Interference in multi-user optical wireless communications systems

Abstract

<jats:p>Visible light communications (VLC) (including LiFi) represent a subset of the broader field of optical wireless communications. Where narrow beams, typical of free space optical communications are largely free from interference. VLC encompasses use cases involving combined illumination and data access and supporting a wireless access point (AP) model. The use of many units provides scaling of spatial coverage for both lighting and data access. However, AP replication in close proximity creates many interference challenges that motivate the investigation embodied in this paper. In particular, we frame the interference challenge in the context of existing strategies for driving improvements in link performance and consider the impacts of multiple users, multiple sources and multiple cells. Lastly, we review the state of existing research in this area and recommend areas for further study.</jats:p> <jats:p>This article is part of the theme issue ‘Optical wireless communication’.</jats:p>

Optical wireless communication

“…A candidate technology which can achieve this is nonorthogonal multiuser access [37]. This issue features the following articles which are related to multiuser access in OWC networks [31,38].…”

“…Nonetheless, due to multipath propagation and random orientation of mobile devices, there is still interference present in optical wireless networks. This theme issue includes a review article on interference management in optical wireless by Little et al [38], who have been at the forefront developing key techniques for light based wireless networking systems.…”

Interference Mitigation Through User Association and Receiver Field of View Optimization in a Multi-User Indoor Hybrid RF/VLC Illuminance-Constrained Network

“…There exists work, relevant to the interference problem, that focuses on power allocation, user association, load balancing or multiple access techniques [11]- [14]. We discuss interference mitigation in indoor optical wireless networks in [15]. We also study dynamic receiver FOV performance and advantages in prior work [16]- [20] and provide important insights to its usages theoretically and through experimentation.…”

“…And (3) Resource reuse, coverage perspectives and interference mitigation using dynamic FOV receivers [19]. Interference between indoor users in OWC networks and possible mitigation solutions are reviewed in our prior work in [15]. Here we adopt a channel isolation methodology and study how it can provide gains in the system compared to a wide-FOV nonisolating receiver.…”

On the Interference Immunity of Visible Light Communication (VLC)

“…Authors in [6] propose an approach based on angular diversity receivers in order to mitigate the interference in optical attocel networks. In [8] the authors focus on the specific and unique features of optical channel in VLC and their interference. The authors consider multi access points systems that create additional interference.…”