TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) communication networks, and more particularly to a method and system for managing interference caused by a rogue User Equipment (UE) in a Li-Fi communication network.

BACKGROUND

Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) involves communication over a light channel by a Transmit-Receive pair. Li-Fi and Optical Camera Communication are two forms of OWC. In Li-Fi, as defined in the IEEE standard 802.15.7, the transmitter transmits information using a single Light Emitting Diode (LED). The information may be coded using various modulation techniques such as On-Off Keying (OOK), Pulse Position Modulation (PPM), Color Shift Keying (CSK), etc. The receiver includes a photo detector to receive and decode the information.

In a Li-Fi or visible light communication, multiple access points such as Visible Light Access Points (VLAP) or Li-Fi access points may be connected to multiple User Equipment (UE) devices. A Li-Fi access point performs data transmission by assigning a unique channel to each of the multiple UEs. For example, the unique channel may be a time-slot allocation for each of the multiple UEs. During an allocated time slot, a UE transmits data to the Li-Fi access point and therefore, multiple UEs communicate with an Li-Fi access point. When a new UE is in vicinity of the Li-Fi access point, the new UE is registered with the Li-Fi access point by authentication and authorization before allocation of the channel (time slot) for data transmission. A polling mechanism may be used for initiating the data transmission and achieving a time slot allocation.

In present state of art, techniques for mitigating interference in downlink transmission due to a rogue access point exist. However, conventional interference identification and mitigation methods and systems, do not disclose identifying and mitigating uplink data transmission interference between a UE associated with a Li-Fi access point and a rogue UE.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a method for identifying interference caused by a rogue User Equipment (UE) in a Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) communication network is disclosed. In one example, the method includes determining for each of a plurality of UEs, by an interference management device, a current Bit Error Rate (BER) and a current Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) based on an associated plurality of uplink data frames received from an associated UE from the plurality of UEs. The method further includes comparing, by the interference management device, the current BER with at least one preceding BER associated with each of the plurality of UEs and the current RSSI with at least one preceding RSSI associated with each of the plurality of UEs. The method further includes detecting, by the interference management device, an interference experience by a first UE associated with a Li-Fi access point caused by a second UE, when the current BER of the first UE is greater than the at least one preceding BER and the current RSSI of the first UE is greater than the at least one preceding RSSI. The method further includes establishing, by the interference management device, the second UE as the rogue UE, when the second UE is not registered with a coordinator within the Li-Fi communication network.

In another embodiment, a method for mitigating interference caused by a rogue User Equipment (UE) in a Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) communication network is disclosed. In one example, the method includes detecting, by an interference management device, interference caused by the rogue UE to at least one UE from a set of UEs associated with a Li-Fi access point in the Li-Fi communication network. The method further includes assigning, by the interference management device, a unique first transmission channel to each of the at least one UE in response to detecting the interference. The unique first transmission channel assigned to each of the at least one UE is distinguishable from a second transmission channel associated with the rogue UE. The method further includes scheduling, by the interference management device, data transmission from each of the at least one UE to the Li-Fi access point based on the associated unique first transmission channel.

In yet another embodiment, an interference management device for identifying interference caused by a rogue User Equipment (UE) in a Light Fidelity (Li-Fi) communication network is disclosed. The interference management device includes a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The memory includes processor instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine for each of a plurality of UEs, by an interference management device, a current Bit Error Rate (BER) and a current Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) based on an associated plurality of uplink data frames received from an associated UE from the plurality of UEs. The processor instructions further cause the processor to compare the current BER with at least one preceding BER associated with each of the plurality of UEs and the current RSSI with at least one preceding RSSI associated with each of the plurality of UEs. The processor instructions further cause the processor to detect an interference experienced by a first UE associated with a Li-Fi access point caused by a second UE, when the current BER of the first UE is greater than the at least one preceding BER and the current RSSI of the first UE is greater than the at least one preceding RSSI. The processor instructions further cause the processor to establish the second UE as the rogue UE, when the second UE is not registered with a coordinator within the Li-Fi communication network.

In another embodiment, an interference management device for mitigating interference caused by a rogue User Equipment (UE) in a Li-Fi communication network is disclosed. The interference management device includes a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor. The memory includes processor instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to detect interference caused by the rogue UE to at least one UE from a set of UEs associated with a Li-Fi access point in the Li-Fi communication network. Further, the processor instructions cause the processor to assign a unique first transmission channel to each of the at least one UE in response to detecting the interference. The unique first transmission channel assigned to each of the at least one UE is distinguishable from a second transmission channel associated with the rogue UE. Further, the processor instructions cause the processor to schedule data transmission from each of the at least one UE to the Li-Fi access point based on the associated unique first transmission channel.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

