OPTICAL DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A system and method that overcomes the deficiencies of prior optical data communication systems for local area networks by employing a centralized con troller in conjunction with a robust protocol and contention scheme. This combination f acilitates the transport of data between a number of optical nodes without collision. The i nvention is particularly suited to transmissions between several mobile optical nodes an d one or more stationary network infrared collector/transmitters, allowing communication w ith the network as the mobile nodes roam from the vicinity of one network infrared collector /transmitter to the next.