Association in line-of-sight communication networks

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.