Dynamic FOV visible light communications receiver for dense optical networks

• Published in: IET communications 2019-04, Vol.13 (7), p.822-830
• Main Authors: Abdalla, Iman, Rahaim, Michael B, Little, Thomas D.C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: dense optical networks; device mobility; device orientation; dynamic FOV visible‐light communications receiver; D‐FOV technique; field‐of‐view; measured received signal strength; optical receivers; optimal access point selection; receiver velocity; signal‐to‐noise ratio; SNR; Special Issue: Advanced Technologies and Applications of Optical Wireless Communication; static FOV approaches; user device velocity; VLC APs
• ISSN: 1751-8628; 1751-8636
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-com.2018.5784

This study explores how the field-of-view (FOV) of a visible light communications (VLCs) receiver can be manipulated to realise the best signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while supporting device mobility and optimal access point (AP) selection. The authors propose a dynamic FOV receiver that changes its aperture according to receiver velocity, location, and device orientation. The D-FOV technique is evaluated through modelling, analysis, and experimentation in an indoor environment comprised of 15 VLC APs. The proposed approach is also realised as an algorithm that is studied through analysis and simulation. The results of the study indicate the efficacy of the approach including a 3X increase in predicted SNR over static FOV approaches based on measured received signal strength in the testbed. Additionally, the collected data reveal that D-FOV increases effectiveness in the presence of noise. Finally, the study describes the tradeoffs among the number of VLC sources, FOV, user device velocity, and SNR as a performance metric.