N-way broadcast / narrowcast combiner

1. A method, comprising:

demultiplexing a multiplexed narrowcast input signal into a first narrowcast signal and a second narrowcast signal;

conveying said first narrowcast signal to a first optical combiner;

conveying said second narrowcast signal to a second optical combiner;

tapping into said first narrowcast signal;

monitoring a first characteristic of said first narrowcast signal;

tapping into said second narrowcast signal;

monitoring a second characteristic of said second narrowcast signal;

tapping into a broadcast signal;

monitoring a third characteristic of said broadcast signal;

attenuating a power of said broadcast signal as a function of said third characteristic;

combining said broadcast signal with the first narrowcast signal using the first optical combiner to give a first combined optical port output; and

combining said broadcast signal with the second narrowcast signal using the second optical combiner to give a second combined optical port output.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

demultiplexing said multiplexed narrowcast input signal into said first narrowcast signal and said second narrowcast signal includes demultiplexing using an optical wavelength division demultiplexer.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adjusting a first power of said first narrowcast signal as a function of said first characteristic; and

adjusting a second power of said second narrowcast signal as a function of said second characteristic.

4. An apparatus, comprising:

a first optical input;

an optical splitter connected to said first optical input;

a first optical waveguide connected to said optical splitter;

a second optical waveguide connected to said optical splitter;

a first optical combiner connected to said first optical waveguide, said first optical combiner giving a first combined optical port output;

a second optical combiner connected to said second optical waveguide, said second optical combiner giving a second combined optical port output;

a second optical input;

an optical demultiplexer connected to said second optical input, the optical demultiplexer demultiplexing a multiplexed narrowcast input signal into a first narrowcast signal and a second narrowcast signal;

a third optical waveguide connected to said optical demultiplexer;

a fourth optical waveguide connected to said optical demultiplexer;

a first tap coupler connected to said third optical waveguide and said first optical combiner;

a second tap coupler connected to said forth optical waveguide and said second optical combiner;

a first optical signal sensor coupled to both said first tap coupler and a signal processing unit;

a second optical signal sensor coupled to both said second tap coupler and said signal processing unit;

a third tap coupler connected between said first optical input and said optical splitter, wherein said first optical input is a broadcast input;

a third optical signal sensor coupled to both said third tap coupler and said signal processing unit; and

a variable optical attenuator coupled between said broadcast input and said third tap coupler.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising said signal processing unit and a communication interface coupled to said signal processing unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said demultiplexer includes an optical wavelength division demultiplexer.