Patent ID: 8634716

Claim:
A data transmission network comprising: a. a base comprising: i. a base light source; and ii. a base light detector; b. a plurality of nodes, each node comprising: i. a node light source; and ii. a node light detector; c. a plurality of optical fibres arranged to form a first optical fibre network, each optical fibre in the first optical fibre network being arranged to; i. receive light from the base light source; ii. transmit the light received from the base light source to one or more of the node light detectors via an air gap; iii. receive light from one or more of the node light sources via an air gap; and iv. transmit the light received from the node light source(s) towards the base light detector; d. a plurality of optical fibres arranged to form a second optical fibre network; and e. a linking optical fibre which is arranged to: i. receive light from the base light source; ii. transmit the light received from the base light source to the second optical fibre network; iii. receive light from the second optical fibre network; and iv. transmit the light received from the second optical fibre network towards the base light detector, wherein the second optical fibre network comprises a plurality of optical fibres, each optical fibre in the second optical fibre network being arranged to; i. receive light from the linking optical fibre; ii. transmit the light received from the linking optical fibre to one or more of the node light detectors via an air gap; iii. receive light from one or more of the node light sources via an air; and iv. transmit the light received from the node light source(s) to the linking optical fibre.