Optical/radio local access network
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- detecting, by a controller, an optical received signal strength of a first free space optical channel falling below a certain level, wherein the first free space optical channel provides a communications link between network nodes;
providing, by the controller, control signals to reconfigure the network nodes by sending commands, wherein the commands are sent by way of radio telephone communication; and
re-routing, by the controller, signals for the network nodes along a second free space optical channel responsive to detecting the optical received signal strength falling below the certain level.
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Abstract
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a central controller that executes instructions facilitating performance of operations including monitoring multiple network nodes, at least some of the network nodes being in communication with others through respective point-to-point links. Each point-to-point link includes a respective free space optical channel. The central controller detects optical received signal strength of a free space optical channel falling below a certain level and provides control signals to reconfigure the multiple network nodes. Signals are re-routed along one of the respective point-to-point links through other network nodes responsive to detecting the optical received signal strength falling below the certain level Other embodiments are disclosed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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detecting, by a controller, an optical received signal strength of a first free space optical channel falling below a certain level, wherein the first free space optical channel provides a communications link between network nodes; providing, by the controller, control signals to reconfigure the network nodes by sending commands, wherein the commands are sent by way of radio telephone communication; and re-routing, by the controller, signals for the network nodes along a second free space optical channel responsive to detecting the optical received signal strength falling below the certain level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method, comprising:
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detecting, by a controller within a wireless network, an optical received signal strength of a free space optical channel of a network route falling below a threshold level, wherein the network route comprises a first group of nodes of a plurality of nodes of the wireless network; and initiating, by the controller in communication with the plurality of nodes of the wireless network, a reconfiguration of the plurality of nodes of the wireless network according to an alternative network route responsive to the detecting of the optical received signal strength falling below the threshold level, wherein the initiating of the reconfiguration of the plurality of nodes comprises sending commands by way of radio telephone communication. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A communication node comprising:
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a free space communication device to selectively communicate with a first network node of a plurality of network nodes by way of a free space optical channel; a radio frequency communication device to selectively communicate with the first network node by way of a radio frequency channel; a signal monitor in communication with each of the free space communication device and the radio frequency communication device, to monitor channel losses in one of the free space optical channel, the radio frequency channel or both, wherein the channel losses are indicative of a failure in a received signal resulting from an environmental factor; a first switch in communication with the free space communication device, the radio frequency communication device and the signal monitor, wherein the first switch causes an exchange of data with the first network node in the free space optical channel if the environmental factor disrupts the radio frequency channel but not the free space optical channel, and an exchange of data with the first network node in the radio frequency channel if the environmental factor disrupts the free space optical channel but not the radio frequency channel; and a second switch in communication with the first switch, to selectively direct the exchange of data between the first network node and a second network node of the plurality of network nodes, wherein operation of the second switch to selectively direct the exchange of data is responsive to commands received from a central controller. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification