阅读说明：本技术 光无线通信系统和自适应光无线通信网络 (Optical wireless communication system and adaptive optical wireless communication network ) 是由 迪帕克·索兰奇 于 2018-06-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种通信系统,包括：多个网络组件,每个都包括至少一个第一通信接口,适于通过无线光通信(OWC)通信地耦接到多个网络组件中的任何其它一个网络组件和用户设备；至少一个网关组件,包括至少一个第二通信接口,适于通过无线光通信(OWC)通信地耦接到多个网络组件中的任何一个,至少一个第二通信接口还适于通信地耦接到至少一个外部通信网络；至少一个便携接入组件,可移动地连接到用户设备,并且包括至少一个第三通信接口,至少一个第三通信接口适于通过无线光通信(OWC)将用户设备通信地耦接到多个网络组件中的任何一个,并且通信系统适于利用多个网络组件和至少一个网关组件形成双工环形网络拓扑和双工网状网络拓扑中的任何一个。(There is provided a communication system including: a plurality of network components, each comprising at least one first communication interface adapted to communicatively couple to any other of the plurality of network components and to the user equipment via wireless optical communication (OWC); at least one gateway component comprising at least one second communication interface adapted to communicatively couple to any of a plurality of network components via wireless optical communication (OWC), the at least one second communication interface further adapted to communicatively couple to at least one external communication network; at least one portable access component movably connected to the user device and comprising at least one third communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the user device to any of the plurality of network components by wireless optical communication (OWC), and the communication system is adapted to form any of a duplex ring network topology and a duplex mesh network topology with the plurality of network components and the at least one gateway component.)

1. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of network components, each of the network components comprising at least one first communication interface adapted to communicatively couple to any other of the plurality of network components and at least one user equipment via wireless optical communication (OWC);

at least one gateway component comprising at least one second communication interface adapted to communicatively couple to any of the plurality of network components through wireless optical communication (OWC), the at least one second communication interface further adapted to communicatively couple to at least one external communication network;

at least one portable access component operatively connected to a user device and comprising at least one third communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the user device to any of the plurality of network components by wireless optical communication (OWC), and

wherein the communication system is adapted to form any one of a duplex ring network topology and a duplex mesh network topology using the plurality of network components and the at least one gateway component.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of network components and the at least one gateway component are adapted to form a wireless optical communication (OWC) backbone of the communication system.

3. The communication system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein any of the first, second and third communication interfaces is adapted to provide Visible Light Communication (VLC) and infrared light communication.

4. The communication system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first communication interface comprises:

at least one uplink transceiving element adapted to receive data from a user equipment and/or any other of the plurality of network components and to transmit data to any other of the plurality of network components and/or the at least one gateway component, and

at least one downlink transceiving element adapted to receive data from and transmit data to the user equipment and/or any other of the plurality of network components and/or the at least one gateway component.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein the uplink transceiving element is adapted to communicate using infrared light.

6. A communication system according to any of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the downlink transceiving elements are adapted to utilize Visible Light Communication (VLC).

7. The communication system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein any of the plurality of network components further comprises a Li-Fi user access port operatively coupled to the first communication interface and adapted to establish a Li-Fi communication channel for communication with the at least one portable access component.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the Li-Fi user access port is at least one light source.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one LED.

10. A communication system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one gateway component is adapted to control any of the plurality of network components.

11. A communication system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless optical communication (OWC) is adapted to provide optical communication by means of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) having a wavelength in any of the visible spectrum, the infrared spectrum or the ultraviolet spectrum.

12. The communication system according to any of the preceding claims,

wherein at least a predetermined portion of the plurality of network components further comprises a fourth communication interface adapted to communicatively couple with a predetermined portion of any other one of the predetermined portion of the plurality of network components through Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication and/or Local Area Network (LAN) communication.

13. A communication system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is adapted to provide wireless communication by means of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) having a wavelength in the radio frequency spectrum.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to communication systems and networks, and more particularly to wireless communication systems and networks, and more particularly to optical wireless communication systems and networks, such as Visible Light Communication (VLC) systems and light fidelity (Li-Fi) networks.

Background

Wireless communication (e.g., Wi-Fi) has now become the standard way to transfer data between mobile users and mobile network providers, for example, to access internet services or to communicate with other users. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in wireless optical communications (OWC) or Visible Light Communications (VLC) that use light from, for example, LEDs to transmit data in a manner similar to wireless local area network (WLAN, Wi-Fi, etc.) communications.

A subset of OWCs are so-called Li-Fi, which is a high-speed wireless communication technology in which LEDs pulse at a very high rate (i.e., imperceptible to the human eye) to transmit data. Li-Fi can be used in electromagnetically sensitive areas (e.g., airports, hospitals) without the drawbacks of current Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation (EMR).

Although communication networks using Li-Fi technology are known, none of these network systems allow duplex wireless communication between network nodes and between user equipments. Therefore, there is a need for an adaptive optical wireless network system that can be fully integrated in any public transportation facility, such as airplanes, trains, buses, and the like, as well as form part of the building infrastructure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved optical wireless communication system adapted to provide a full duplex adaptive optical wireless network.

Disclosure of Invention

The preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a communication system including:

a plurality of network components, each network component comprising at least one first communication interface adapted to communicatively couple to any other of the plurality of network components and at least one user equipment via wireless optical communication (OWC);

at least one gateway component comprising at least one second communication interface adapted to communicatively couple to any of a plurality of network components via wireless optical communication (OWC), the at least one second communication interface further adapted to communicatively couple to at least one external communication network;

at least one portable access component operatively connected to the user equipment and comprising at least one third communication interface adapted to communicatively couple the user equipment to any of the plurality of network components by wireless optical communication (OWC), and

wherein the communication system is adapted to form any one of a duplex ring network topology and a duplex mesh network topology using a plurality of network components and at least one gateway component.

Preferably, at least a portion of the plurality of network components and the at least one gateway component may be adapted to form a wireless optical communication (OWC) backbone of the communication system. Preferably, any one of the first, second and third communication interfaces may be adapted to provide Visible Light Communication (VLC) and infrared light communication.

Preferably, the first communication interface may include:

at least one uplink transceiving element adapted to receive data from the user equipment and/or any other of the plurality of network components and to transmit data to any other of the plurality of network components and/or at least one gateway component, and

at least one downlink transceiving element adapted to receive data from any other of the plurality of network components and/or the at least one gateway component and to transmit data to the user equipment and/or any other of the plurality of network components.

Preferably, the uplink transceiving elements may be adapted to communicate using infrared light. More preferably, the downlink transceiving element may be adapted to utilize Visible Light Communication (VLC).

Preferably, any of the plurality of network components may further comprise a Li-Fi user access port operatively coupled to the first communication interface and adapted to establish a Li-Fi communication channel with the at least one portable access component. Preferably, the Li-Fi user access port is at least one light source. More preferably, the at least one light source comprises at least one LED.

Preferably, the at least one gateway component may be adapted to control any of the plurality of network components.

Preferably, the wireless optical communication (OWC) may be adapted to provide optical communication by means of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) having a wavelength in any one of the visible, infrared or ultraviolet spectrum.

Additionally, at least the predetermined portion of the plurality of network components may further comprise a fourth communication interface adapted to communicatively couple with the predetermined portion of any other one of the predetermined portion of the plurality of network components via Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication and/or Local Area Network (LAN) communication.

Preferably, the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is adapted to provide wireless communication by means of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) having wavelengths in the radio frequency spectrum.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the overall system architecture of the system of the present invention;

fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a wireless communication system of the present invention in a mesh network topology;

fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of another example of the wireless communication system of the present invention in a ring network topology;

fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the system architecture in a mesh network topology comprising optical communication channels (Li-Fi, infrared) and physical communication channels (ethernet cable);

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a system architecture in which a Visible Light Communication (VLC) link network component is connected to a primary gateway component by an Ethernet cable;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an internal block diagram of a Visible Light Communication (VLC) primary gateway and corresponding Visible Light Communication (VLC) link;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a Visible Light Communication (VLC) link MUX (multiplexer) logic block diagram;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of VLC link network components suitable for use in a mesh network topology, including an uplink optical channel interface and a downlink optical channel interface;

fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of a portable user security device comprising a first interface adapted to connect to a user equipment (e.g. USB) and a second interface adapted to communicate via wireless optical communication (OWC) (e.g. optical downlink via optical fidelity (Li-Fi), optical uplink via infrared);

FIG. 10 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the physical layers of a user security device and VLC link network components;

figure 11 shows a schematic diagram of a VLC link network component when connected to a primary gateway component by an ethernet cable (i.e. bypassing an optical communication interface);

FIG. 12 illustrates an operational flow diagram of a transmitter used in the VLC link network component, the primary gateway component, and the user security device of the exemplary network system of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates an operational flow diagram of a receiver used in the VLC link network component, the primary gateway component, and the user security device of the exemplary network system of the present invention;

FIG. 14 illustrates a detailed (logical) workflow diagram for an algorithm for a security device associated with a VLC link;

fig. 15 shows a detailed (logical) workflow diagram of an algorithm for VLC links to associate multiple devices (Li-Fi security apparatus);

FIG. 16 shows a simplified schematic diagram of an exemplary network system of the present invention utilizing a mesh network topology when implemented within an aircraft cabin;

FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary network system of the present invention when implemented within a train;

FIG. 18 shows a simplified representation of an exemplary network system of the present invention when implemented within a building infrastructure;

FIG. 19 shows a diagram of an exemplary network system of the present invention, (a) external interface network communications (i.e., RF external interface, Li-Fi internal user interface) using integrated Wi-Fi, and (b) external interface communications and internal interface communications (i.e., RF external interface and internal user interface) using integrated Wi-Fi; and

fig. 20 shows an illustration of an example of a design of a portable user security device, (a) in side view, (b) in top view, and (c) in top view with the cover removed (i.e., showing the USB port).

Detailed Description

Particular embodiments of the present invention will be described with respect to media networks (entertainment in flight) implemented in public transportation facilities (e.g., airplanes, trains, etc.). It should be understood, however, that the communication system of the present invention is equally applicable to any other suitable infrastructure. The communication system 100 of the present invention makes it easier to establish a seamless wireless communication network that utilizes light to communicate data. The unique network system components of a Visible Light Communication (VLC) system allow the construction of a data transmission medium that is immune to radio frequency congestion or interference from electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, a variety of different types of network topologies may be utilized so that devices equipped with, for example, a particular Li-Fi security apparatus 302 may also access the network and exchange data at extremely high speeds. In addition, the communication system 100 of the present invention provides for highly secure data exchange.

The hardware of the communication system 100 of the present invention includes one or more primary gateway components 102, a plurality of VLC network link components 202, and one or more portable user access security devices 302. The user access security apparatus 302 may be specifically configured for a predetermined communication standard used by the end user device. To take full advantage of, for example, Li-Fi communications in a public transportation facility (e.g., aircraft cabin, train car, etc.), the primary gateway component 102 is preferably in the line of sight of at least one VLC network link component 202, and the Li-Fi user access port 204 of at least one of the respective plurality of VLC network link components 202 is preferably in the line of sight of the portable user access security device 302 connected to the user device 400. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that appropriate structural surface reflections may be sufficient to transfer data between the VLC network link assembly 202, the user access port 204, and the primary gateway assembly 102, such that line of sight may not be necessary.

Furthermore, when the communication system 100 is applied within a building structure 500, such as creating an architectural Information Technology (IT) backbone, line-of-sight may also not be necessary if reflections on the surface of the structure are sufficient to transmit any of the communication signals. Thus, there is no need to deploy physical cables through the structure to bring data to each of the Li-Fi mesh transceiver(s), thus facilitating the integration of complex industrial scenarios.

Fig. 1 illustrates the overall system architecture of the present invention, wherein the VLC master gateway 102 acts as a "bridge" between the VLC link 202 and the internet/data source. Here, each VLC link 202 drives an external light source 204 that communicates with a Li-Fi security device 302, which is connected to one or more smart devices (computers, smart phones, etc.). Further, each VLC link 202 is configured to process a "smart algorithm" adapted to relay data between other VLC links, as well as provide communication with the Li-Fi security device 302 through the external light source 204. To relay data between multiple VLC links 202, the system may utilize any one of a ring topology or a mesh topology. As with the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2, the backbone network of the communication system 100 has been implemented in a mesh network architecture (including two VLC master gateway components 102 and multiple VLC link components 202). A mesh network implementation provides improved fault tolerance (at a higher cost) compared to a ring network topology such as that detailed in fig. 3 (at a lower cost). Alternatively, communication system 100 may have a star network topology

When implemented in a ring configuration, the primary gateway assembly 102 is disposed at the end of each destination. There, the primary gateway component 102 will be connected to the internet through, for example, an ethernet cable or a fiber optic cable, in order to provide a bandwidth suitable for maintaining constant and fast data transmission. However, the ring network topology may be susceptible to a single point of error, which may be overcome by installing additional primary gateway components 102 along the ring topology.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the communication system 100 in a mesh network topology, including a Li-Fi subscriber access port 204. The communication system 100 is a full duplex system with separate optical uplink and downlink channels. While the downlink channel utilizes visible light LEDs, the uplink channel may utilize invisible Infrared (IR) LEDs. Here, each network VLC link component 202 acts as a transceiver at all nodes of the network. The transceiver electronics may be implemented in an FPGA (field programmable gate array) board and the data may be stored in a media server, such as Linux server 600.

In addition, at least one primary gateway component 102 may be connected to the media server 600 via an ethernet cable. The primary gateway component 102 then transmits the data into the mesh network. Each network VLC link component 202 is then connected to a plurality of other network VLC link components 202 to form a mesh network topology. In this example, there are two loops connected to two primary gateway components 102 and an internal mesh connection between the network VLC link components 202. If one of the network VLC link components 202 fails, the primary gateway component 102 will be able to reroute data via a different path through the alternate VLC link component 202.

Fig. 5 shows a configuration where all network VLC link components 202 are connected to the media server 600 via ethernet cable, but there is an optical Li-Fi channel between the user access security device 302 and the Li-Fi user access port 204 (i.e., the LED is connected to the network link component 202).

Fig. 6 shows a detailed internal block diagram of the VLC main gateway 102 and VLC link 202. The intelligent algorithm implemented in the system 100 will provide access to data to/from the server/internet, as well as communication with the destination device. For example, the intermediate device 202 is responsible for multiplexing uplink access requests to the source peer and relaying downlink access to any fallback device. The detailed intermediate device Multiplexing (MUX) control, which is the multiplexer logic for the intermediate "VLC link 1" (see fig. 6), is shown in the logic block diagram of fig. 7. The "VLC link 1" 202a is used to switch between data uploaded by the intermediate "VLC link 1" 202a and data uploaded by the destination "VLC link 2" 202b for transmission to the server through the common LED transmitter.

In particular, the uplink data entering from "VLC link 2" 202b and the uplink data entering from the intermediate "VLC link 1" 202a are stored consecutively in two separate first-in-first-out (FIFO) queues, and then controlled to switch between the two requests by Multiplexing (MUX) control logic "read enable" of these first-in-first-out (FIFOs).

In the example shown in fig. 7, two counters are implemented with MUX control to track the number of "frames" that have been written into the FIFO separately. The frame numbers of both Sides (FIFOs) are continuously monitored using a state machine that continuously switches between the middle VLC link 1 202a and VLC link 2 202b until a complete frame is written. Once a complete frame is detected for either side (FIFO), the "read enable" of the FIFO is opened to read the frame, with the input data on the other side held in a continuous buffer. For each incoming full frame, the counter is incremented, and at the end of one read operation, the counter of the second FIFO is checked to obtain the number of frames stored during the read operation of the first FIFO. Next, a "read enable" to the second FIFO is turned on to read out the number of frames entered during the first read operation. Now, data entering the first FIFO is continuously buffered and a counter is incremented to track frames entering the first FIFO.

This method allows the uplink transmission time to the server through the LED 204 to be divided almost equally between the two devices. During the downlink, data will be relayed to the further destination device 202 (i.e., "VLC link 2", "VLC link 3", etc.).

Fig. 8, 9, 10, and 11 illustrate examples of hardware components of the communication system 100. In particular, fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a network VLC link component 202 that may connect to a reading light 204 or any other suitable light source to create a user access point when used with Li-Fi technology. Here, the network VLC link component 202 is an intermediary device network node through which a communication network is created. The network VLC link component 202 may be controlled by the primary gateway component 102 and the primary gateway component 102 will manage the data communication path, for example, to the end user.

Fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of a portable user access security device 302. Both the network link component 202 and the user access security device 302 may be implemented on FPGA (field programmable gate array) cards along with the transmitter and receiver circuitry. As previously described, any data received over the downlink channel (VCL) is demodulated and decoded before being fed through the USB port of the user equipment 400. Data from the data source is fed from the USB port of the user equipment 400 to the FPGA card where the data is encoded and modulated according to the uplink channel communication (i.e., IR channel).

Fig. 10 illustrates the physical layers of the user access security device 302 and the network VLC link component 202. Here, the input frame is block-encoded using a reed-solomon encoder (160,128 code) for error correction. Followed by 8B/10B coding, which provides bandwidth efficient run-length limited (RLL) coding.

The following two types of modulation schemes may be used:

(i) on-off key (OOK): since the system we designed is incoherent (IM/DD), on/off keying is the simplest way to drive the LEDs.

(ii) Variable Pulse Position Modulation (VPPM): variable Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) is implemented by us in a tunable optical system. The brightness of the LEDs is controlled by the pulse width of each VPPM pulse.

Fig. 11 shows an alternative arrangement in which the network VLC link component 202 connects to the media server 600 using an ethernet cable. On the downlink, ethernet packets received by the network VLC link component 202 are directly modulated and encoded for direct transmission to the user access security device 302. Similarly, on the uplink, data received from the user access security device 302 is demodulated and sent to the media server 600 using the ethernet cable.

Referring now to the primary gateway component 102, it is generally very similar to a wireless (Wi-Fi) router, where data is provided to the router using ethernet input or fiber optic input. However, one of the main differences is that after the primary gateway component 102 receives the data, the input data is converted according to the VPAN standard (i.e., visible light personal area network). Further, a full duplex optical communication channel is established with the network VLC link component 202, wherein the downlink channel is provided using visible light and the uplink channel is provided using non-visible light (i.e., near Infrared (IR) spectrum).

Fig. 12 and 13 illustrate example operational flow diagrams of a transmitter and receiver provided in the network VLC link component 202, the primary gateway component 102, and the user access security device 302, respectively.

To associate with the VLC link 202, the Li-Fi security device 302 may process the detailed algorithm shown in fig. 14.

As previously discussed, the Li-Fi security device 302 is a device that can be connected to any smart device, such as a smart phone, a computer (PC), a laptop, etc., thus allowing data communication through the light source (VLC link 202).

In this particular example, each VLC link 202 drives an external light source 204 to provide a personal area network. The VLC master gateway 102 provides a unique VPANId (VLC personal area network identifier) to each VLC link 202 and stores the VLC link expansion address (i.e., default address) in the database. Whenever the Li-Fi secure device 302 is connected and powered on, it begins tracking beacons transmitted by the VLC link 202. Specifically, each VLC link 202 transmits beacon frames at predetermined intervals to subsequently wait for an association request from the Li-Fi secure device 302 that wants to associate with the VLC link 202.

Thus, when the Li-Fi secure device 302 receives a beacon transmitted by a VLC link 202, it requests to be associated with that particular VLC link 202. When a VLC link 202 has sufficient resources, it will acknowledge the association request and the Li-Fi secure device 302 will associate with that VLC link 202. Once the Li-Fi security device 302 is associated with the VLC link 202, data communication will only be provided between the Li-Fi security device 302, the associated VLC link 202 and the server/internet.

Typically, each Li-Fi secure device 302 has a unique device address (e.g., 64 bits). Once a Li-Fi secure device is associated with a VLC link 202, the Li-Fi secure device 302 will receive a short address (e.g., 8 bits) provided by the associated VLC link 202. The short address will be changed whenever the Li-Fi security device 302 moves from one light source 204 to another light source 204 of the network (i.e., from one VLC link 202 to another VLC link). The VLC link 202 keeps track of and sends information to the Li-Fi secure device 302 using its short address.

Fig. 15 details the algorithm run by VLC link 202 for association with Li-Fi security device 302.

Specifically, when the VLC link 202 obtains a VPANId (VLC personal area network identifier), it assigns itself a new short address and starts to send a beacon. If a device (e.g., Li-Fi security apparatus 302) wants to associate, the device will track the beacon when close enough to light source 204. Once a device (e.g., Li-Fi security device 302) tracks a beacon, it will extract information from the tracked beacon and perform CSMA-CA (carrier sense multiple access-collision avoidance) to send an association request command to VLC link 202 for association. The device will then wait for an Acknowledgement (ACK). The acknowledgement of the association request command does not mean that the device has already been associated. Higher layers of the VLC link 202 require some time to determine whether the current resources available on the VPAN (VLC personal area network) are sufficient to allow another association. At the same time, the VLC link 202 will wait for an association request and continue beacon transmission until the VLC link 202 receives an association request command. Upon receipt, the VLC link 202 will send an acknowledgement and when the device (e.g., secure device 302) receives the acknowledgement, it will wait for "macWaitResponseTime" otherwise it executes an "ackWait" (see below) procedure. In the time interval "macWaitResponseTime", the VLC link 202 will check its resources, generate an associated response Command with a "shortAddress field" (updated as shown in table 1), and wait for a "Data Request Command".

After "macwaitresistime" is completed, the device (i.e., security apparatus 302) will execute CSMA-CA to send a "Data Request Command" to ensure communication, and then it will wait for an acknowledgement. Once the VLC link 202 receives the data request, it will send an acknowledgement and execute CSMA-CA to send the generated association response command. Otherwise, the VLC link 202 will fail to issue a communication status to the higher layers. If the device (i.e., Li-Fi security apparatus 302) receives an acknowledgement to the "Data RequestCommand", it will wait further for an association response command, upon receiving which the device (Li-Fi security apparatus 302) will send the acknowledgement and extract the information, check the association status field, and if this field is "true", it will issue a successful association to its higher layers. If the association status field is "false," the process will be repeated by tracking the beacon. In another case, if no acknowledgement is received, it will perform an "ackWait" procedure (see below).

If the VLC link 202 receives an acknowledgement of the association response command, it will issue a communication status of "success" to the higher layers, otherwise it will perform an "ackWait" procedure.

"ackWait" procedure:

the process is performed when no acknowledgement is received:

(i) the "ACK duration" of the immediately preceding transmission of an arbitrary frame is counted.

(ii) If "ACK duration" is less than or equal to "macaCKWaitDuration", the procedure from CSMA-CA and the frame retransmission are performed, otherwise the entire association procedure is started from the beginning.

Table: 1

When used, the software embedded in the communication system 100 may contain standard programs for Digital Signal Processing (DSP), i.e. responsible for converting the digital signal from the input port into a signal that can be emitted by the LED (light source) after applying one or more modulations. At the receiver side, embedded software ensures regeneration and signal processing of the transmitted signal. The standard followed is similar to the standard defined in 802.15.7 (i.e., the VLC standard), which represents the rules for the physical layer in the VLC standard. Use of this standard also enables any application developer to simply reuse an existing stack and integrate it with the stack of the communication system 100 of the present invention, thus facilitating a write application for the communication system 100. Another module of encoding involves assigning a physical address to any of the hardware modules 102, 202, 302, following a similar convention for the frame technique defined for the MAC sublayer (medium access control) of the data link layer. This is responsible for error detection and any correction of the simplex channel and frame acknowledgement, as well as the retransmission process of the duplex channel.

Fig. 16 illustrates an example embodiment of the communication system 100 as implemented in an aircraft cabin. In this particular example, the system 100 is used in a typical in-flight entertainment system that utilizes three or four reading lights 204 to transmit data to users sitting below and connected to a Li-Fi network provided by the reading lights 203. Each user may seamlessly connect, for example, up to four different devices 400 (e.g., personal laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc.) to the network through the Li-Fi user access security apparatus 302 and the reading light 204(Li-Fi interface). The user may have to install a specific software application in order to stream data onto the user device 400.

Fig. 17 shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, deployed within a shuttle train to allow data connection with passengers using an external P2P (end-to-end) network (ring or mesh topology) that relays data to all track lines. All data communication between passengers in the shuttle train and the outside world will be provided by VLC using Li-Fi technology. Specifically, each leg of the train car structure may be equipped with one or more network VLC link assemblies 202, wherein the end points of the train may be equipped with a primary gateway assembly 102, thereby forming the backbone of the external P2P network. To communicate between the cars and the backbone infrastructure, the cars may require a dedicated internal network VLC link component 202, which is integrated into the roof structure of each car, for example. These VLC link components 202 may then access the optical communications of the external P2P network and then share their data bandwidth with devices within the vehicle cabin (forming the external interface network). One or more smart devices within the vehicle cabin may have a Li-Fi user access security device 302 connected to a Li-Fi port of the network VLC link assembly 202 provided at the ceiling of the vehicle cabin, with the data then being transmitted through the VLC link assembly 202. Further, all communication channels may be configured to provide a full duplex mode.

Fig. 18 shows a diagram of a typical setup of an Information Technology (IT) building infrastructure.

Fig. 19(a) and (b) show further illustrations of alternative examples of the communication network 100 of the present invention. Here, the network architecture is adapted to utilize Li-Fi mesh network technology as well as RF (Wi-Fi) technology in order to create a hybrid network system that can provide improved reliability in locations known to be challenging for wireless network communications (e.g., in underground subways or tunnels).

In the setup shown in fig. 19(a), the external P2P network and the internal communication network are established by Li-Fi communication, with the external interface network provided by Wi-Fi communication. Here, the external P2P network may have Li-Fi and Wi-Fi modules installed at each leg of the railcar structure. Thus, the backbone network would still use Li-Fi communication, but the external interface network is provided by Wi-Fi to exchange information between the P2P network and the internal communication network. It will be appreciated that to take advantage of this hybrid arrangement, the car would have to be equipped with additional RF transceivers. However, Wi-Fi radio waves do not need to penetrate the car shell, but only provide bandwidth to the space between the car and the annular ceiling. Inside the car, the passenger's device will access the security device 302 again with their Li-Fi user to exchange data with the internal communication network.

In the setup shown in fig. 19(b), the external P2P network utilizes Li-Fi communication, where the external interface network and the internal communication network are implemented using Wi-Fi systems. Specifically, the external P2P network communicates along the train using Li-Fi communications, wherein each network VLC link assembly 202 along the track also includes a Wi-Fi module.

Likewise, the car must be equipped with an RF transceiver so that the broadcast Wi-Fi bandwidth from the external P2P network can be captured and passed along the internal communication network for use by passengers and effectively create an external interface network. In this particular scenario, the end user does not need the Li-Fi user to access the security apparatus 302, but simply enables the Wi-Fi interface of the user device.

Fig. 20 shows an example of a design of a portable user security device, (a) in side view, (b) in top view, and (c) in top view with the cover removed (i.e., showing the USB port).

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.