When the secondary device does not detect the beacon beam from the primary device after rotating to the whole series of positions of the secondary search pattern, the primary device may rotate to different positions in a primary search pattern forming concentric circles. Initially, the circles start with smaller radii and are incrementally expanded to circles with larger radii. For each position of the primary search pattern, the secondary device may repeat the secondary search pattern until the secondary device detects the beacon beam from the primary device.

When the secondary device detects the beacon beam from the primary device, the secondary device is adjusted to focus on the beacon beam. A communication link is then established, and communications and data are transmitted and received between the two communication devices.

Example Systems

A communication network may include optical communication links used to transfer data between communication devices. The communication devices may be positioned on buildings, on the ground, or on moving devices (e.g., gimbal devices arranged on high-altitude platforms or satellites). As such, the communication links are used to transfer the data between the buildings, the ground, and the moving devices. Each optical link allows for communication between two communication devices. A transmitting communication device is configured to transmit an optical beam, while a receiving communication device is configured to detect the optical beam from the transmitting communication device and thus form the communication link. Of course, communication devices may be one or both transmitting and receiving communication devices at any given point in time.