Patent ID: 9608733
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: H04B

Claim:
1. An optical apparatus comprising: a transmitter having a light source to transmit first optical signals over a transmission link of at least one optical communication channel; a receiver to receive second optical signals over a reception link of the at least one optical communication channel; and a controller coupled with the transmitter and the receiver to: prior to initiation of transmission of the first optical signals over the transmission link of the at least one optical communication channel, cause the transmitter to transmit over the transmission link a first set of first pulse signals at a first power level; detect a change in optical power in the reception link, wherein the change indicates a presence of an optical signal from another optical apparatus on the optical communication channel; cause the transmitter to transmit a first set of second pulse signals at the first power level over the transmission link to the another optical apparatus, wherein the second pulse signals are different than the first pulse signals in length or frequency, wherein the first and second pulse signals are independent of data to be provided in the first optical signals; detect a reception of a second set of the second pulse signals in the reception link in response to the transmission of the first set of the second pulse signals, wherein the reception of the second set of the second pulse signals indicates a confirmation of an ability of the another optical apparatus to communicate at a second power level; and initiate transmission of the first optical signals at the second power level over the transmission link by the transmitter to the other optical apparatus, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level.