Free-space optical network with agile beam-based protection switching

An apparatus comprising:

• an optical communication terminal configured to engage in free-space optical communication with network nodes, the optical communication terminal comprising one or more apertures through which optical beams are transmitted and received over optical links, the optical links including (i) a traffic link that transports higher-rate traffic and (ii) an acquisition/tracking link that transports lower-rate signals used to establish and maintain location knowledge of the network nodes;
• a network processor configured to determine one or more backup paths through a network;
• and
• a beam steering unit configured to redirect an optical beam from the traffic link onto the acquisition/tracking link to create a backup traffic link.

A method comprising:

• communicating optically at a first network node with a second network node and exchanging data with the second network node by transmitting and receiving first optical beams over an optical traffic link;
• optically tracking a third network node at the first network node by transmitting and receiving second optical beams over an optical acquisition/tracking link;
• determining one or more backup paths through a network;
• and
• redirecting the first optical beams from the traffic link onto the acquisition/tracking link to create a backup traffic link.