Integrated electro-optic hybrid communication system

• US 8,009,989 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Okoro, Jeremiah A., Gerszberg, Irwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dzung D
• Application Number:
  US12/655,105
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 398/46, 398/74, 398115-117, 398183-188
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks

Abstract

A system according to embodiments of the invention may comprise a first communication path that converts an optically-modulated source signal to a radio signal based on a detected degradation in a quality of a received optical signal, and a second communication path that converts a radio-modulated source signal to an optical signal based on a detected degradation in a quality of a received radio signal. The system may therefore adapt to diverse weather conditions to improve the reliability of a communication link.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the availability of a communication link, comprising:

splitting an optically-modulated source signal into a first optical splitter output and a second optical splitter output;

transmitting the first optical splitter output through a first optical switch to an optical transmitter using an optical-only communication path;

detecting a degradation of a quality of a received optical signal;

in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received optical signal;

closing the first optical switch to cease transmitting the first optical splitter output to the optical transmitter; and

opening a second optical switch to commence transmitting the second optical splitter output to an optical-to-electrical converter for transmission via a radio transmitter;

splitting a radio-modulated source signal into a first radio splitter output and a second radio splitter output;

transmitting the first radio splitter output through a first electrical switch to the radio transmitter using an electrical-only communication path;

detecting a degradation of a quality of a received radio signal;

in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received radio signal;

closing the first electrical switch to cease transmitting the first radio splitter output to the radio transmitter; and

opening a second electrical switch to commence transmitting the second radio splitter output to an electrical-to-optical converter for transmission via the optical transmitter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical switches are non-reflective switches.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical switches are non-reflective switches.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, if a signal degradation is detected, then performing the following:

forming a hybrid communication path comprising at least one of the first optical splitter output and the first electrical splitter output.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hybrid communication path is an optical-to-radio transmit path and a radio-to-optical receive path.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the hybrid communication path is a radio-to-optical transmit path and an optical-to-radio receive path.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical transmitter is an optical transceiver and the detected degradation of a quality of a received optical signal is a detected degradation of a quality of an optical signal received by the optical transceiver.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio transmitter is a radio transceiver and the detected degradation of a quality of a received radio signal is a detected degradation of a quality of a radio signal received by the radio transceiver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a degradation of the received optical signal further comprises comparing the received optical signal to a reference value.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a degradation of the received radio signal further comprises comparing the received radio signal to a reference value.

11. A computer-usable medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for increasing the availability of a communication link, the method comprising:

splitting an optically-modulated source signal into a first optical splitter output and a second optical splitter output;

transmitting the first optical splitter output through a first optical switch to an optical transmitter using an optical-only communication path;

detecting a degradation of a quality of a received optical signal;

in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received optical signal;

closing the first optical switch to cease transmitting the first optical splitter output to the optical transmitter; and

opening a second optical switch to commence transmitting the second optical splitter output to an optical-to-electrical converter for transmission via a radio transmitter;

splitting a radio-modulated source signal into a first radio splitter output and a second radio splitter output;

transmitting the first radio splitter output through a first electrical switch to the radio transmitter using an electrical-only communication path;

detecting a degradation of a quality of a received radio signal;

in response to the detecting degradation of a quality of a received radio signal;

closing the first electrical switch to cease transmitting the first radio splitter output to the radio transmitter; and

opening a second electrical switch to commence transmitting the second radio splitter output to an electrical-to-optical converter for transmission via the optical transmitter.

12. The computer-usable medium of claim 11, wherein the electrical switches are non-reflective switches.

13. The computer-usable medium of claim 11, wherein the optical switches are non-reflective switches.

14. The computer-usable medium of claim 11, wherein, if a signal degradation is detected, then the method further comprises:

forming a hybrid communication path comprising at least one of the first optical splitter output and the first electrical splitter output.

15. The computer-usable medium of claim 14, wherein said the hybrid communication path is an optical-to-radio transmit path and a radio-to-optical receive path.

16. The computer-usable medium of claim 14, wherein the hybrid communication path is a radio-to-optical transmit path and an optical-to-radio receive path.

17. The computer-usable medium of claim 11, wherein the optical transmitter is an optical transceiver and the detected degradation of a quality of a received optical signal is a detected degradation of a quality of an optical signal received by the optical transceiver.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 11, wherein the radio transmitter is a radio transceiver and the detected degradation of a quality of a received radio signal is a detected degradation of a quality of a radio signal received by the radio transceiver.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 11, wherein detecting a degradation of the received optical signal further comprises comparing the received optical signal to a reference value.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 11, wherein detecting a degradation of the received radio signal further comprises comparing the received radio signal to a reference value.