System and method for communication between transmitters and receivers having an angular dependence

An optical transmission system comprising a plurality of optical transmitters for transmitting optical signals, wherein

• the transmitters have an angular dependence, such that at least one property of the signals emitted by the transmitters is angularly dependent;
• at least one of the transmitters or the signal transmitted therefrom has an angular arrangement that is different to the angular arrangement of at least one other of the transmitters or the signal transmitted therefrom;
• and
• the angularly dependent property is usable to identify or discriminate at least one of:
• the transmitter from which the signal was transmitted and at least one optical communication channel associated therewith,
• wherein:
• the transmission system is configured for use in a cellular transmission system comprising a plurality of cells, each cell comprising or being associated with one or more pairs of transmitters;
• and
• one of the transmitters of one or more of the cells or pair is spaced apart from one or more other transmitter in the respective cell or pair and configured to concurrently transmit a signal that interferes destructively with the signal transmitted by at least one or more other transmitter of the respective cell or pair.

An optical receiver system comprising a plurality of optical receivers for receiving optical signals, wherein

• at least one response of one or more of the receivers is angularly dependent;
• the angular arrangement of at least one receiver or signals received thereby is different to the angular arrangement of at least one other receiver or signals received thereby;
• and
• the angularly dependent response is used or usable to identify at least one of:
• a transmitter from which the signal was transmitted or at least one optical communication channel associated therewith,
• wherein:
• the receiver system is configured for use in a cellular transmission system comprising a plurality of cells, each cell comprising or being associated with one or more pairs of transmitters;
• and
• one of the transmitters of one or more of the cells or pair is spaced apart from one or more other transmitter in the respective cell or pair and configured to concurrently transmit a signal that interferes destructively with the signal transmitted by the at least one or more other transmitter of the respective cell or pair.

A method for transmitting an optical signal using an optical communications system comprising a plurality of optical transmitters for transmitting one or more optical signals and at least one optical receiver for receiving the one or more optical signals, wherein:

• at least one of:
• the transmitters and the at least one receiver have an angular dependence, such that at least one of:
• at least one response of the receivers to a received signal and at least one property of the signals transmitted by the transmitters is angularly dependent;
• the system is or comprises a cellular system comprising a plurality of cells, each cell comprising or being associated with one or more pairs of transmitters;
• and
• one of the transmitters of one or more of the cells or pair is spaced apart from one or more other transmitter in the respective cell or pair,
• the method comprising:
• using at least one of:
• the angularly dependent property or the angularly dependent response to identify at least one:
• the transmitter from which the signal was transmitted, the transmitter-receiver pair, or at least one optical communication channel associated therewith, and
• using the one or more transmitters of one or more of the cells or pair to concurrently transmit a signal that interferes destructively with the signal transmitted by at least one or more other transmitter of the respective cell or pair.

A method of receiving an optical signal using an optical communications system comprising a plurality of optical transmitters for transmitting one or more optical signals and at least one optical receiver for receiving the one or more optical signals, wherein:

• at least one of:
• the transmitters and the at least one receiver have an angular dependence, such that at least one of:
• at least one response of the receivers to a received signal and at least one property of the signals transmitted by the transmitters is angularly dependent;
• the system is or comprises a cellular system comprising a plurality of cells, each cell comprising or being associated with one or more pairs of transmitters;
• and
• one of the transmitters of one or more of the cells or pair is spaced apart from one or more other transmitter in the respective cell or pair,
• wherein the method comprises:
• using at least one of:
• the angularly dependent property or the angularly dependent response to identify at least one of:
• the transmitter from which the signal was transmitted or the transmitter-receiver pair or at least one optical communication channel associated therewith;
• and
• using the one or more transmitters of one or more of the cells or pair to concurrently transmit a signal that interferes destructively with the signal transmitted by at least one or more other transmitter of the respective cell or pair.