ASSOCIATION IN LINE-OF-SIGHT COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Systems and methods are provided for connecting nodes based on their topological position in a line-of-sight communication network. Some embodiments may represent each node by a “backbone” and a “subnetwork” rank. The determination of a node's rank can prevent the formation of isolated “islands” of nodes, cut off from the backbone. The ranking can also provide a total ordering of nodes relative to the “fiberpop” node which can be used for healing and routing behaviors.
1 . A method comprising:
initiating, via a first beam at a node, a random search based on search parameters, wherein the beam is defined by a beam width;
detecting, based on the random search, a peer node;
determining a relative alignment of the node with the peer node; and
orienting towards the peer node based on the relative alignment.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the search parameters at least include a step size with respect to the beam width, and a dwell-time corresponding to a time that the beam stays at one of the two angular positions.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the peer node includes identification of a position of the peer node to establish communication with the peer node.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam is a narrow beam that is generated by at least one of: a RF system, a millimeter wave system, or an optical system.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the random search includes a GPS receiver, wherein the GPS receiver is configured to provide data that confines a region of the random search to an error band corresponding to a position data of the node and an error band corresponding to a position data of the peer node.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the relative alignment, is performed at least in part, by an omnidirectional sensor that provides a reduction in the number of search steps needed for determining the relative alignment of the node with the peer node.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the reduction is by a factor corresponding to a square root of a time needed for determining the relative alignment of the node with the peer node.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam is configured to provide high data rate communications to one or more peer nodes efficiently and configure to minimize communication interference with other nodes.
9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the GPS receiver utilizes an access subsystem that allows nodes to communicate directly with each other and relay address and coordinate information of the respective nodes.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the address and coordinate information is communicated at a low data rate.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the relative alignment includes at least one of: an in-plane distance to the peer node, a relative barometric delta to the peer node, an Euclidean distance to the peer node, an angle to the peer node.
12 . An apparatus comprising:
a memory;
one or more processors configured to:
initiate, via a first beam at a node, a random search based on search parameters, wherein the beam is defined by a beam width;
detect, based on the random search, a peer node;
determine a relative alignment of the node with the peer node; and
orient towards the peer node based on the relative alignment.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
an omnidirectional sensor that provides a reduction in the number of search steps needed for determining the relative alignment of the node with the peer node.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the reduction is by a factor corresponding to a square root of a time needed for determining the relative alignment of the node with the peer node.
15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the beam is configured to provide high data rate communications to one or more peer nodes efficiently and configure to minimize communication interference with other nodes.
16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
a GPS receiver, wherein the GPS receiver is configured to provide data that confines a region of the random search to an error band corresponding to a position data of the node and an error band corresponding to a position data of the peer node.
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the GPS receiver utilizes an access subsystem that allows nodes to communicate directly with each other and relay address and coordinate information of the respective nodes.
18 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions configured to cause at least one computer system to perform a method comprising:
initiating, via a first beam at a node, a random search based on search parameters, wherein the beam is defined by a beam width;
detecting, based on the random search, a peer node;
determining a relative alignment of the node with the peer node; and
orienting towards the peer node based on the relative alignment.
19 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the search parameters at least include a step size with respect to the beam width, and a dwell-time corresponding to a time that the beam stays at one of the two angular positions.
20 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein detecting the peer node includes identification of a position of the peer node to establish communication with the peer node.
21 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the random search includes a GPS receiver, wherein the GPS receiver is configured to provide data that confines a region of the random search to an error band corresponding to a position data of the node and an error band corresponding to a position data of the peer node.