Optical Front End Sharing for Multi-Network Wireless Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical wireless communication systems face interference and complexity when deploying multiple networks in the same area, requiring separate wavelengths or TDMA scheduling with bulky hardware and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A subsystem with a single optical front end (OFE) that combines and splits signals for multiple networks, using time-sharing and synchronized baseband modules to reduce interference and hardware complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate wavelengths are used per network, then interference between networks is avoided, but the number of available wavelengths is limited and IR filters are expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optical networks onto a single wavelength by using a single optical front end for multiple networks, eliminating the need for separate wavelengths and expensive IR filters while avoiding interference through centralized control
Solution Approach 2:
The optical front end is designed to serve multiple networks simultaneously on the same wavelength, making it a universal component that handles different network traffic through software-based management rather than hardware-based wavelength separation
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple optical access points are deployed for different networks, then connectivity to multiple networks is provided, but hardware complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single optical access point is designed to provide connectivity to multiple external networks by sharing the optical front end across different network interfaces, eliminating the need for separate access points for each network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple network interfaces with a single optical front end, combining what would traditionally require separate hardware installations into one unified system that reduces both hardware complexity and deployment cost
3Reliability
If time division multiple access is used with separate access points, then interference is avoided, but the system becomes bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges TDMA scheduling functionality into a single optical access point, combining multiple network interfaces and the scheduling mechanism into one unified system rather than requiring separate access points for each network
Solution Approach 2:
The single optical front end is designed to handle multiple networks with TDMA scheduling, making it a universal solution that provides both interference avoidance and multi-network connectivity without requiring multiple separate access points
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
Enables efficient, cost-effective connectivity to multiple networks with reduced hardware and interference, supporting different security and priority levels through time-sharing and synchronized data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to emit optical data to the end device
Implementation Method 2
Depending for example on the wavelengths used, such techniques may also be referred to as coded light, Light Fidelity (LiFi), visible light communication (VLC) or free-space optical communication (FSO)
Implementation Method 3
a light detector configured to receive optical data from the end device
Data Source
AI summary
A subsystem (100) for connecting an end device (200) to a first network (300) or a second network (400) via optical wireless communication; wherein the first network (300) and the second network (400) are of different security and/or priority levels, the subsystem (100) comprising: a first communication interface (110) configured to provide connection to the first network (300); a second communication interface (120) configured to provide connection to the second network (400); an optical front end, OFE (130), comprising a light source (131) configured to emit optical data to the end device (200) and a light detector (132) configured to receive optical data from the end device (200); a combiner (140), connected between the light source (131) and the first and the second communication interfaces, configured to combine analog signals received from both the first and the second communication interfaces and to provide to the light source (131) for transmission; and a splitter (150), connected between the light detector (132) and the first and the second communication interfaces, configured to split analog signals received from the light detector (132) and to provide to either the first communication interface (110) or the second communication interface (120).