Asymmetric broadband optical wireless network

摘要

The present invention involves a method and system for transmitting data in an optical or hybrid optical and RF wireless network from a base structure (10, 110, 111) including a base apparatus (120) to a target device including a target apparatus (140). The base apparatus includes a base receiver (122), a laser (126), a device for positioning a laser-emitted beam (128), and a base microprocessor (124). The target apparatus includes a target transmitter (142), a photodetector (146), and a target microprocessor (144). Once the target device comes to a rest beneath the base structure, the target transmitter communicates the presence of the target apparatus to the base receiver. A communication uplink is established between the target apparatus and the base apparatus. The base microprocessor then activates the laser and instructs a commercial laser based steering system to continually adjust the position of the laser beam in a search pattern until it illuminates the photodetector, at which time a communication downlink is established between the base apparatus and target apparatus. Data is then transmitted from the laser to the photodetector via the communication downlink at speeds of 100 Mbps to 10Gbps.