Free-Space Optical Mesh Network Adaptive Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current free-space optical (FSO) networks have low node degree, leading to high latency, low throughput, and poor resilience due to the need for multiple optical terminals at each node, which increases cost, size, and power requirements, and do not effectively achieve high node connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A FSO mesh network utilizing spatially agile optical beams and space-time coordination, with Optical-Phased Arrays (OPAs) for rapid beam steering, allowing each node to connect to multiple other nodes with a single optical terminal, and incorporating an RF overlay network for backup and control, enabling high node degree and adaptive routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple optical terminals are provided at each node to increase node degree, then network connectivity and resilience are improved, but cost, size, weight, and power requirements significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple optical terminals into a single optical terminal by integrating multiple optical transceivers and beam steering mechanisms. This allows one terminal to perform the functions that would traditionally require multiple separate terminals, thereby maintaining high node degree and network connectivity while reducing SWaP characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic beam steering using optical phased arrays to enable a single optical terminal to rapidly switch between multiple remote nodes. This dynamic capability allows the terminal to establish and maintain multiple optical links sequentially, achieving high node degree without requiring multiple physical terminals at each node.
2Reliability
If multiple optical terminals are provided at each node to achieve high node degree, then network resilience is improved, but size, weight, and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical transceiver functions into a single integrated terminal unit, eliminating the need for multiple separate terminal assemblies. This integration dramatically reduces the size, weight, and power requirements while maintaining the capability to support high node degree through rapid beam switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The single optical terminal is designed with multi-functionality, capable of serving multiple remote nodes through dynamic beam steering. This universal terminal can establish optical links with any of the N remote nodes as needed, replacing the need for dedicated terminals for each node and thereby reducing overall SWaP.
3Device complexity
If a single optical terminal is used per node, then SWaP characteristics are reduced, but the ability to connect to multiple remote nodes simultaneously is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering using optical phased arrays that can rapidly redirect the optical beam between multiple remote nodes. This dynamic capability allows a single terminal to maintain connectivity with multiple nodes by switching between them, achieving high node degree and versatility without requiring multiple physical terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic time-division multiplexing where the single optical terminal sequentially establishes optical links with different remote nodes in time slots. This periodic switching creates the effect of simultaneous multi-node connectivity while using only one physical terminal, thereby maintaining adaptability and versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves high throughput and low latency with negligible throughput loss, enabling dynamic node degree and adaptive routing to handle changes in traffic and node positions, while maintaining low latency and high data rates.
Implementation Method 1
Optical-Phased Arrays (OPAs) for rapid beam steering
Data Source
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Figure 1B
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AI summary
A system is disclosed for implementing an adaptive free-space optical network with a high-connectivity, dynamic mesh topology where each node has one or more optical terminals that may utilize space-time division multiplexing, which entails rapid spatial hopping of optical beams to provide a high dynamic node degree without incurring high cost or high size, weight, and power requirements. As a consequence the network rapidly sequences through a series of topologies, during each of which connected nodes communicate. Each optical terminal may include a plurality of dedicated acquisition and tracking apertures which can be used to increase the speed at which traffic links can be switched between nodes and change the network topology. An RF overlay network may be provided to act as a control plane and be used to provide node discovery and adaptive route planning for the optical network.