Acquisition of a wireless network node

• US 20060018663A1
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clearmesh Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Omnilux, Inc.
• Inventors: Moursund, Carter, Ulmer, Christopher T.
• Application Number:
  US11/207,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1125 using a single common optical path

Abstract

A digital data network (100) uses network nodes (106) incorporating infrared transceivers (108). Each node (106) includes a plurality of infrared transceivers (108) having transmitter (109) and receiver (11) optics designed to facilitate line-of-sight infrared optical communications in a residential or business neighborhood. New nodes (106) are installed in an installation process (300) which in some cases requires at least one selected transceiver (108) to have line-of-sight access to at least one existing transceiver (108). Automated tracking (370, 400, 500) and/or acquisition (330, 530) processes are used to align transceivers (108) to enable data communication and to acquire newly installed nodes (106) into the network (100).

Claims

1. A method of acquiring a new wireless network node into a network of one or more existing wireless network nodes, comprising the steps of:

placing a spotlight in proximity of a new wireless network node,

selecting an existing wireless network node and pointing a beam produced by said spotlight toward said selected existing wireless network node;

scanning by said selected existing wireless network node for said beam and pointing a first signal emanating from said selected existing wireless network node toward said beam; and

scanning by said new wireless network node for said signal emanating from said selected existing wireless network node, and pointing a second signal emanating from said new wireless network node toward said first signal emanating from said selected existing wireless network node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of pointing said light beam comprises the steps of:

providing a viewing tool; and

using the viewing tool to point the beam toward the selected existing node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the beam produced by said spotlight is a optical light beam, and the first signal and second signal are optical light signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said light beam is modulated at a frequency in the range of between 16 and 62 MHz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said scanning comprises the step of scanning over an angular area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said scanning for said beam comprises the step of taking periodic samples of the optical signal strength of said beam; and

said pointing toward said beam comprises the step of pointing to the maximum strength of said beam.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said scanning for said first signal comprises the step of taking periodic samples of the optical signal strength of said infrared light signal; and

said pointing toward said second signal comprises the step of pointing to the maximum strength of said first signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises the step of selecting an existing wireless network node in proximity of said new infrared node with an unobstructed line of sight.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, after said step of pointing the second signal emanating from said new wireless network node:

executing one or more asynchronous tracking events at said new node and said selected existing node .

10. A system for acquiring a new wireless network node with a network of one or more existing wireless network nodes, comprising:

at least one existing wireless network node;

a new wireless network node; and

an emitter in proximity of said new wireless network node, wherein the emitter is configured to point a beam at said existing wireless network node;

wherein said existing wireless network node is configured to point a first signal toward said pointed beam;

wherein said new wireless network node is configured to point a second signal toward said first signal pointed by said existing node.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the emitter comprises a light source selected from the group consisting of:

a light emitting diode, a laser diode, incandescent light, and halogen light.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said emitter further comprises a viewing tool.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said emitter further comprises a focusing assembly selected from the group consisting of:

a lens, reflector, and combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said emitter is adapted to modulate said pointed beam.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said modulation has a frequency of between 16 and 62 megaHertz.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said focusing assembly is adapted to limit beam divergence to less than 1.6 degrees.

17. A method of operably coupling a first node and a second node, wherein the first node is a wireless network node with one or more transceivers, and wherein the second node is a wireless network node with one or more transceivers;

the method comprising the steps of;

transmitting an electromagnetic signal from an emitter in proximity to the first node;

detecting the transmitted electromagnetic signal at the second node;

orienting the transceiver of the second node toward the emitter;

transmitting an acquisition signal from the second node toward the emitter;

detecting the acquisition signal of the second node at the first node;

orienting the transceiver of the first node toward the second node.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electromagnetic signal and the acquisition signal are selected from the group consisting of:

visible light signals, infrared light, and near-infrared light.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more transceivers of the first node and the second node are directional transceivers.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said transceiver of the second node is characterized by a nominal beam width, and wherein the emitter is located from the first node at a distance that subtends an angle less than said beam width.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of detecting the transmitted electromagnetic signal at the second node comprises:

searching for a maximal signal strength received from within a determined field of view.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of orienting the transceiver of the second node comprises:

orienting said transceiver in the direction of the maximal signal strength received from within the determined field of view.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the electromagnetic signal from the emitter is modulated to facilitate its detection by the second node.