Acquisition of a wireless network node

1 . A method of acquiring a new wireless network node into a network of one or more existing wireless network nodes, comprising the steps of:

placing a spotlight in proximity of a new wireless network node,

selecting an existing wireless network node and pointing a beam produced by said spotlight toward said selected existing wireless network node;

scanning by said selected existing wireless network node for said beam and pointing a first signal emanating from said selected existing wireless network node toward said beam; and

scanning by said new wireless network node for said signal emanating from said selected existing wireless network node, and pointing a second signal emanating from said new wireless network node toward said first signal emanating from said selected existing wireless network node.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of pointing said light beam comprises the steps of:

providing a viewing tool; and

using the viewing tool to point the beam toward the selected existing node.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the beam produced by said spotlight is a optical light beam, and the first signal and second signal are optical light signals.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said light beam is modulated at a frequency in the range of between 16 and 62 MHz.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said scanning comprises the step of scanning over an angular area.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said scanning for said beam comprises the step of taking periodic samples of the optical signal strength of said beam; and

said pointing toward said beam comprises the step of pointing to the maximum strength of said beam.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said scanning for said first signal comprises the step of taking periodic samples of the optical signal strength of said infrared light signal; and

said pointing toward said second signal comprises the step of pointing to the maximum strength of said first signal.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said selecting comprises the step of selecting an existing wireless network node in proximity of said new infrared node with an unobstructed line of sight.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of, after said step of pointing the second signal emanating from said new wireless network node: executing one or more asynchronous tracking events at said new node and said selected existing node .

10 . A system for acquiring a new wireless network node with a network of one or more existing wireless network nodes, comprising:

at least one existing wireless network node;

a new wireless network node; and

an emitter in proximity of said new wireless network node, wherein the emitter is configured to point a beam at said existing wireless network node;

wherein said existing wireless network node is configured to point a first signal toward said pointed beam;

wherein said new wireless network node is configured to point a second signal toward said first signal pointed by said existing node.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the emitter comprises a light source selected from the group consisting of: a light emitting diode, a laser diode, incandescent light, and halogen light.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said emitter further comprises a viewing tool.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein said emitter further comprises a focusing assembly selected from the group consisting of: a lens, reflector, and combination thereof.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein said emitter is adapted to modulate said pointed beam.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein said modulation has a frequency of between 16 and 62 megaHertz.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein said focusing assembly is adapted to limit beam divergence to less than 1.6 degrees.

17 . A method of operably coupling a first node and a second node, wherein the first node is a wireless network node with one or more transceivers, and wherein the second node is a wireless network node with one or more transceivers; the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an electromagnetic signal from an emitter in proximity to the first node;

detecting the transmitted electromagnetic signal at the second node;

orienting the transceiver of the second node toward the emitter;

transmitting an acquisition signal from the second node toward the emitter;

detecting the acquisition signal of the second node at the first node;

orienting the transceiver of the first node toward the second node.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electromagnetic signal and the acquisition signal are selected from the group consisting of: visible light signals, infrared light, and near-infrared light.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more transceivers of the first node and the second node are directional transceivers.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said transceiver of the second node is characterized by a nominal beam width, and wherein the emitter is located from the first node at a distance that subtends an angle less than said beam width.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of detecting the transmitted electromagnetic signal at the second node comprises:

searching for a maximal signal strength received from within a determined field of view.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the step of orienting the transceiver of the second node comprises:

orienting said transceiver in the direction of the maximal signal strength received from within the determined field of view.

23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electromagnetic signal from the emitter is modulated to facilitate its detection by the second node.