Patent ID: 8655187

Claim:
A data center unit (DCU) comprising: one or more data processing units that are configured to run a part or all of a data processing application; an intra-DCU network to couple the one or more data processing units; a motion mechanism configured to move the DCU from a first location to a second location within a data center; an optical interface unit (OIU) configured to connect or disconnect the intra-DCU network of one more data processing units to or from a network of one or more free space optical communication links, wherein the OIU includes: a location device configured to indicate a location and orientation of the DCU to a network controller such that the network controller may locate a free space optical communication link connection point to the DCU that has moved from the first location to the second location within the data center; an opto-mechanical or opto-electrical transducer responsive to optical signal control to connect or disconnect the DCU to or from the network of one or more free space optical communication links; and a modulator coupled to the one or more data processing units, wherein the DCU is configured to be connected to other devices via the network of one or more free space optical communication links, and wherein the modulator is configured to modulate a raw light beam received from a source external to the DCU, and to transmit a modulated light beam over the one or more free space optical communication links.