Host-to-host TCP/IP connection over serial ports using visible light communication

Abstract

As the radio spectrum becomes increasingly crowded, the superior spectral capacity in the visible light range becomes increasingly attractive. Visible light communication (VLC) technology uses the light waves from light emitting diode (LED) lamps and overheads to stream data and connect people as a more efficient, more available, and more secure alternative to Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi). The aim of this paper is to enable a host-to-host Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection over serial ports using VLC. The data is transmitted from a serial port to a virtual tunneling device (TUN) so that the processor receives the information without using the Ethernet connection. In order to check the status of network connections between two computers, the ping tool is used. Pinging checks whether it is possible to reach one computer from another. Moreover, frequency dependence of the communication is tested. The setup reached 96% success rate and 239.233 ms average ping time in 41 trials for a 15 cm separation distance between the two transmitter and receiver pairs. Success rate of communication broke down at 70 cm separation distance under a dark room environment. A realistic application scenario of our presented technique would be to connect a computer that has its TUN programmed to provide an Ethernet connection over an optimized LiFi design setup with state-of-the-art characteristics in terms of data rate and power efficiency.