US Patent 7110675 Methods of optical communication and optical communication systems

Methods of optical communication and optical communication systems are described. According to a first aspect, a method of optical communication includes providing an optical signal and providing a plurality of data signals. This aspect also includes passing a plurality of desired portions of the optical signal using a plurality of respective optical modulators, the desired portions individually having at least one predefined wavelength. The method also includes optically modulating the desired portions of the optical signal using the respective optical modulators and responsive to respective ones of the data signals and outputting the desired portions of the optical signal to an optical communication medium after the modulating.