Reconfigurable over-the-air optical data transmission system
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable over-the-air optical data communications system which comprises:
- a plurality of transmission units mounted at a respective plurality of separate locations to establish a mesh network having a plurality of line-of-sight optical communications links, wherein each said communication link interconnects one said transmission unit with another said transmission unit for communicating data therebetween;
and a network controller electronically connected with each said communications link of said mesh network for monitoring a transmission quality factor for each said communications link, and for converting said mesh network by aiming at least one said transmission unit of a selected communications link to an alternate transmission unit to establish an alternate communication link in said mesh network in lieu of said selected communication link when said transmission quality factor of said selected communication link passes through a predetermined value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An over-the-air optical data communications system includes a plurality of transmission units that are mounted at separate locations in a geographical area to establish a mesh network that includes a plurality of line-of-sight optical communications links. A network controller is electronically connected with each communications link to monitor transmission quality on the link, and to selectively aim each transmission unit in the mesh network to an alternate transmission unit as required to maintain the mesh network. Additionally, a backbone network holds the mesh network together by interconnecting various communications stations that are each connected with at least one transmission unit in each of the communications links.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable over-the-air optical data communications system which comprises:
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a plurality of transmission units mounted at a respective plurality of separate locations to establish a mesh network having a plurality of line-of-sight optical communications links, wherein each said communication link interconnects one said transmission unit with another said transmission unit for communicating data therebetween;
and a network controller electronically connected with each said communications link of said mesh network for monitoring a transmission quality factor for each said communications link, and for converting said mesh network by aiming at least one said transmission unit of a selected communications link to an alternate transmission unit to establish an alternate communication link in said mesh network in lieu of said selected communication link when said transmission quality factor of said selected communication link passes through a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for creating a reconfigurable over-the-air optical data communications system which comprises the steps of:
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mounting a plurality of transmission units at a respective plurality of separate locations to establish a mesh network having a plurality of line-of-sight optical communications links, wherein each said communication link interconnects one said transmission unit with another said transmission unit for communicating data therebetween;
connecting a network controller with each said communications link of said mesh network for monitoring a transmission quality factor for each said communications link; and
aiming at least one said transmission unit of a selected communications link to an alternate transmission unit to establish an alternate communication link in lieu of said selected communication link when said transmission quality factor of said selected communication link passes through a predetermined value to convert said mesh network into an alternate mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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18. A reconfigurable over-the-air optical data communications system which comprises:
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a mesh network having a plurality of transmission units mounted at a respective plurality of separate locations, with each transmission unit being controllable to selectively establish one of a plurality of line-of-sight optical communications links for a determinable period of time, wherein each said communication link interconnects one said transmission unit with another said transmission unit for communicating data therebetween;
a backbone network having a plurality of separate communications stations wherein each said communications station is connected with at least one other said communications station; and
means for connecting at least one said transmission unit of each said communications link in data communications with at least one said communication station.
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Specification