Throughput increases for optical communications

A device for receiving data over an optical communication path, the device comprising:

• a hardware processor configured to perform operations comprising:
• determining a count of photons detected on the optical communication path over a determined time frame;
• determining, based upon applying the count to a first detection model, a first probability that a first light source corresponding to a first data stream is powered on at a first power level, the first power level different than a second power level, wherein the first detection model includes a first probability distribution that provides probabilities for each respective one of a plurality of detected photon counts that the first light source is powered on at the first power level and a second light source is powered off;
• determining, based upon applying the count to a second detection model, a second probability that a second light source corresponding to a second data stream is powered on at the second power level, wherein the second detection model includes a second probability distribution that provides probabilities for each respective one of the plurality of detected photon counts that the second light source is Dowered on at the second power level and the first light source is Dowered off;
• determining, based upon applying the count to a third detection model, a third probability that both the first and second light sources are simultaneously on at the respective first and second power levels, wherein the third detection model includes a third probability distribution that provides probabilities for each respective one of the plurality of detected photon counts that the first light source is Dowered on at the first power level and the second light source is Dowered on at the second power level;
• and
• determining first data of the first data stream and second data of the second data stream based upon the first, second, and third probabilities.

A device for receiving data over an optical communication path, the device comprising:

• means for determining a count of photons detected on the optical communication path over a determined time frame;
• means for determining, based upon applying the count to a first detection model, a first probability that a first light source corresponding to a first data stream is powered on at a first power level, the first power level different than a second power level, wherein the first detection model includes a first probability distribution that provides probabilities for each respective one of a plurality of detected photon counts that the first light source is powered on at the first power level and a second light source is powered off;
• means for determining, based upon applying the count to a second detection model, a second probability that a second light source corresponding to a second data stream is powered on at the second power level, wherein the second detection model includes a second probability distribution that provides probabilities for each respective one of the plurality of detected photon counts that the second light source is powered on at the second power level and the first light source is powered off;
• means for based upon applying the count t a third detection model, a third probability that both the first and second light sources are simultaneously on at the respective first and second power levels, wherein the third detection model includes a third probability distribution that provides probabilities for each respective one of the plurality of detected photon counts that the first light source is powered on at the first power level and the second light source is powered on at the second power level;
• and
• means for determining first data of the first data stream and second data of the second data stream based upon the first, second, and third probabilities.