LED-to-LEDvisiblelightcommunicationnetworks.pdfVIP

LED-to-LED Visible Light Communication Networks Stefan Schmid Disney Research ETH Zurich Stampfenbachstrasse 48 8006 Zurich, Switzerland schmist@ Stefan Mangold Disney Research Zurich Stampfenbachstrasse 48 8006 Zurich, Switzerland stefan@ Giorgio Corbellini Disney Research Zurich Stampfenbachstrasse 48 8006 Zurich, Switzerland giorgio@ Thomas R. Gross ETH Zurich Clausiusstrasse 59 8092 Zurich, Switzerland thomas.gross@inf.ethz.ch ABSTRACT Visible Light Communication (VLC) with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) as transmitters and receivers enables low bitrate wireless adhoc networking. LED-to-LED VLC adhoc networks with VLC devices communicating with each other over free-space optical links typically achieve a throughput of less than a megabit per second at distances of no more than a few meters. LED-to-LED VLC adhoc networks are useful for combining a smart illumination with low-cost networking. We present and evaluate a software-based VLC physical layer and a VLC medium access control layer that retain the simplicity of the LED-to-LED approach. The design satis?es the requirement that LEDs should always be perceived as on with constant brightness. In each VLC device, in addition to an LED, only a low-cost microcontroller is required for handling the software-based communication protocol. The results of our performance measurements con?rm recent claims about the potential of LED-to-LED VLC adhoc networks as a useful technology for sensor networks, smart and connected consumer devices, and the Internet-ofThings. Categories and Subject Descriptors C.2 [Computer-Communication Networks]: Network Architecture and Design—Wireless Communications Keywords Visible Light Communication, MAC Protocol, Free-Space Optics Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for pro?t or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on t