Communication network based on the atmospheric transmission of light

• US 6,570,692 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seafort International Trading, S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Dominion Lasercom, Inc., A Nevada Corporation
• Inventors: Panak, David L., Doucet, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NEGASH, KINFE MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/055,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20020114045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 359/172, 359/152, 359/159, 359/118, 359/128, 359/125, 359/139, 359/167, 359/176, 359/178, 379/56.3
• US Class Current: 398/121
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4405 with longitudinally spaced waveguide clamping G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4411 Matrix structure
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/22 Cables including at least one electrical conductor together with optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1121 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1125 using a single common optical path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1127 using two distinct parallel optical paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission

Abstract

A point-to-multipoint bi-directional wide area telecommunications network employing atmospheric optical communication. The network comprises a primary transceiver unit, a plurality of subscriber transceiver units and an optical router. The primary transceiver unit may send data destined for the subscriber transceiver units through the optical router, and the subscriber transceiver units may send data destined for the primary transceiver unit through the optical router. The primary transceiver unit and optical router communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere. Similarly, the optical router and the subscriber transceiver units communicate by means of light beams which are transmitted through the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A point-to-multipoint wide area communications network employing atmospheric optical communication, comprising:

a primary transceiver unit comprising a primary light source configured to generate a first light beam, wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate first data on said first light beam, and to transmit said modulated first light beam into the atmosphere;

a first optical router; and

a plurality of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein said first optical router is configured to receive said modulated first light beam from the atmosphere and redirect portions of said modulated first light beam through the atmosphere to said plurality of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to receive one or more of said portions of said modulated first light beam from said first optical router through the atmosphere; and

wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to demodulate at least a portion of said first data from said one or more portions of said modulated first light beam;

wherein said primary transceiver unit, said first optical router and said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprise a wide area optical telecommunications network.

2. The network of claim 1,

wherein a first of said subscriber transceiver units is configured to provide said portion of said first data to one or more communication devices.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein a first of said one or more communication devices is a computer, a television, a telephone, or a video conferencing system.

4. The network of claim 1,

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive said first data from one or more data sources.

5. The network of claim 4,

wherein a first of said one or more data sources is a telephone network, a cable television system, the Internet, a network employing Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), a network employing switched-Ethernet, a network employing SONNET, a network employing FDDI, a network employing Fibre-Channel, or a network employing Serial Digital Hierarchy.

6. The network of claim 1,

wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to modulate a corresponding second data packet on a corresponding second light beam, and to transmit the modulated second light beam to the first optical router through the atmosphere;

wherein said first optical router is configured to receive a plurality of said modulated second light beams from said plurality of subscriber transceiver units, and to redirect said modulated second light beams to said primary transceiver unit through the atmosphere; and

wherein said primary transceiver unit is further configured to receive said modulated second light beams, and to demodulate said second data packets from said modulated second light beams.

7. The network of claim 6,

wherein the modulated first light beam and the modulated second light beams follow paths through the atmosphere between the primary transceiver unit and the first optical router which are substantially collinear.

8. The network of claim 6,

wherein the first optical router comprises an optical antenna, a mirror, and a first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the mirror is configured to receive one or more of the modulated second light beams, transmitted by one or more said plurality of the subscriber transceiver units, from the atmosphere, and to reflect the one or more modulated second light beams to the first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect the one or more modulated second light beams to the optical antenna; and

wherein the optical antenna is configured to direct the one or more modulated second light beams to the primary transceiver unit through the atmosphere.

9. The network of claim 6, wherein the first light beam and second light beam are orthogonally polarized.

10. The network of claim 6,

wherein the primary transceiver unit comprises a primary optical antenna and a primary beam alignment detector;

wherein the primary optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated second light beams from the atmosphere;

wherein the primary beam alignment detector is configured to receive at least a portion of the modulated second light beams, detect misalignment of the modulated second light beams on the primary optical antenna based on said at least a portion of the modulated second light beams, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the first optical router to adjust a transmission angle of the modulated second light beams to minimize the misalignment of the modulated second light beams on the primary optical antenna of the primary transceiver unit.

11. The network of claim 10,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router optical antenna, a router receiver and a router active optics control system;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate beam stabilization information onto the first light beam in addition to the first data, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of the modulated second light beams on a primary optical antenna of the primary transceiver unit;

wherein the router optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated first light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the router receiver is configured to receive a first beam portion of said first light beam, to demodulate the beam stabilization information from the first beam portion, and to provide the beam stabilization information to the router active optics control system;

wherein the router active optics control system is configured to control the router optical antenna to stabilize the modulated second light beams on the primary optical antenna of the primary transceiver unit in response to the beam stabilization information.

12. The network of claim 6,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router optical antenna and a router active optics control system;

wherein the router optical antenna is configured to receive the first light beam, transmitted by the primary transceiver unit, from the atmosphere;

wherein the router active optics control system is configured to receive a first portion of the first light beam, detect misalignment of the first light beam on the router optical antenna based on said first portion, and generate corresponding first beam stabilization information;

wherein the first beam stabilization information is usable by the primary transceiver unit to adjust a transmission direction of the first light beam to minimize the misalignment of the first light beam on the router optical antenna.

13. The network of claim 6,

wherein the primary transceiver unit comprises a primary optical antenna, a primary receiver and a primary active optics control system;

wherein the first optical router is configured to transmit a control light beam carrying beam stabilization information through the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of the modulated first light beam on a router optical antenna of the first optical router;

wherein the primary optical antenna is configured to receive the control light beam from the atmosphere, and transmit the modulated first light beam into the atmosphere;

wherein the primary receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of the control light beam, demodulate the beam stabilization information from said at least a portion of the control light beam, and provide the beam stabilization information to the primary active optics control system;

wherein the primary active optics control system is configured to adjust an angular orientation of the primary optical antenna to minimize the misalignment of the modulated first light beam on the router optical antenna.

14. The network of claim 6,

wherein a first of the one or more subscriber transceiver units comprises a subscriber optical antenna and a subscriber beam alignment detector;

wherein the subscriber optical antenna is configured to receive said one or more portions of said first light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the subscriber beam alignment detector is configured to receive at least a fraction of said one or more portions of the first light beam, detect misalignment of the first light beam on the subscriber optical antenna from said at least a fraction, and generate corresponding beam alignment information;

wherein the beam alignment information is usable by the first optical router to adjust an angle of redirection of the first light beam into the atmosphere so as to stabilize the first light beam on the subscriber optical antenna.

15. The network of claim 6,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router receiver and a router active optics control system;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate beam stabilization information onto the first light beam in addition to the first data;

wherein the router receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of the first light beam, demodulate the beam stabilization information from said at least a portion of the first light beam, and provide the beam stabilization information to the router active optics control system;

wherein, in response to the beam stabilization information, the router active optics control system is configured to adjust an angle of redirection of at least a first portion of said modulated first light beam into the atmosphere to minimize the misalignment of said first portion of the modulated first light beam on a first of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units.

16. The network of claim 6,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router active optics control system;

wherein the plurality of modulated second light beams, received from the atmosphere by the first optical router, includes a particular light beam transmitted into the atmosphere by a first of said one or more subscriber transceiver units;

wherein the router active optics control system is configured to receive a portion of the particular light beam, detect misalignment of the particular light beam on the first optical router from said portion of the particular light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the first subscriber transceiver unit to adjust a transmission direction of the particular light beam to optimally direct the particular light beam to said first optical router.

17. The network of claim 16,

wherein the first optical router further comprises a light source, a beam modulator and a router optical antenna;

wherein the router active optics control system is further configured to provide the beam stabilization information to the beam modulator;

wherein the light source is configured to generate a control light beam;

wherein the beam modulator is configured to modulate the beam stabilization information onto the control light beam;

wherein the router optical antenna is configured to direct the modulated control light beam into the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit.

18. The network of claim 16,

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive a modulated control light beam carrying said beam stabilization information from the atmosphere, demodulate the beam stabilization information from the modulated control light beam, and modulate the beam stabilization information onto the first light beam in addition to the first data;

wherein the optical router is configured to receive the first light beam from the atmosphere, and redirect a first portion of the first light beam containing the beam stabilization information to the first subscriber transceiver unit through the atmosphere;

wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to demodulate the beam stabilization information from the first portion of the first light beam, and adjust the transmission direction of the particular light beam to optimally direct the particular light beam to said first optical router.

19. The network of claim 6, wherein a first of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units includes a subscriber light source configured to generate said corresponding second light beam.

20. The network of claim 6, wherein a second of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprises means for generating the corresponding second light beam from the one or more received portions of the modulated first light beam.

21. The network of claim 6, wherein a third of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units includes a subscriber optical antenna coupled to an input/output device by a transmission medium,

wherein at least a portion of said first data and said second data packet are communicated between said subscriber optical antenna and said input/output device along said transmission medium.

22. The network of claim 21, wherein said transmission medium is a fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to receive said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam from the atmosphere, and couple said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam onto said fiber optic cable;

wherein said input/output device is configured to decouple said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam from said fiber optic cable, demodulate at least a first packet of said first data from said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam;

wherein said input/output device further comprises a subscriber light source which generates said corresponding second light beam, wherein said input/output device is configured to modulate said corresponding second data packet on said second light beam, and couple the modulated second light beam onto the fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to decouple said modulated second light beam from said fiber optic cable, and atmospherically transmit said modulated second light beam.

23. The network of claim 21, wherein said transmission medium is a fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to receive said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam from the atmosphere, and couple said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam onto said fiber optic cable;

wherein said input/output device is configured to decouple said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam from said fiber optic cable, demodulate at least a first packet of said first data from said one or more portions of the first light beam, remove the first data from the one or more portions of the modulated first light beam to generate the corresponding second light beam, modulate said corresponding second data packet on said second light beam, and couple the modulated second light beam onto the fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to decouple said modulated second light beam from said fiber optic cable, and atmospherically transmit said modulated second light beam to said first optical router.

24. The network of claim 6, wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate timing control information onto said first light beam in addition to the first data to generate the modulated first light beam;

wherein a first of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to demodulate the timing control information from said one or more portions of the modulated first light beam;

wherein said first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to determine transmission times for said modulated second light beam in response to the timing control information.

25. The network of claim 6, wherein a first of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprises a rotatably mounted optical antenna, and a means for controlling the direction of the rotatably mounted optical antenna.

26. The network of claim 25, wherein the direction controlling means is configured to control the rotatably mounted optical antenna to detect and focus on the first optical router.

27. The network of claim 26, wherein the direction controlling means is configured to control the rotatably mounted optical antenna to detect and focus on a second optical router.

28. The network of claim 27, wherein the direction controlling means is configured to control the rotatably mounted optical antenna to detect and focus on a second optical router in response to a loss of light beam reception from the first optical router.

29. The network of claim 6, wherein a first of the plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprises an omni-directional antenna for receiving and transmitting light beams from the atmosphere and into the atmosphere respectively.

30. The network of claim 29, wherein the omni-directional antenna comprises a mirror.

31. The network of claim 1, wherein said portions of the first light beam comprise time-slices of the first light beam.

32. The network of claim 31, wherein the first optical router is configured to redirect a first of said portions of said first light beam to a first of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units during a first time period, and redirect a second of said portions of said first light beam to a second of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units during a second time period.

33. The network of claim 32,

wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to transmit a second light beam comprising second data into the atmosphere;

wherein, during the first time period, the first optical router is configured to receive the second light beam from the atmosphere and to redirect the second light beam into the atmosphere so that the redirected second light beam targets the primary transceiver unit.

34. The network of claim 33, wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to initiate and terminate transmission of the second light beam into the atmosphere so that the second light beam arrives at the first optical router during the first time period.

35. The network of claim 1, wherein the first optical router comprises one or more directionally controllable X-Y beam deflectors configured to deflect the first light beam in a plurality of directions into the atmosphere, wherein the plurality of directions target the plurality of the subscriber transceiver units.

36. The network of claim 1, wherein said portions of the first light beam comprise wavelength components of the first light beam.

37. The network of claim 36, wherein the first optical router comprises a means for spatially separating the wavelength components, and one or more X/Y beam deflectors configured to deflect said wavelength components of the first light beam to the plurality of subscriber transceiver units.

38. The network of claim 36,

wherein a first of said subscriber transceiver units is configured to transmit a first wavelength beam having a first wavelength, carrying second data, into the atmosphere in a first direction targeting the first optical router;

wherein a second of said subscriber transceiver units is configured to transmit a second wavelength beam having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, carrying third data, into the atmosphere in a second direction targeting the first optical router;

wherein the first optical router is configured to receive the first wavelength beam and the second wavelength beam, and to redirect the first wavelength beam and the second wavelength beam along a common optical path through the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit.

39. The network of claim 38, wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive a composite light beam comprising the first wavelength beam and the second wavelength beam, separate the first wavelength beam and the second wavelength beam from the composite light beam, demodulate the second data from the first wavelength beam and the third data from the second wavelength beam.

40. The network of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of optical routers including said first optical router;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to transmit to each of the optical routers a corresponding first light beam carrying corresponding first data through the atmosphere;

wherein each of said plurality of optical routers is configured to receive the corresponding first light beam from the atmosphere, to redirect portions of the corresponding first light beam to a corresponding set of subscriber transceiver units within a range of accessibility of the optical router.

41. The network of claim 40,

wherein each of said optical routers is configured to receive from the atmosphere a corresponding collection of second light beams carrying second data from the corresponding set of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein each of said optical routers is configured to redirect the corresponding collection of second light beams into the atmosphere in the direction of the primary transceiver unit;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive the collection of second light beams, transmitted by each of the optical routers, from the atmosphere, and recover the second data from each set of subscriber transceiver units from the corresponding collection of second light beams.

42. The network of claim 40,

wherein a first accessibility region of a first of said optical routers overlaps with a second accessibility region of a second of said optical routers;

wherein a first subscriber transceiver unit is situated within an intersection of the first accessibility region and the second accessibility region.

43. The network of claim 40,

wherein a first set of subscriber transceiver units within a first accessibility range of a first of said optical routers, and a second set of subscriber transceiver units within a second accessibility range of a second of said optical routers, share a common subset of subscriber transceiver units.

44. The network of claim 1,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router optical antenna, a mirror, and a first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the router optical antenna is configured to receive the first light beam comprising first data from the atmosphere;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is optically positioned between said router optical antenna and said mirror, wherein said first X-Y beam deflector is configured to receive the first light beam from the router optical antenna and to deflect the first light beam onto one or more positions on a surface of the mirror;

wherein the mirror is configured to reflect the first light beam in one or more directions into the atmosphere corresponding to said one or more positions on the mirror surface, wherein the one or more directions target one or more of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units.

45. The network of claim 44,

wherein each of the one or more subscriber transceiver units is configured to transmit a second light beam comprising corresponding second data to the first optical router through the atmosphere;

wherein the mirror is configured to receive the one or more second light beams from the atmosphere, and to reflect the one or more second light beams to the first X-Y beam deflector;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect one or more second light beams to the router optical antenna; and

wherein the router optical antenna is configured to direct the one or more second light beams through the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit.

46. The network of claim 45,

wherein the first optical router further comprises a router active optics control system;

wherein the one or more second light beams, received at said mirror from the atmosphere, include a particular light beam transmitted into the atmosphere by a first of said one or more subscriber transceiver units;

wherein the router active optics control system is configured to receive a portion of the particular light beam, detect misalignment of the particular light beam on the mirror based on said portion of the particular light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the first subscriber transceiver unit to adjust a transmission direction of the particular light beam to optimally direct the particular light beam to said mirror of the first optical router.

47. The network of claim 44,

wherein the first optical router further comprises a receiver and a beam deflector control system;

wherein the first X-Y beam deflector is configured to deflect the first light beam onto a control position on the mirror surface during a control time period, wherein the control position is selected so that the mirror reflects the first light beam onto a optical path which targets the receiver, wherein the first light beam carries control information during the control time period;

wherein the receiver is configured to receive the first light beam, to demodulate the control information from the first light beam, and to provide the control information to the beam deflector control system; and

wherein the beam deflector control system controls the orientation of the first X-Y beam deflector in response to the control information.

48. The network of claim 47,

wherein the control information comprises beam stabilization information, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of said first light beam at a subscriber optical antenna of a first of said one or more subscriber transceiver units;

wherein the beam deflector control system is further configured to control the first X/Y beam deflector to minimize the misalignment the first light beam at the subscriber optical antenna of the first subscriber transceiver unit in response to the control information.

49. The network of claim 47, wherein first beam deflector control system controls switching times of the first X-Y beam deflector in response to the routing control information.

50. A point-to-multipoint wide area communications network employing atmospheric optical communication, comprising:

a plurality of subscriber transceiver units;

a first optical router; and

a primary transceiver unit comprising a primary light source configured to generate a first light beam, wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate subscriber data packets on said first light beam, and to transmit said modulated first light beam into the atmosphere;

wherein said first optical router is configured to receive said modulated first light beam from the atmosphere, demodulate the subscriber data packets from the modulated first light beam, modulate a first subset of the subscriber data packets on a second light beam, and transmit portions of said modulated second light beam through the atmosphere to a first subset of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein each subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units is configured to receive one or more of said portions of said modulated second light beam from the atmosphere, and to demodulate one or more subscriber data packets of said first subset of subscriber data packets from said one or more portions of said modulated second light beam;

wherein said primary transceiver unit, said first optical router and said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprise a wide area optical telecommunications network.

51. The network of claim 50, wherein the first subset of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units equals one or more or all of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units.

52. The network of claim 50,

wherein the first optical router is further configured to modulate a second subset of the subscriber data packets on a third light beam, transmit portions of the modulated third light beam to a second subset of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein each subscriber transceiver unit of the second subset of subscriber transceiver units is configured to receive one or more portions of said modulated third light beam from the atmosphere, and to demodulate one or more subscriber data packets of said second subset of subscriber data packets from said one or more portions of said modulated third light beam.

53. The network of claim 52, wherein the first subset of subscriber data packets equals the second subset of subscriber data packets.

54. The network of claim 50,

wherein a first subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units is configured to provide said one or more subscriber data packets to one or more communication devices.

55. The network of claim 54, wherein a first of said one or more communication devices is a computer, a television, a telephone, or a video conferencing system.

56. The network of claim 50, wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive said subscriber data packets from one or more data sources.

57. The network of claim 56, wherein a first of said one or more data sources is a telephone network, a cable television system, the Internet, a network employing Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), a network employing switched-Ethernet, a network employing SONNET, a network employing FDDI, a network employing Fibre-Channel, or a network employing Serial Digital Hierarchy.

58. The network of claim 50,

wherein each subscriber transceiver unit of said first plurality of subscriber transceiver units is further configured to modulate corresponding second data on a corresponding third light beam, and to transmit said modulated third light beam to said first optical router through the atmosphere;

wherein said first optical router is further configured to receive a plurality of said modulated third light beams, having been transmitted through the atmosphere by said plurality of subscriber transceiver units, from the atmosphere, to demodulate the corresponding second data from each of said modulated third light beams, to modulate the corresponding second data from each of said modulated third light beams on a fourth light beam, and to transmit said modulated fourth light beam to said primary transceiver unit through the atmosphere; and

wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to receive said modulated fourth light beam from the atmosphere, and to demodulate said second data corresponding to each of the plurality of subscriber transceiver units from said modulated fourth light beam.

59. The network of claim 58,

wherein the primary transceiver unit comprises a primary optical antenna and a primary beam alignment detector;

wherein the primary optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated fourth light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the primary beam alignment detector is configured to receive at least a portion of the modulated fourth light beam, detect misalignment of the modulated fourth light beam on the primary optical antenna based on said at least a portion of the modulated fourth light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the first optical router to adjust a transmission angle of the modulated fourth light beam to minimize the misalignment of the modulated fourth light beam on the primary optical antenna of the primary transceiver unit.

60. The network of claim 58,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router optical antenna, a router receiver and a router active optics control system;

wherein the primary transceiver unit comprises a primary optical antenna configured to receive the modulated fourth light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate beam stabilization information onto the first light beam in addition to the subscriber data packets, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of the modulated fourth light beam on said primary optical antenna of the primary transceiver unit;

wherein the router optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated first light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the router receiver is configured to receive a first beam portion of said modulated first light beam, to demodulate the beam stabilization information from the first beam portion, and to provide the beam stabilization information to the router active optics control system;

wherein the router active optics control system is configured to control the router optical antenna to stabilize the modulated fourth light beam on the primary optical antenna of the primary transceiver unit in response to the beam stabilization information.

61. The network of claim 58,

wherein the first optical router comprises a beam alignment detector;

wherein said plurality of modulated third light beams comprises a particular light beam transmitted into the atmosphere by a first subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein the beam alignment detector is configured to receive a portion of the particular light beam, detect misalignment of the particular light beam on a receiving element of the first optical router based on said portion of the particular light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the first subscriber transceiver unit to adjust a transmission direction of the particular light beam into the atmosphere to optimally direct the particular light beam to said first optical router.

62. The network of claim 61,

wherein the first optical router is further configured to modulate the beam stabilization information on the fourth light beam in addition to the second data from each of the subscriber transceiver units of the first subset of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to demodulate the beam stabilization information from the modulated forth light beam, and modulate the beam stabilization information on the first light beam;

wherein the first optical router is further configured to demodulate the beam stabilization information from the modulated first light beam, and modulate the beam stabilization information on the second light beam;

wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to demodulate the beam stabilization information from said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam, and to control a transmission direction of the particular light beam into the atmosphere so as to minimize the misalignment of the particular light beam on the receiving element of the first optical router.

63. The network of claim 61, wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit comprises a subscriber optical antenna and a subscriber active optics control system;

wherein the subscriber optical antenna is configured to transmit the particular light beam into the atmosphere;

wherein the subscriber active optics control system is configured to receive the beam stabilization information, and control the angular orientation of the subscriber optical antenna so as to minimize the misalignment of the particular light beam on the receiving element of the first optical router.

64. The network of claim 58, wherein the modulated first light beam and the modulated fourth light beam follow paths through the atmosphere between the primary transceiver unit and the first optical router which are substantially collinear.

65. The network of claim 58, wherein the modulated first light beam and modulated fourth light beam are orthogonally polarized.

66. The network of claim 58, wherein a first subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units includes a subscriber light source configured to generate the corresponding third light beam.

67. The network of claim 58, wherein a second subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units comprises means for generating the corresponding third light beam from the one or more received portions of the modulated second light beam.

68. The network of claim 58, wherein a third subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units includes a subscriber optical antenna coupled to an input/output device by a transmission medium.

69. The network of claim 68, wherein said transmission medium is a fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to receive said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam from the atmosphere, and couple said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam onto said fiber optic cable;

wherein said input/output device is configured to decouple said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam from said fiber optic cable, demodulate said one or more subscriber data packets from said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam;

wherein said input/output device further comprises a subscriber light source which generates said corresponding third light beam, wherein said input/output device is configured to modulate said corresponding second data on said third light beam, and couple the modulated third light beam onto the fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to decouple said modulated third light beam from said fiber optic cable, and atmospherically transmit said modulated third light beam.

70. The network of claim 68, wherein said transmission medium is a fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to receive said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam from the atmosphere, and couple said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam onto said fiber optic cable;

wherein said input/output device is configured to decouple said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam from said fiber optic cable, demodulate said one or more subscriber data packets from said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam, remove all data modulation from the one or more portions of the modulated second light beam to generate the corresponding third light beam, modulate said corresponding second data on said third light beam, and couple the modulated third light beam onto the fiber optic cable;

wherein said subscriber optical antenna is configured to decouple said modulated third light beam from said fiber optic cable, and atmospherically transmit said modulated third light beam to said first optical router.

71. The network of claim 58, wherein said primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate timing control information onto said first light beam in addition to the first data to generate the modulated first light beam;

wherein the first optical router is further configured to demodulate the timing control information from the modulated first light beam, and modulate the timing control information on the second light beam;

wherein a first subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units is configured to demodulate a first part of the timing control information from said one or more portions of the modulated second light beam;

wherein said first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to determine transmission times for said modulated third light beam in response to said first part of the timing control information.

72. The network of claim 58, wherein a first subscriber transceiver unit of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprises a rotatably mounted optical antenna, and a means for controlling the direction of the rotatably mounted optical antenna.

73. The network of claim 72, wherein the direction controlling means is configured to control the rotatably mounted optical antenna to detect and focus on the first optical router.

74. The network of claim 73, wherein the direction controlling means is configured to control the rotatably mounted optical antenna to detect and focus on a second optical router.

75. The network of claim 74, wherein the direction controlling means is configured to control the rotatably mounted optical antenna to detect and focus on a second optical router in response to a loss of light beam reception from the first optical router.

76. The network of claim 58, wherein a first of the plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprises an omni-directional antenna for receiving and transmitting light beams from the atmosphere and into the atmosphere respectively.

77. The network of claim 76, wherein the omni-directional antenna comprises a mirror.

78. The network of claim 50,

wherein said portions of the modulated second light beam comprise time-slices of the modulated second light beam;

wherein the first optical router is configured to transmit a first portion of said modulated second light beam to a first subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units during a first time period, and transmit a second portion of said modulated second light beam to a second subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units during a second time period.

79. The network of claim 78,

wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to transmit a third light beam comprising second data to the first optical router through the atmosphere;

wherein, during the first time period, the first optical router is configured to receive the third light beam from the atmosphere; and

wherein the first optical router is further configured to transmit a fourth light beam containing the second data to the primary transceiver unit through the atmosphere.

80. The network of claim 79, wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to initiate and terminate transmission of the third light beam into the atmosphere so that the third light beam arrives at the first optical router during the first time period.

81. The network of claim 50, wherein the first optical router comprises one or more directionally controllable X-Y beam deflectors and one or more router light sources;

wherein the one or more router light sources are configured to generate one or more router light beams respectively, wherein the one or more router light beams include the second light beam;

wherein each of said one or more directionally controllable X-Y beam deflectors is configured to deflect a corresponding one of said one or more router light beams in a controllable direction into the atmosphere.

82. The network of claim 50 further comprising a plurality of optical routers including said first optical router;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to generate a plurality of primary light beams including the first light beam, and, for each of the primary light beams, to modulate thereon a corresponding set of subscriber data packets;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is further configured to transmit to each of the optical routers a corresponding one of the modulated primary light beams through the atmosphere;

wherein each of said plurality of optical routers is configured to receive the corresponding one of the modulated primary light beams from the atmosphere, demodulate the corresponding set of subscriber data packets from the corresponding one of the modulated primary light beams, modulate the corresponding set of subscriber data packets on a corresponding set of one or more secondary light beams, and transmit the corresponding set of one or more secondary light beams to a corresponding set of subscriber transceiver units within a corresponding range of accessibility of the optical router.

83. The network of claim 82,

wherein each of said optical routers is configured to receive from the atmosphere a corresponding collection of third light beams containing second data from the corresponding set of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein each of said optical routers is configured to receive the corresponding collection of third light beams, and transmit a fourth light beam containing the second data to the primary transceiver unit through the atmosphere;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive a plurality of said fourth light beams from the atmosphere, and recover the second data corresponding to each set of subscriber transceiver units from the corresponding fourth light beam.

84. The network of claim 82,

wherein a first accessibility region of a first of said optical routers overlaps with a second accessibility region of a second of said optical routers;

wherein a first subscriber transceiver unit is situated within an intersection of the first accessibility region and the second accessibility region;

wherein said first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to perform atmospheric light-beam-based data communication with said primary transceiver unit through said first optical router and said second optical router.

85. The network of claim 82,

wherein a first set of subscriber transceiver units within a first accessibility range of a first of said optical routers, and a second set of subscriber transceiver units within a second accessibility range of a second of said optical routers, share a common subset of subscriber transceiver units.

86. The network of claim 50 wherein the first optical router comprises:

a secondary transceiver unit configured to receive the modulated first light beam from the atmosphere, and to demodulate the subscriber data packets from the modulated first light beam;

one or more transceiver modules, wherein each of said one or more transceiver modules comprises a module light source, a module beam modulator and a module X/Y beam deflector;

an electronic router configured to receive the subscriber data packets from the secondary transceiver unit, and to route the subscriber data packets to the one or more transceiver modules;

wherein the module light source of a first transceiver module of said one or more transceiver modules is configured to generate said second light beam;

wherein the module beam modulator of said first transceiver module is configured to receive said first subset of subscriber data packets from said electronic router, and modulate said first subset of subscriber data packets onto the second light beam;

wherein the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module is configured to receive the modulated second light beam and to deflect the modulated second light beam into the atmosphere in one or more spatial directions corresponding to the first subset of subscriber transceiver units respectively.

87. The network of claim 86, wherein said first subset of subscriber data packets comprises a first data packet and a second data packet;

wherein, during a first time period, (a) the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module modulates at least a portion of the first data packet onto the second light beam, and (b) the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module deflects the modulated second light beam, carrying said at least the portion of the first data packet, into the atmosphere in a first spatial direction; and

wherein, during a second time period, (c) the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module modulates at least a portion of the second data packet onto the second light beam, and (d) the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module deflects the modulated second light beam, carrying said at the portion of the second data packet, into the atmosphere in a second spatial direction.

88. The network of claim 86,

wherein the module light source of a second transceiver module of said one or more transceiver modules is configured to generate a third light beam;

wherein the module beam modulator of said second transceiver module is configured to receive a second subset of said subscriber data packets from the electronic router, and modulate the second subset of subscriber data packets on said third light beam;

wherein the module X/Y beam deflector of the second transceiver module is configured to deflect the modulated third light beam into the atmosphere in directions targeting a second subset of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units.

89. The network of claim 86,

wherein the first optical router further comprises a beam deflector control system;

wherein the modulated first light beam includes control information;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit is further configured to demodulate the control information from the first light beam, and provide the control information to the beam deflector control system through the electronic router;

wherein the beam deflector control system is configured to control the deflection orientation of the module X/Y beam deflector in the first transceiver module in response to the control information, wherein said control information determines the one or more spatial directions in which the modulated second light beam is deflected into the atmosphere.

90. The network of claim 89, wherein the beam deflector control system controls switching times of the module X-Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module in response to the control information.

91. The network of claim 89,

wherein the control information comprises beam stabilization information, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of said modulated second light beam at a subscriber optical antenna of a first subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein the beam deflector control system is further configured to control the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module to minimize the misalignment the modulated second light beam at the subscriber optical antenna of the first subscriber transceiver unit in response to the control information.

92. The network of claim 86,

wherein each of said one or more transceiver modules further comprises a module beam demodulator;

wherein a first subscriber transceiver module of said first subset of subscriber transceiver modules is configured to transmit a third light beam, comprising second data, through the atmosphere to the first optical router;

wherein the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module is further configured to receive said third light beam, and to deflect the third light beam onto a optical path which at least partially targets the module beam demodulator of the first transceiver module;

wherein the module beam demodulator of the first transceiver module is configured to demodulate the second data from the third light beam, and to provide the second data to the electronic router;

wherein the electronic router is configured to route the second data to the secondary transceiver unit;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit is configured to modulate the second data onto a fourth light beam, and to transmit the modulated fourth light beam to the primary transceiver unit through the atmosphere.

93. The network of claim 92,

wherein the secondary transceiver unit comprises a secondary optical antenna, a secondary light source and a secondary beam modulator;

wherein the secondary light source is configured to generate the fourth light beam;

wherein the secondary beam modulator is configured to receive the second data from the electronic router, modulate the second data onto the fourth light beam, and provide the modulated fourth light beam to the secondary optical antenna;

wherein the secondary optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated fourth light beam, and transmit the modulated fourth light beam to the primary transceiver unit through the atmosphere.

94. The network of claim 92,

wherein the first transceiver module further comprises a module beam splitter optically positioned between the module X/Y beam deflector and the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module;

wherein the module beam splitter is configured to receive the third light beam from the module X/Y beam deflector, and to redirect a first portion of the third light beam to the module beam demodulator;

wherein the module beam demodulator is configured to demodulate the second data from the first portion of the third light beam.

95. The network of claim 94, wherein the module beam splitter of the first transceiver module is configured to receive the modulated second light beam from the module beam modulator of the first transceiver module, and to substantially pass the modulated second light to the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module.

96. The network of claim 92,

wherein the first transceiver module further comprises a module beam alignment detector;

wherein the module beam alignment detector is configured to receive a second portion of the third light beam, detect misalignment of the third light beam on the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module based on the second portion of the third light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the first subscriber transceiver to adjust a transmission angle of the third light beam into the atmosphere so as to stabilize the third light beam on the module X/Y beam deflector of the first transceiver module.

97. The network of claim 96,

wherein the module beam alignment detector is further configured to provide the beam stabilization information to the secondary transceiver unit via the electronic router;

wherein the secondary transceiver unit is configured to modulate the beam stabilization information in addition to the second data onto the fourth light beam.

98. The network of claim 86, wherein the secondary transceiver unit further comprises a secondary optical antenna and a secondary transceiver beam demodulator;

wherein the secondary optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated first light beam from the atmosphere and to direct the modulated first light beam onto an optical path which targets the secondary transceiver beam demodulator;

wherein the secondary transceiver beam demodulator is configured to receive at least a portion of said modulated first light beam, demodulate the subscriber data packets from said at least a portion of the modulated first light beam, and provide the subscriber data packets to the electronic router.

99. The network of claim 50,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router optical antenna and a router beam alignment detector;

wherein the router optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated first light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the router beam alignment detector is configured to receive a first portion of the modulated first light beam, detect misalignment of the modulated first light beam on the router optical antenna based on the first portion of the modulated first light beam, and generate corresponding beam stabilization information;

wherein the beam stabilization information is usable by the primary transceiver unit to adjust a transmission angle of the modulated first light beam so as to minimize the misalignment of the modulated first light beam on the router optical antenna.

100. The network of claim 99,

wherein the first optical router further comprises a router light source and a router beam modulator, wherein the router light source is configured to generate a fourth light beam;

wherein the router beam modulator is configured to receive the beam stabilization information generated by the router beam alignment detector, and modulate the beam stabilization information onto the fourth light beam;

wherein the optical antenna is configured to receive the modulated fourth light beam, and transmit the modulated fourth light beam through the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit.

101. The network of claim 50,

wherein the primary transceiver unit comprises a primary optical antenna, a primary receiver and a primary active optics control system;

wherein the first optical router is configured to transmit a modulated fourth light beam carrying beam stabilization information through the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit, wherein the beam stabilization information indicates misalignment of the modulated first light beam on a router optical antenna of the first optical router;

wherein the primary optical antenna is configured to transmit the modulated first light beam into the atmosphere, and to receive the modulated fourth light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the primary receiver is configured to receive a portion of the modulated fourth light beam, demodulate the beam stabilization information from said portion of the modulated fourth light beam, and provide the beam stabilization information to the primary active optics control system;

wherein the primary active optics control system is configured to adjust an angular orientation of the primary optical antenna to minimize the misalignment of the modulated first light beam on the router optical antenna of the first optical router.

102. The network of claim 50,

wherein a first subscriber transceiver unit of said first subset of subscriber transceiver units comprises a subscriber optical antenna and a subscriber beam alignment detector;

wherein the subscriber optical antenna is configured to receive a first portion of said modulated second light beam from the atmosphere;

wherein the subscriber beam alignment detector is configured to receive at least a fraction of said first portion of the modulated second light beam, detect misalignment of said first portion of the modulated second light beam on the subscriber optical antenna from said at least the fraction, and generate corresponding beam alignment information;

wherein the beam alignment information is usable by the first optical router to adjust an angle of transmission of said first portion of the modulated second light beam into the atmosphere so as to stabilize said first portion of the modulated second light beam on the subscriber optical antenna.

103. The network of claim 102,

wherein the first subscriber transceiver unit is configured to modulate the beam stabilization information on a third light beam, and to transmit the modulated third light beam through the atmosphere to the first optical router;

wherein the first optical router is configured to receive the modulated third light beam, and transmit a fourth light beam containing the beam stabilization information to through the atmosphere to the primary transceiver unit;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive the fourth light beam from the atmosphere, recover the beam stabilization information from the fourth light beam, modulate the beam stabilization information onto the first light beam in addition to the subscriber data packets.

104. The network of claim 102,

wherein the first optical router comprises a router receiver and a router beam control system;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to modulate said beam stabilization information onto the first light beam in addition to the subscriber data packets;

wherein the router receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of the modulated first light beam, demodulate the beam stabilization information from said at least said portion of the modulated first light beam, and provide the beam stabilization information to the router beam control system;

wherein, in response to the beam stabilization information, the router beam control system is configured to adjust an angle of transmission of said first portion of said modulated second light beam into the atmosphere so as to stabilize said first portion of the modulated second light beam on the subscriber optical antenna of the first subscriber transceiver unit.

105. A point-to-multipoint wide area communications network employing atmospheric optical communication, comprising:

a plurality of subscriber transceiver units;

a first optical router; and

a primary transceiver unit configured to modulate first data on a first light beam, and to transmit said first light beam including said first data into the atmosphere;

wherein said first optical router is configured to receive said first light beam from the atmosphere, and to transmit a second light beam including the first data through the atmosphere to said plurality of subscriber transceiver units;

wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units is configured to receive one or more of said portions of said second light beam from the atmosphere, and to demodulate at least a portion of said first data from said one or more portions of said second light beam;

wherein said primary transceiver unit, said first optical router and said plurality of subscriber transceiver units comprise a wide area optical telecommunications network.

106. The network of claim 105,

wherein each of said plurality of subscriber transceiver units are configured to transmit into the atmosphere a corresponding third light beam containing corresponding second data;

wherein the first optical router is configured to receive a plurality of said third light beams, having been transmitted by said plurality of subscriber transceiver units, from the atmosphere, and to transmit a fourth light beam, containing the second data corresponding to each of the subscriber transceiver units, into the atmosphere;

wherein the primary transceiver unit is configured to receive the fourth light beam from the atmosphere.