Abstract: A method that does not rely on signal strength for detecting the presence of a broken optical wireless link. The method controls the packet transfer rate in a manner that minimizes both network overhead and computational requirements. Upon completion of the acquisition process, the control packet transfer rate is significantly reduced, since a high control packet transmission rate is only necessary during the acquisition process in order to expedite the acquisition process. The need for reacquisition is based, for example, on the number of consecutive missing packets, or the rate of missing versus received packets.

Abstract: A technique that eliminates or minimizes the effects of reflective surfaces to reduce or eliminate interference in the data stream and allow an optical wireless communication link to be used reliably. The most important reflective surface is the reflective surface in front of the data detector itself, as that is the one that will be reflected after the transmitting and receiving stations are properly aligned. The greatest reduction in reflected data associated with a remote detector is then achieved by angling the surface in front of the data detector itself, such that reflections from that surface will not fall within the field of view of the remote detector once the stations are properly aligned.

Abstract: A method that does not rely on signal strength for detecting the presence of a broken optical wireless link. The method controls the packet transfer rate in a manner that minimizes both network overhead and computational requirements. Upon completion of the acquisition process, the control packet transfer rate is significantly reduced, since a high control packet transmission rate is only necessary during the acquisition process in order to expedite the acquisition process.

Abstract: A method of implementing packet corruption to halt propagation in an optical wireless communication link in a manner that simultaneously minimizes network overhead and maintains a high bandwidth loop sufficient to control the motion of the mirror.