An optical interface devices (OID) routes signals entering each of its
ports to all other ports. The OID passively routes the optical signals
and performs no conversion of the signals into the electrical domain. In
addition to signal routing, the OID also performs bi-directional
amplification of the optical signals to compensate for splitting losses,
coupling losses, signal variations, and to provide additional gain. As a
result, the power level of a signal entering one port is the same power
level at which corresponding signals exit all other ports of the OID. The
OID is useful in a number of network topologies, including but not
limited to bus, point-to-point, star, ring, broken ring, hub, and a
tree-like topology. The OID enables signal quality to be maintained
throughout the network which is especially beneficial in the transmission
of Radio Frequency and other analog signals.