Systems and methods for optical modulation index calibration in a CATV network

1. An active splitter comprising:

a unit operating as a splitter in a forward direction and an active combiner in a reverse direction, the combiner having a plurality of inputs that each receive an upstream optical signal from a respective optical network unit (ONU) and combines them to create a combined electrical signal at an output;

a transmitter that receives the combined electrical signal and converts the combined signal to a reverse path optical signal, the transmitter adjusting at least one of power output and gain to maintain a constant ratio between optical modulation index at the output and optical modulation index at an input,

wherein the optical modulation index at the output is set to at least one of the optical modulation index of the plurality of inputs or an adjustable fraction of the optical modulation index of the plurality of inputs; and

a multiplexer that multiplexes the reverse path optical signal with a forward path optical signal.

2. The active splitter of claim 1 where the constant ratio of optical modulation index at the output is maintained irrespective of the respective optical power received at the plurality of inputs.

3. The active splitter of claim 1 , where the optical network unit (ONU) is capable of adjusting at least one of output power level or gain, in response to an instruction received in a downstream signal.

4. The active splitter of claim 1 , where the active splitter is capable of decoding received forward path communication signals.

5. The active splitter of claim 4 , where the active splitter is capable of receiving a forward path communication signal, modulating the received forward path communication signal, and outputting the modulated forward path signal to another device.

6. The active splitter of claim 1 where the active splitter is capable of instructing a second active splitter to adjust its reverse transmission power level.

7. The active splitter of claim 1 where the active splitter constructs a system map comprising topology information, the topology information including at least one of: (i) serial numbers of other active splitters operatively connected to the active splitter; (ii) serial numbers of ONUs operatively connected to the active splitter.

8. The active splitter of claim 1 where said active splitter is capable of reporting system status information corresponding to serial number information to a head end, the serial numbers for at least one of: (i) other active splitters operatively connected to the active splitter; (ii) ONUs operatively connected to the active splitter; (iii) the active splitter.

9. The active splitter of claim 1 where said active splitter is capable of reporting status of said active splitter to a head end.

10. The active splitter of claim 1 where said active splitter is capable of detecting at least one of an input level to (i) an active splitter from an ONU or (ii) chattering ONUs.

11. The active splitter of claim 10 , where in response to the input level, the active splitter is capable of disabling detectors of at least one defective ONU or chattering ONU.

12. The active splitter of claim 1 where the active splitter receives instructions from a head end to initiate a self-calibration procedure.

13. The active splitter of claim 1 where a reverse transmit level of all other active splitters connected to and downstream from said active splitter are equalized to an optimized level.