Free-space laser communications error control system

摘要

A free-space atmospheric laser communications error control circuit. The invention includes a control circuit that circumvents the problems of scintillation and other atmospheric degradation of signal propagation in a free-space atmospheric laser communication system by transmitting a "signal strength" data stream between each pair of communicating laser transceivers. The signal strength data stream indicates the signal strength of the sending transceiver as actually received by the remote receiving transceiver. If the sending transceiver receives data from the remote receiving transceiver indicating that the signal strength of the sending transceiver has fallen to or below a selected threshold, or if the sending transceiver cannot detect the signal strength data stream, then the sending transceiver suspends transmission of information packets. The sending transceiver resumes transmission of information packets when the indicated signal strength level returns to an acceptable level. The laser communication system attempts to transmit the signal strength data stream between the transceivers even though information packets are not transmitted.