points for distribution of communications services. Each multi-functional unit includes a plurality of wireless communications circuits in a single unit or housing to support multiple communications services. Thus, a single multi-functional unit can be installed in a location to support the multiple communications services to minimize installation footprint. To further conserve installation footprint, the wireless communications network can be provided as a converged network that includes a single communications backbone to converge multiple networks for the multiple communications services supported by the multi-functional units. Further, by the multi-functional units also supporting lighting capabilities, the multi-functional units may be installed in lighting fixture locations to minimize the footprint.

Multi-functional units incorporating lighting capabilities in converged networks, and related networks and methods are disclosed. The multi-functional units are configured to be included at end points in a wireless communications network to serve as distribution points for distribution of communications services. Each multi-functional unit includes a plurality of wireless communications circuits in a single unit or housing to support multiple communications services. Thus, a single multi-functional unit can be installed in a location to support the multiple communications services to minimize installation footprint. To further conserve installation footprint, the wireless communications network can be provided as a converged network that includes a single communications backbone to converge multiple networks for the multiple communications services supported by the multi-functional units. Further, by the multi-functional units also supporting lighting capabilities, the multi-functional units may be installed in lighting fixture locations to minimize the footprint.

A passive optical network communication method, including receiving an Ethernet packet carrying an optical network unit identifier, determining a correspondence between the optical network unit identifier and an optical network unit type according to the optical network unit identifier, determining that an optical network unit that receives the Ethernet packet is a first type of optical network unit, where the optical network unit type includes the first and second type of optical network unit, and a packet receiving rate of the first type is different from that of the second type, determining a correspondence between the optical network unit type and a channel according to the first type, determining a channel corresponding to the first type, encapsulating the Ethernet packet into a gigabit-capable passive optical network encapsulation method (GEM) frame, and sending the GEM frame to the first type of optical network unit using the determined channel.

A node in a hybrid wireless link includes a free space optical (FSO) terminal and a radio frequency (RF) terminal. The FSO terminal is configured to transmit data over an FSO link, and the RF terminal is configured to transmit data over a free space RF link. The node also includes a switch/controller coupled to the FSO terminal and the RF terminal. The switch/controller is configured to receive data and determine at the data link layer whether to transmit data frames of the data over the FSO link, the RF link, or both. The determination is based on the content of the data frames, and, once the determination is made, the switch/controller steers the data frames to the FSO terminal, the RF terminal, or both. In some embodiments, the switch/controller makes the determination at the network layer.