Methods and apparatus for operating an optical communications system having at least two communicating entities (10,12). In accordance with a method of the invention a first step transmits communication link control information from a first entity to a second entity over a first optical channel having a first data bit rate. Responsive to the transmitted communication link control information, a second step of the method transmits data information from the second entity to the first entity over a second optical channel having a second data bit rate that is greater than the first data bit rate. The first optical channel is preferably a relatively low-bandwidth diffuse transmission infrared radiation channel. The second optical channel is preferably a relatively high-bandwidth infrared channel. One of the entities is a network adapter coupled to a wired network. The network adapter is preferably ceiling mounted. The other entity may be a mobile data processor. A plurality of mobile data processors may be served by one network adapter.

Claims

27 · 6 independent · depth 3

27 granted claims

›1.independentA method of operating an optical communications system having at least two communicating entities, comprising the steps of: providing each of the at l…+6

›2.↳ 1A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first optical channel is a diffuse transmission infrared radiation channel and wherein the second optical…d2+1

›3.↳ 1A method as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising the steps of receiving the transmitted data information with the first entity and re-transmitt…d2+1

›6.↳ 1A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and the second optical channels each employ a TDMA technique having a repetitively transmitted data…d2+1

›8.independentAn optical communication system comprising at least one network adapter means coupled to a network and at least one data processing means optically co…+9

›9.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the second infrared radiation channel transmits with a modulation spectrum between app…d2

›10.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the network adapter means and the data processing means each comprise means for transm…d2

›11.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the network adapter means and the data processing means each comprise means for buffer…d2

›12.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 and comprising a plurality of network adapter means each coupled to the network, each network …d2

›13.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the network conforms to a TCP/IP protocol.d2

›14.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the data processing means includes a single infrared transmitting means for transmitti…d2

›15.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the data processing means includes a first infrared transmitting means for transmittin…d2

›16.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the data processing means includes a single infrared receiving means for receiving bot…d2

›17.↳ 8An optical communication system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the data processing means includes a first infrared receiving means for receiving the …d2

›18.independentIn a wireless infrared link communication system comprising at least one network adapter means coupled to a network and a plurality of data processing…+2

›21.independentIn a wireless infrared link communication system comprising at least one network adapter means coupled to a network and a plurality of mobile data pro…

›22.independentA network adapter for use in coupling a wired network to a wireless communication medium, the network adapter comprising: means for coupling to the wi…+2

›25.independentA data processor for use with a wireless communication medium, the data processor comprising: means for coupling the data processor to a wireless comm…+2

Classifications

3 codes

USPC · US Patent Classification

359/172359/152359/113

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883 days filing → grant

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Edward L. Coles, Sr.

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