Free space optical communications link node, network and method of transmitting traffic
First Claim
1. A free space optical communications link node comprising:
- transmitter apparatus comprising;
a first optical transmitter arranged to transmit high priority traffic on a first upstream optical signal having a first wavelength and at a first optical signal power; and
a second optical transmitter arranged to transmit low priority traffic on a second upstream optical signal having a second wavelength different to the first wavelength and at a second optical signal power; and
receiver apparatus comprising;
a first optical amplifier arranged to receive and amplify a first downstream optical signal having a third wavelength and carrying high priority traffic and a second downstream optical signal having a fourth wavelength different to the third wavelength and carrying low priority traffic;
andtraffic handling control apparatus comprising a power monitor arranged to monitor an optical signal power of the first downstream optical signal and a controller arranged to generate and transmit a control signal if said optical signal power is below a first threshold value, the control signal being arranged to cause the second optical signal power to have a value which is unsuitable for transmission.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A free space optical communications link node 10 comprising transmitter apparatus 12 comprising a first optical transmitter 14, arranged to transmit high priority traffic on a first upstream optical signal having a first wavelength and at a first optical signal power, and a second optical transmitter 16 arranged to transmit low priority traffic on a second upstream optical signal having a second wavelength, different to the first wavelength, and at a second optical signal power. The node 10 further comprises receiver apparatus 18 comprising a first optical amplifier 20 arranged to receive and amplify a first downstream optical signal having a third wavelength and carrying high priority traffic and a second downstream optical signal having a fourth wavelength, different to the third wavelength, and carrying low priority traffic. The node 10 further comprises traffic handling control apparatus 22 comprises a power monitor 24 arranged to monitor an optical signal power of the first downstream optical signal and a controller 26 arranged to generate and transmit a control signal 28 if said optical signal power is below a first threshold value. The control signal is arranged to cause the second optical signal power to have a value which is unsuitable for transmission.
4 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A free space optical communications link node comprising:
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transmitter apparatus comprising; a first optical transmitter arranged to transmit high priority traffic on a first upstream optical signal having a first wavelength and at a first optical signal power; and a second optical transmitter arranged to transmit low priority traffic on a second upstream optical signal having a second wavelength different to the first wavelength and at a second optical signal power; and receiver apparatus comprising; a first optical amplifier arranged to receive and amplify a first downstream optical signal having a third wavelength and carrying high priority traffic and a second downstream optical signal having a fourth wavelength different to the third wavelength and carrying low priority traffic; and traffic handling control apparatus comprising a power monitor arranged to monitor an optical signal power of the first downstream optical signal and a controller arranged to generate and transmit a control signal if said optical signal power is below a first threshold value, the control signal being arranged to cause the second optical signal power to have a value which is unsuitable for transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A free space optical communications network comprising:
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a first free space optical communications link node; and a second free space optical communications link node located remote from and arranged for communication with the first free space optical communications link node across a free space optics link, each free space optical communications link node comprising; transmitter apparatus comprising; a first optical transmitter arranged to transmit high priority traffic on a first optical signal having a first wavelength and at a first optical signal power; and a second optical transmitter arranged to transmit low priority traffic on a second optical signal having a second wavelength different to the first wavelength and at a second optical signal power; and receiver apparatus comprising; a first optical amplifier arranged to receive from the other free space optical communications link node a said first optical signal and a said second optical signal and further arranged to amplify each said optical signal; and traffic handling control apparatus comprising a power monitor arranged to monitor an optical signal power of said first optical signal received from the other free space optics communications link node and a controller arranged to generate and transmit a control signal if said optical signal power is below a first threshold value, the control signal being arranged to cause said second optical signal power to have a value which is unsuitable for transmission. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of transmitting traffic across a free space optical communications link, the method comprising:
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receiving high priority traffic and low priority traffic at a first free space optical communications link node; transmitting the high priority traffic on a first optical signal having a first wavelength and at a first optical signal power; transmitting the low priority traffic on a second optical signal having a second wavelength different to the first wavelength and at a second optical signal power; amplifying each said optical signal received at a second free space optical communications link node located remote from the first free space optical communications link node; monitoring an optical signal power loss of a free space optical link between said first and second free space optical communications link nodes and if the optical signal power loss is above a threshold value, causing the second optical signal power to have a value which is unsuitable for transmission. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification