RF-Assisted LiFi Link Setup for Low-Power Optical Transceivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
LiFi networks face challenges in power consumption and optical component lifetime due to continuous operation of optical transceivers, and security of wireless optical user data connections is a concern.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an RF-based peer-to-peer connection, such as Wi-Fi Direct, for control signaling to establish a wireless optical connection, allowing optical transceivers to be powered down until proximity is detected, and using RF signaling for secure connection setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical transceivers operate continuously to maintain wireless optical connections, then connection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and component lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by using RF signaling to detect proximity and initiate connection setup before optical transceivers are activated. This allows the system to prepare for optical connection in advance, ensuring reliable connection establishment only when needed, thereby avoiding continuous operation of optical transceivers and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces RF signaling as an intermediary mechanism between devices. This intermediary enables proximity detection and connection negotiation without requiring optical transceivers to be continuously active. The RF intermediary facilitates reliable connection setup while allowing optical transceivers to remain in low-power states until actually needed.
2Reliability
If optical transceivers operate continuously to maintain wireless optical connections, then connection reliability is improved, but component lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary proximity detection and connection setup using RF signaling before activating optical transceivers. This preliminary action ensures that optical components are only activated when a connection is actually needed, extending their operational lifetime while maintaining connection reliability through advance preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
RF signaling serves as an intermediary that handles connection management tasks without requiring continuous optical transceiver operation. This intermediary approach protects optical components from unnecessary activation, extending their lifetime while ensuring reliable connections are established when needed through the RF-mediated setup process.
3Use of energy by moving object
If RF signaling is used for connection establishment, then power consumption is reduced, but connection setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection establishment process is segmented into distinct phases: RF-based proximity detection and negotiation phase, followed by optical connection activation phase. This segmentation allows each phase to use the most appropriate technology for its specific task, reducing overall power consumption while managing complexity through clear phase separation and modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements multi-functionality by using RF signaling to perform multiple tasks: proximity detection, connection negotiation, and authentication. This universal RF approach handles various connection setup scenarios without requiring separate mechanisms, actually reducing overall system complexity while enabling low-power operation of optical transceivers.
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to an incorporation of radio frequency (RF) access capabilities (e.g., Wi-Fi station capabilities) to an access point (AP) and/or endpoint (EP) of a wireless optical communication network (e.g. LiFi network) to be able to perform discovery, authentication, and association using an RF peer-to-peer mechanism (e.g. Wi-Fi Direct) and wake up the access point and/or endpoint, when it is established using the RF peer-to-peer mechanism that a wireless optical connection may be used as a high-speed data link. Advantageously, the RF link is used to configure the optical link and more advantageously, the AP controls its transmit power based on the coverage area of the wireless optical access point so that the RF communication may be setup in a timely manner allowing exchange of information on a optical link capabilities and to wake-up the optical transceiver(s).