OPTICAL WIRELESS NETWORKS WITH ADJUSTABLE TOPOLOGIES
First Claim
1. A method for dynamically configuring a topology of a communication network, the communication network including a plurality of nodes for providing access to the communication network, the method being performed at each node in the communication network and comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining the locations of selected nodes for establishing communication therewith, said selected nodes being selected from the plurality of nodes in accordance with predetermined network topology parameters;
(b) providing a directed beam of electromagnetic radiation for each of said selected nodes for carrying a respective information signal thereon;
(c) directing said directed beam toward a corresponding one of said selected nodes to establish a respective communication link therewith;
(d) determining if said respective communication links established between the plurality of nodes in the communication network provide a closed signal path amongst the plurality of nodes;
(e) repeating the method at step (a) if said closed signal path is not found in step (d);
(f) evaluating communication quality of each of said communication links against a predetermined link quality parameter;
(g) redirecting said directed beam corresponding to a node for which said communication quality fails to meet said predetermined link quality parameter toward another of said plurality of nodes to establish a new communication link therewith; and
(h) repeating the method at step (d).
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Abstract
In a free space communication network in which different communication nodes are linked together by directed beams, a method for dynamically configuring the topology of the network allows the transmission directions of the communication nodes to be autonomously changed to communicate with a new node as dictated by the needs of the network. Moreover, the nodes can be switched from directional to broadcast and back again on an as-needed basis. The network consists of a topology that can be rapidly and physically reconfigured as required to provide multiple connectivity, a desired quality of service, or to compensate with the loss of communication links between nodes. The loss of direct communication between any two nodes in an optical network can occur because of obscuration of the atmospheric path between the two nodes. The directed beam which provides the communication channel between the two nodes can, in this situation, be steered to direct its energy towards another accessible node.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for dynamically configuring a topology of a communication network, the communication network including a plurality of nodes for providing access to the communication network, the method being performed at each node in the communication network and comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining the locations of selected nodes for establishing communication therewith, said selected nodes being selected from the plurality of nodes in accordance with predetermined network topology parameters;
(b) providing a directed beam of electromagnetic radiation for each of said selected nodes for carrying a respective information signal thereon;
(c) directing said directed beam toward a corresponding one of said selected nodes to establish a respective communication link therewith;
(d) determining if said respective communication links established between the plurality of nodes in the communication network provide a closed signal path amongst the plurality of nodes;
(e) repeating the method at step (a) if said closed signal path is not found in step (d);
(f) evaluating communication quality of each of said communication links against a predetermined link quality parameter;
(g) redirecting said directed beam corresponding to a node for which said communication quality fails to meet said predetermined link quality parameter toward another of said plurality of nodes to establish a new communication link therewith; and
(h) repeating the method at step (d). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for configuring a topology of a communication network comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the network with a plurality of nodes for affording access thereto, each of said plurality of nodes including a set of primary data channel transceivers and a set of secondary data channel transceivers;
(b) locating positions of said plurality of nodes with respect to each node in the network and storing said positions in a position table at said each node;
(c) determining link states of said plurality of nodes with respect to said each node in the network and storing said link states in a link state table at said each node;
(d) at said each node in the network, selecting a current set of selected nodes from said plurality of nodes with which a corresponding communication link is to be established in accordance with information stored in said position table and said link state table and storing current selected node information in a connection table;
(e) determining if said current selected node information indicates that said current set of selected nodes are interconnected by a closed signal path;
(f) directing each of said set of primary data channel transceivers of said each node toward a corresponding one of said current set of selected nodes in accordance with said current selected node information stored in said connection table;
(g) establishing said communication link over a primary data channel between said primary data channel transceiver of said each node and a corresponding primary data channel transceiver at each of said current set of selected nodes, said primary data channel carrying an information signal thereon;
(h) at said each node in the network, monitoring said communication link corresponding to each of said current set of selected nodes for communication quality with respect to a predetermined link quality parameter;
(i) adjusting transmitted power at said each node so as to maximize received power at each of said current set of selected nodes if said communication link monitoring of step (g) indicates said communication quality fails to meet said predetermined link quality parameter;
(j) at said each node, if said transmitted power adjustment step (h) fails to improve said communication quality to meet said predetermined link quality parameter, selecting a new set of selected nodes from said plurality of nodes with which a new communication link is to be established in accordance with information stored in said position table and said link state table and storing new selected node information in said connection table at said each node;
(k) determining if said selected node information indicates that said set of selected nodes are interconnected by a closed signal path and, if so, designating said new selected node information as said current selected node information;
(l) redirecting one of said set of primary data channel transceivers corresponding to one of said current selected nodes for which said communication link fails to meet said predetermined link quality parameter toward one of said new set of selected nodes;
(m) establishing said communication link over a primary data channel between each of said primary data channel transceivers of said each node and a corresponding primary data channel transceiver at each of said new set of selected nodes and designating said new set of selected nodes as said current set of selected nodes; and
(n) repeating the method at step (h). - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification