Fiber-optic LAN/WAN systems to support confidential communication

We propose a novel method to support confidentiality in broadcast fiber-optic local area network systems. This approach, which is different from the conventional cryptographic approach, is based on a fundamental property of fiber optics, namely optical bidirectionality. The basic idea is that, when two stations are engaged in a private conversation, it is possible to jam effectively the reception at all other stations via a suitable interconnection of network elements. In this sense, security close to that of a point-to-point link is achieved in a broadcast network. We show that this concept can be successfully applied to arrive at network structures to support privacy in passive fiber-optic broadcast local area and metropolitan networks.

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