Architecture of Fiber Optic Broadband Interactive Distribution System.

The ideal situation in constructing a broadband communication network is that all kinds of services are provided by a single network. Such a structure is not necessarily advantageous at the present state of technology. From such a viewpoint, the best approach would be first to construct an economically-optimum system, mostly considering the C - E type broadband distribution service, which is estimated to have the highest demand, and gradually extend the network for other services. This paper first describes that the configuration combining the star-type subscriber link and the tree-type trunk lines is economical and has the functional expendability. Next another configuration is considered, in which the optical fiber is used for the subscriber link and the frequency division switch is used for the channel selections in the conversion of network topology. It is shown that the system is the optimum from the viewpoint of the cost per subscriber. By applying the notion of the cross-contact switch, it is shown that the proposed system can be ex- tended to the C - E type video retrieval service and E - E type transmission service. The optical distribution system will be utilized effectively in the future new media, providing the basis for the broadband communication network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]