FREE SPACE OPTICAL NETWORK WITH AGILE BEAM BASED PROTECTION SWITCHING

摘要

A system includes a network having multiple network nodes (102 110) each configured for free space optical communication. Each network node includes one or more apertures through which optical beams are transmitted and received over optical links (112). The optical links include (i) a traffic link (112a) that transports higher rate traffic between nodes and (ii) an acquisition/tracking link (112b) that transports lower rate signals used to establish and maintain location knowledge of other nodes. Each network node also includes a network processor configured to determine one or more backup paths through the network. Each network node further includes a beam steering unit (420) configured to redirect an optical beam from the traffic link onto the acquisition/tracking link to create a backup traffic link.