Optical wireless communication (OWC) uses light to communicate through the air instead of radio frequencies. It has several advantages over conventional wireless methods, including being unregulated by licenses or international standards, being more secure since beams are tightly focused, and being more power efficient since the receiver can be very narrow. OWC technologies are promising for inexpensive consumer products in the future to provide high-bandwidth communications over short distances in a more affordable and secure manner than traditional radio systems.
Optical wireless communication (OWC) uses light to communicate through the air instead of radio frequencies. It has several advantages over conventional wireless methods, including being unregulated by licenses or international standards, being more secure since beams are tightly focused, and being more power efficient since the receiver can be very narrow. OWC technologies are promising for inexpensive consumer products in the future to provide high-bandwidth communications over short distances in a more affordable and secure manner than traditional radio systems.
Optical wireless communication (OWC) uses light to communicate through the air instead of radio frequencies. It has several advantages over conventional wireless methods, including being unregulated by licenses or international standards, being more secure since beams are tightly focused, and being more power efficient since the receiver can be very narrow. OWC technologies are promising for inexpensive consumer products in the future to provide high-bandwidth communications over short distances in a more affordable and secure manner than traditional radio systems.
SHRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB WORLD UNIVERSITY FATEHGARH SAHIB 1. INTRODUCTION This article deals ith the Wireless O!tical C"##$%icati"% &WOC'. I% this !a!er e #ai%l( disc$ss the !r")le#s ith the c"%*e%ti"%al #eth"ds "+ c"##$%icati"% s$ch as ,er#issi"%s- Lice%se +ees- Lac. "+ I%ter%ati"%al sta%dardi/ati"%- Wasta0e "+ !"er a%d Sec$rit( a%d h" this %e tech%"l"0( "+ WOC ca% )e $sed t" "*erc"#e these !r")le#s- al"%0 ith its "% set "+ ad*a%ta0es1 We als" disc$ss a)"$t the c"#!etiti"%s it is +aci%0 a%d h" it sta%ds a!art- a%d +i%all( h" l" c"st $ser +rie%dl( de*ices )$ilt $si%0 this tech%"l"0( ca% )e $sed i% the R$ral I%dia% Sce%ari"1 As the ter# ireless "!tical c"##$%icati"%s &WOC' s$00ests- this is a 0r"$! "+ tech%"l"0ies that $se li0ht t" c"##$%icate thr"$0h the air, a%d re2$ire clear li%e "+ si0ht )etee% $%its1 M"der% s(ste#s t(!icall( $se lasers "r li0ht3e#itti%0 di"des t" !r"d$ce the li0ht at "%e e%d- hile !h"t" di"des at the recei*er se%se the i%c"#i%0 li0ht- a%d se%d a% a!!r"!riate si0%al t" a c"%%ected c"#!$ter. +i04 I% WOC the cha%%el $sed is air I% the telec"##$%icati"%s s!ace, WOC s(ste#s are i% $se i% %iche a!!licati"%s- #"stl( +"r hi0h3 )a%didth a!!licati"%s %eedi%0 t" tra%s+er h$%dreds "+ #e0a)its !er sec"%d- "*er dista%ces t(!icall( less tha% a .il"#eter. Rece%t de*el"!#e%ts !r"#ise t" )ri%0 WOC i%t" the real# "+ i%e5!e%si*e c"%s$#er !r"d$cts1 2. CURRENT SCHEMES WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS I% the last decades- the $se "+ ireless has 0r"% at a +$ri"$s !ace. The ad*a%ta0es "+ ireless are ra!id de!l"(#e%t- ith"$t the %eed t" di0 tre%ches +"r ca)les- a%d see. !er#issi"%s +"r ri0ht "+ a(1 A )i0 ad*a%ta0e "+ ireless is i% all"i%0 !e"!le t" c"##$%icate hile the( are #")ile. The s(ste#s i% c"##"% $se are4 1 617 SATELLITE While satellites i% l"-earth "r)it are s"#eti#es $sed +"r c"##$%icati"%- the #"st c"##"% are 0e"stati"%ar( satellites- hich are stati"%ed a!!r"5i#atel( 89::: .# aa(1 These are !artic$larl( $se+$l t" )ri%0 c"##$%icati"%s t" re#"te areas- a%d are als" ell s$ited t" sit$ati"%s here the sa#e c"%te%t has t" )e deli*ered t" a lar0e %$#)er "+ !e"!le, as i% the case "+ radi" &W"rlds!ace' a%d TV1 Satellites- "+ c"$rse- are e5!e%si*e t" #a.e a%d t" #ai%tai%1 616 RADIO O*er the (ears- a !leth"ra "+ s(ste#s +"r radi" c"##$%icati"% ha*e )ee% de*el"!ed1 These $se a *ariet( "+ +re2$e%cies- as ell as !r"t"c"ls +"r #"d$lati%0 the carrier +re2$e%c( ith data, a%d c"*er ra%0es +r"# a +e t" th"$sa%ds "+ .il"#eters1 ,erha!s the )est rec"0%i/ed e5a#!les "+ s$ch c"##$%icati"% are the #icr"a*e t"ers scattered ar"$%d the c"$%tr(side.
2 618 MOBILE ,HONE With the ad*e%t "+ #")ile !h"%es- ireless c"##$%icati"%s reached the #a% i% the street1 Here t""- there are se*eral s(ste#s i% $se, )"th a%al"0 a%d di0ital- i% a *ariet( "+ +re2$e%cies a%d i%c"#!ati)le sta%dards1 GSM a%d CDMA ha*e e#er0ed as the d"#i%a%t s(ste#s i% this s!ace. S$ch s(ste#s ca% als" )e $sed +"r se%di%0 data at +airl( sl" s!eeds -- ;1< .il")its !er sec"%d is t(!ical1 The( als" %eed a% e5!e%si*e ce%tral sitch 3 #")ile !h"%es ca%%"t tal. directl( t" each "ther. 3. ,ROBLEMS WITH CONVENTIONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 817 ,ERMISSIONS The radi" s!ectr$# is hi0hl( re0$lated all "*er the "rld1 The +irst reas"% +"r this is i%ter+ere%ce1 U%less care is ta.e% t" care+$ll( desi0% s(ste#s that either $se c"#!letel( dis!arate +re2$e%cies- "r the a%te%%ae are care+$ll( directed s" that the )ea#s d"%=t i%ter+ere, radi" c"##$%icati"% )rea.s d"%1 The sec"%d reas"% +"r strict re0$lati"% is sec$rit(1 The W"rld War II i#a0e "+ the s!( ith a radi" tra%s#itter i% his attic see#s t" !ersist i% )$rea$cratic #i%ds t" this da(- e*e% th"$0h s!ies %" ha*e +ar easier a(s t" se%d i%+"r#ati"% h"#e - s$ch as h"t#ail1 816 LICENSE FEES As $sers a%d $ses +"r ireless c"##$%icati"% ha*e i%creased- radi" s!ectr$# has )ec"#e i%creasi%0l( scarce. A$cti"%i%0 thi% slices "+ it has )ec"#e hi0hl( l$crati*e +"r 0"*er%#e%ts1 T(!icall(- s$ch lice%se +ees are %"t >$st "%e-ti#e, )$t a%%$al1 818 LAC? OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDI@ATION
Des!ite the )est e++"rts "+ "r0a%i/ati"%s s$ch as the ITU, #a>"r #ar.ets- s$ch as the US, E$r"!e a%d Aa!a%- ha*e %"t ala(s )ee% a)le t" a0ree "% hat +re2$e%c( t" $se +"r hich !$r!"se. As a res$lt- the sa#e !r"d$ct ca%%"t )e $sed acr"ss c"$%tries- a sit$ati"% #")ile !h"%e $sers are +a#iliar ith1 This red$ces the le*el "+ #ass !r"d$cti"% !"ssi)le, leadi%0 t" hi0her c"st1 3 819 WASTEFUL OF ,OWER Radi" tra%s#issi"%s are hard t" +"c$s1 As a res$lt- "%l( a *er( ti%( !"rti"% "+ the e%er0( tra%s#itted is act$all( !ic.ed $! )( the recei*er. This !r")le#- "r c"$rse, )ec"#es #"re ac$te as the dista%ce )etee% se%der a%d recei*er i%creases- a%d is the )a%e "+ satellite c"##$%icati"%s1 ,artic$larl( i% r$ral areas- !"er is scarce a%d e5!e%si*e. F"r i%sta%ce, i+ s"lar !"er is $sed- it is %"t $%$s$al +"r the !"er s"$rce t" c"st as #$ch as the rest "+ the c"##$%icati"% e2$i!#e%t1 81B SECURITY Beca$se radi" tra%s#issi"%s e5!a%d "$tard i% a lar0e c"%e, !e"!le "ther tha% the desired reci!ie%t ca% !ic. $! the tra%s#issi"%1 U%less 2$alit( s"+tare e%cr(!ti"% is e#!l"(ed- hich still ha!!e%s rather rarel(- radi" c"##$%icati"% is eas( t" i%terce!t1 Ille0al $se "+ radi" c"##$%icati"% is als" +airl( eas( t" detect1 91 WHY O,TICAL WIRELESS O!tical c"##$%icati"% is- as a r$le, a c"#!letel( $%re0$lated #ar.et- e5ce!t t" the e5te%t re2$ired t" !r"tect the h$#a% e(e +r"# a str"%0 )ea#1 U%der the IEC C:6B sta%dard- t" )e $%c"%diti"%all( sa+e- de*ices #$st c"%+"r# t" a CLASS 7 desi0%ati"% This !er#its *iei%0 at a%( ra%0e "*er a%( d$rati"% e*e% $si%0 "!tical aids s$ch as )i%"c$lars1 The #iliatts "+ !"er t(!icall( $sed )( #"der% "!tical c"##$%icati"% s(ste#s are ell )el" s$ch li#its1 Si%ce the +re2$e%cies $sed are $%re0$lated- the( attract %" lice%se +ees- hile the sa#e +re2$e%cies ca% )e $sed all "*er the "rld- eli#i%ati%0 the %eed +"r di++ere%t #"dels +"r di++ere%t c"$%tries1 A s"l$ti"% +"r S"$th Asia c"$ld there+"re easil( )e e5!"rted1 Laser )ea#s ca% easil( )e +"c$sed *er( %arr"l(1 DLaser !"i%ters are chea! e5a#!les de#"%strati%0 #ill radia% c"lli#ati"% +r"# a #illi#eter a!ert$re. T" 0et si#ilar c"lli#ati"% +"r a 7 GH/ RF si0%al "$ld re2$ire a% a%te%%a 7:: #eters acr"ss- d$e t" the di++ere%ce i% a*ele%0th "+ the t" tra%s#issi"%s1 A si#ilar ad*a%ta0e is see% at the recei*er, here c"#!act le%ses ca% )e $sed +"r "!tical )ea#s- hile radi" si0%als %eed lar0e a%d $%ieldl( a%te%%ae at the recei*er e%d as ell- t" ")tai% si0%i+ica%t i#!r"*e#e%t i% e++icie%c(1 Beca$se laser )ea#s are ti0htl( +"c$sed- it is %earl( i#!"ssi)le +"r a%("%e t" i%terce!t the#- "r e*e% t" detect their $se. Bea#s "+ li0ht e++"rtlessl( !ass thr"$0h each "ther, ith"$t i%ter+eri%01 These c"%siderati"%s #a.e it $%li.el( that "!tical c"##$%icati"% ill )e re0$lated e*e% i% the +$t$re. 4 B1 WOC ,RODUCTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL MAR?ET While #"st !r"d$cts all" "%l( !"i%t-t"-!"i%t c"##$%icati"%- c"#!a%ies s$ch as AirFi)er a%d Tera)ea# ha*e )r"$0ht "$t !r"d$cts that easil( all" a #esh "+ li%.s )etee% %"des t" )e set $!1 ,rices are i% the th"$sa%ds- i+ %"t te%s "+ th"$sa%ds "+ d"llars1 <1 INDUSTRY ,ROBLEMS The %arr" )ea#s $sed i% ireless "!tical c"##$%icati"%s %eed t" sta( +"c$sed- e*e% thr"$0h i%d a%d *i)rati"%1 This re2$ires s!ecial hardare +"r a$t"#atic ali0%#e%t1 The% a0ai%- eather a%d +l(i%0 )irds ca% i%ter+ere ith 2$alit( rece!ti"%1 C"%se2$e%tl(- the di++ic$lties +aced )( the i%d$str( i%cl$de4 <17 HIGH3S,EED- HIGH COST NICHE The !r"d$cts a*aila)le i% the #ar.et !r"*ide "rders "+ )a%didth #"re tha% hat the c"%s$#er %eeds- at a !rice she ca%%"t a++"rd1 The( are $sed he% "ther #eth"ds are i%+easi)le, "r he% a lar0e a#"$%t "+ )a%didth %eeds t" )e !r"*ided at sh"rt %"tice, +"r i%sta%ce d$ri%0 a c"%+ere%ce. <16 COM,ETITION Telec"##$%icati"%s is a% i%d$str( ith a hi0h rate "+ i%%"*ati"%- ith a *ariet( "+ s(ste#s i% $se- hich WOC #$st c"#!ete ith1 These i%cl$de s(ste#s )"th- i% the ired a%d ireless s!ace. O%l( th"se that "++er )r"ad)a%d c"%%ecti*it( are disc$ssed here. <1617 O,TIC FIBER M$ch i%*est#e%t has ta.e% !lace all "*er the "rld i% this tech%"l"0(- hich +"r l"%0-dista%ce hi0h3 )a%didth tra++ic has %" e2$al1 H"e*er- there are li#itati"%s4 Al#"st ;: !erce%t "+ all "++ice )$ildi%0s i% the U%ited States ha*e %" +i)er c"%%ecti"%1 T" li%. a )$ildi%0 ith +i)er c"sts )etee% E7::-::: a%d E6::-::: a%d "+te% i%*"l*es a !r"*isi"%i%0 dela( "+ +"$r t" 76 #"%ths1 Gi*e% the c"st a%d ti#e re2$ired- it is %"t realistic t" e5!ect "!tic +i)er t" reach all "$r *illa0es a%( ti#e s""%1 <1616 8G Telec"##$%icati"%s c"#!a%ies ha*e i%*ested hea*il( i% this- hich is s$!!"sed t" deli*er )r"ad)a%d c"%%ecti*it( t" #")ile !h"%es1 E5"r)ita%t lice%se +ees ha*e alread( hea*il( )$rde%ed this tech%"l"0(1 I% additi"%- there d"es %"t a!!ear t" )e 0l")al a0ree#e%t "% the +re2$e%cies a%d !r"t"c"ls t" )e $sed1 Besides- the tech%"l"0( is%=t a*aila)le (et1 I% the a)se%ce "+ clear de#a%d at the !rice !"i%t that the telec"# ser*ice !r"*iders ill %eed t" char0e, #a%( ha*e dela(ed their de!l"(#e%t !la%s- leadi%0 s"#e e5!erts t" )elie*e that this tech%"l"0( is still)"r%1 <1618. C:6177B 5 This sta%dard de+i%es e2$i!#e%t +"r ireless L"cal Area Net"r.s "+ ,Cs- a%d has a %"r#al ra%0e "+ a c"$!le "+ h$%dred +eet1 H"e*er, i%%"*ati*e !e"!le +"$%d a a(- $si%0 hi0hl( directi"%al a%te%%ae- a%d a l"-l"ss ca)le )etee% ,C a%d a%te%%a- t" e5te%d the ra%0e t" se*eral .il"#eters1 The 619 GH/ +re2$e%c( e#!l"(ed is delice%sed i% #a%( !arts "+ the "rld1 As a res$lt "+ the hi0h *"l$#es "+ !r"d$cti"% this all"s- the c"st "+ the hardare is "%l( a +e th"$sa%d R$!ees- hich #i0ht #a.e it attracti*e +"r i%terc"%%ecti%0 *illa0es1 While i% I%dia a% a%%"$%ce#e%t as #ade that the tech%"l"0( ill )e delice%sed +"r i%d""r $se, it is %"t clear he% "$td""r $se "*er s$ch dista%ces ill )e si#ilarl( treated1 While !er#issi"% ca% )e ")tai%ed +"r "$td""r $se +r"# the 0"*er%#e%t- at !rese%t- +airl( stee! lice%se +ees are le*ied1 A +all i% !rice "+ the hardare c"#)i%ati"% "+ c"#!$ter, C:6177) card- ca)le a%d a%te%%a t" a le*el that the a*era0e *illa0er ca% a++"rd is %"t e5!ected a%( ti#e s""%1 F1 RECENT DEVELO,MENTS IN WOC The ad*a%ta0es "+ ireless "!tical- a%d the !r")le#s its c"#!etit"rs +ace, #a.e this area *er( !r"#isi%0- a%d %at$rall( the s$)>ect "+ c"%sidera)le research ar"$%d the "rld T" e5a#!les +r"# "r. d"%e at the U%i*ersit( "+ Ber.ele( are descri)ed )el"- F17 THE VIDEO CAMERA- LASER ,OINTER COMBINATION Usi%0 a sta%dard CCD ca#era ith a 7-i%ch a!ert$re le%s as the recei*er, a%d a laser radiati%0 less tha% 6#W a*era0e, M1 Last a%d "thers ere a)le t" esta)lish c"##$%icati"%s d$ri%0 the da( ti#e "*er a dista%ce "+ "*er 6: .#1 Si%ce the ca#era sca%s at <: +ra#es !er sec"%d- the( ere "%l( a)le t" recei*e at 9 )its !er sec"%d- al)eit +r"# d"/e%s "+ s"$rces si#$lta%e"$sl(1 A *illa0e ishi%0 t" e5cha%0e sh"rt #essa0es ith %ei0h)"ri%0 "%es c"$ld set $! s$ch a s(ste# $si%0 "++ the shel+ c"#!"%e%ts *er( 2$ic.l(1
F16 THE HIGH S,EED SOLUTION WITH CUSTOM HARDWARE Usi%0 i#a0i%0 hardare i% hich each !i5el ca% )e i%de!e%de%tl( !r"cessed a%d there+"re Dis a +$ll( i%de!e%de%t #e0a)itGsec"%d recei*erD a%d a$t"#atic )ea# steeri%0 $si%0 c"#!$ter-c"%tr"lled ste!!er #"t"rs- it is !"ssi)le, +"r a +e h$%dred d"llars- t" #a.e c"##$%icati"% e2$i!#e%t that has a ra%0e "+ se*eral .il"#eters- a%d 6 the a)ilit( that the e2$i!#e%t at each e%ds l"cates the "ther a$t"#aticall(1 Data thr"$0h!$t i% #e0a)its !er sec"%d - e%"$0h +"r 2$alit( *ide" c"%+ere%ci%0 - is easil( achie*a)le. C1 ADA,TING THE TECHNOLOGY TO THE INDIAN RURAL SITUATION A%( !r"d$ct +"r r$ral I%dia #$st ta.e i%t" acc"$%t the li#ited !$rchasi%0 !"er "+ the a*era0e *illa0er. A l"3c"st e%d-$ser de*ice "$ld 0" a l"%0 a( t" #a.i%0 this tech%"l"0( a s$ccess i% I%dia1 A laser !"i%ter- !h"t" di"de- s"#e si#!le electr"%ics- a l"$ds!ea.er a%d #icr"!h"%e c"$ld )e c"#)i%ed i%t" a s#all !ac.a0e a%d #ade i% lar0e 2$a%tities +"r a c"$!le "+ h$%dred r$!ees1 This c"$ld !r"*ide the +ar#er i% the +ield *"ice c"##$%icati"% ith the *illa0e, "+ a 2$alit( )etter tha% FM radi" 3 all he "$ld %eed t" d"- "$ld )e t" !"i%t the de*ice t"ards the ca#era #"$%ted at a hi0h !"i%t i% the *illa0e. F"r "%e-a( c"##$%icati"% *ia M"rse c"de, the +ar#er "$ld "%l( %eed a chea! laser !"i%ter. ;1 CONCLUSION Wireless "!tical c"##$%icati"% has ad*a%ced +ar e%"$0h- that it e%c"#!asses all the )e%e+its "+ c"%*e%ti"%al ireless - 2$ic. de!l"(#e%t a%d #")ile c"##$%icati"%- hile deli*eri%0 a #illi"% ti#es #"re )a%didth tha% a GSM !h"%e, !r"*idi%0 #$ch hi0her sec$rit( a%d c"%s$#i%0 +ar less !"er1 Si%ce, $%li.e c"%*e%ti"%al ireless- "!tical de*ices "!erate i% 0l")all( $%re0$lated +re2$e%c( )a%ds- the( ha*e a% $%restricted 0l")al #ar.et1 T" #a.e this tech%"l"0( #ar.eta)le i% r$ral S"$th Asia, a% e%d-$ser de*ice c"sti%0 $%der E7: is %eeded1 A tele!h"%e ha%dset that c"##$%icates "!ticall( ith the )ase stati"% "$ld +it the )ill1O$r electrical i%d$str( has a% $%dersta%di%0 "+ the #a%$+act$ri%0 !r"cesses "+ O!t"3electr"%ic e2$i!#e%t1 M"*i%0 i% a hi-tech directi"% s$ch as this is )ec"#i%0 i#!erati*e +"r c"#!a%ies threate%ed )( c"#!etiti"% +r"# acr"ss the Chi%ese )"rder. 7:1 REFERENCES D1A1T1Heatle(- D1R1Wisel(- I1Neild A%d ,1C"chra%e- DO!tical Wireless4 the st"r( s" +arD- IEEE c"##$%icati"%s #a0a/i%e 8<&76' &6::C' F63C6 H1A1Wille)ra%d A%d B1S1Gh$#a%, DFi)er O!tics With"$t Fi)erD- IEEE S!ectr$# Ma0a/i%e- A$0$st 6:7:, !! 9:39B1 A1?ash(a!- M1?1?ha%da%i- ?1Lee- M1Sha(#a%- D!r"+ile3Based T"!"l"0( C"%tr"l A%d R"$ti%0 O+ Ba%didth3G$ara%teed Fl"s I% Wireless O!tical Bac.)"%e Net"r.sD- U%i*ersit( O+ Mar(la%d htt!4GG1+rees!ace"!tics1"r0G htt!4GGhtt!4GG1+s"%a1c"#G 7 Laser H htt!4GGe%1i.i!edia1"r0Gi.iGLaserI Li0ht,"i%te 44 O$td""r Wireless 33 ,"i%t3T"3,"i%t C"%%ecti*it( S"l$ti"%s Hhtt!4GG1li0ht!"i%te1c"#Gh"#e1c+#I 8