Free space optical communication systems and methods for QOS control

A method for initiating communication from an optical communications transceiver for use in free space communication, the optical communication transceiver including a plurality of sub-transceivers forming a sub-transceiver array, each one of the plurality of sub-transceivers within the sub-transceiver array being capable of transmitting optical signals over a range of pointing angles, wavelengths, pulse delays, polarizations, timing offsets, phases, and data rates, the method comprising:

• setting the sub-transceiver array to emit an optical signal at an initial setting for pointing angle, wavelength, pulse delay, polarization, timing offset, phase, and data rate,
• modifying at least one of the plurality of sub-transceivers in the sub-transceiver array to emit a first optical sub-signal at a first setting for pointing angle, wavelength, pulse delay, polarization, timing offset, phase, and data rate, the first setting being different from the initial setting,
• during a first transmit period, transmitting to a receiving transceiver a first optical signal, the first optical signal including the first optical sub-signal, the receiving transceiver being mounted on an aircraft;
• further modifying the at least one of the plurality of sub-transceivers in the sub-transceiver array to emit a second optical sub-signal at a second setting for pointing angle, wavelength, pulse delay, polarization, timing offset, phase, and data rate, the second setting being different from the first setting;
• in a second transmit period, transmitting to the receiving transceiver a second optical signal, the second optical signal including the second optical sub-signal;
• and
• wherein further modifying the at least one of the plurality of sub-transceivers includes specifying the second setting based on known trajectory of the aircraft.

An optical communications transceiver for use in free space communication, the optical communications transceiver comprising:

• a plurality of sub-transceivers forming a sub-transceiver array, each one of the plurality of sub-transceivers within the sub-transceiver array being capable of transmitting optical signals at over a range of pointing angles and data rates toward a receiving transceiver mounted on an aircraft;
• and
• a processor configured for controlling transmission settings of optical signals from each one of the plurality of sub-transceivers within the sub-transceiver array,
• wherein the processor is configured to set the sub-transceiver array to emit an optical signal at an initial pointing angle and an initial data rate,
• wherein the processor is configured to modify at least one of the plurality of sub-transceivers in the sub-transceiver array to emit a first optical sub-signal at a first pointing angle having a first offset from the initial pointing angle such that, during a first transmit period, and the sub-transceiver array emits a first optical signal, the first optical signal including the first optical sub-signal,
• wherein the processor is further configured to modify the at least one of the plurality of sub-transceivers in the sub-transceiver array to emit a second optical sub-signal at a second pointing angle having a second offset from the initial pointing angle, the second offset being smaller than the first offset, such that, during a second transmit period, the sub-transceiver array emits a second optical signal, the second optical signal including the second optical sub-signal, and
• wherein the processor modifies the at least one of the plurality of sub-transceivers in the sub-transceiver array based on known trajectory of the aircraft.