An Omnidirectional User Equipment Configuration to Support Mobility in LiFi Networks

LiFi (Light-fidelity) is defined as a multi-functional wireless access network based on visible light communication (VLC) technology. Mobility support is one of the essential features of a LiFi network. Therefore, the system should support handover (HO) and be able to achieve a reliable connection when users are on the move. However, this is a challenging task, because optical sources and detectors are directional and an individual LiFi access point (AP) typically has a limited coverage area. In this study, an omnidirectional user equipment (UE) configuration is considered to alleviate the channel variation caused by user movement, device rotation and link blockage. The simulation results show that the omnidirectional UE configuration can effectively improve the LiFi link quality for moving users. In addition, it also leads to improved link throughput.