Flexible backbone network for high-speed optical wireless communication

A local switch of a backbone network for use in an optical wireless communication, OWC, system, the local switch configured to provide to a remote optical access point, AP, a connection to an external network, the local switch comprising:

• a first type optical front end, OFE, configured to transmit and/or receive with a beam angle not larger than 60 degrees, the first type OFE having an adjustable orientation for transmitting and/or receiving by rotating around a mechanical axis of the local switch, wherein an angle between the mechanical axis and an optical beam axis of the first type OFE is greater than 0 degree but smaller than 180 degrees;
• and
• a second type OFE configured to transmit and/or receive with a 360-degree beam angle on the rotation plane of the first type OFE;
• wherein the first type OFE supports higher data rate communication than the second type OFE, and the beam angle of the first type OFE is fully covered by the beam angle of the second type OFE;
• wherein each local switch is configured to:
• send a first signal with the second type OFE;
• detect a response to the first signal from a remote optical AP with the second type OFE;
• rotate the first type OFE, upon detecting the response by the second type OFE, for detecting the response with the first type OFE;
• and
• fix the orientation of the first type OFE, upon detecting the response by the first type OFE, and send a confirmation signal to the remote optical AP with the first type OFE.

A method carried out by a local switch of a backbone network for use in an optical wireless communication, OWC, system to provide a remote optical access point, AP, with a connection to an external network, wherein the local switch comprising a first type optical front end, OFE, for transmitting and/or receiving with a beam angle not larger than 60-degree and a second type OFE for transmitting and/or receiving with a 360-degree beam angle;

• the method comprising the local switch:
• sending a first signal with the second type OFE;
• detecting a response to the first signal from the remote optical AP with the second type OFE;
• rotating the orientation of the first type OFE, upon detecting the response by the second type OFE, for detecting the response with the first type OFE;
• fixing the orientation of the first type OFE, upon detecting the response by the first type OFE, and sending a confirmation signal to the remote optical AP with the first type OFE;
• wherein the first type OFE-supports higher data rate communication than the second type OFE, and the first type OFE has an adjustable orientation for transmitting and/or receiving by rotating around a mechanical axis of the local switch, wherein an angle between the mechanical axis and an optical beam axis of the first type OFE is greater than 0 degree but smaller than 180 degrees, and the beam angle of the first type OFE is fully covered by the beam angle of the second type OFE.