Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at separate stations
Patent
1988-09-29
1991-10-01
Kuntz, Curtis
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at separate stations
455 61, 455 67, 455186, 3408255, H04B 110
Patent
active
050541110
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a high frequency (HF) communications network comprising a plurality of stations each of which may intercommunicate with any other station.
HF is generally recognized as the frequency range 2-30 MHz. However for the purposes of this specification, this term is intended to cover any frequency up to 30 MHz and may include frequencies above 30 MHz. The term is intended to designate a type of radio transmission usually involving ionospheric reflection, from the F-layer, the maximum usable frequency usually being somewhat less then 30 MHz.
Commercial and military systems are known employing HF transmission between a large number of ground stations located over a limited geographical area, for example, an army may possess portable transceivers carried on vehicles or as "man-packs" which rely on HF data transmissions. In emergency situations, not all transceivers may be in operation and if may be important to know precisely how many stations are operative and establish communication between those operative stations.
In addition whilst HF stations have traditionally required skilled operators, skilled operators are in short supply and proposals have been made to automiate certain call establishment procedures so that unskilled operators may operate the transceivers. Thus in IEE Conference Procedings 1985 no. 245, "Real time frequency management in an embedded microcomputer", E.T. Clarke, a microcomputer which is normally present in portable transceivers is employed to store a model of the ionosphere over a limited geographical area so that predictions of usable channel frequencies may be made automatically.
However there has been no previous proposal for an automatic system for establishing network control in a network of stations where the precise number and location of the stations is initially unknown.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in an HF telecommunications network, an automated system for establishing network control which may be operated by unskilled operators.
The present invention provides a method of network management for an HF communications network comprising a plurality of stations each of which includes a transceiver and control means therefor, said transceiver and control means of the respective stations being substantially similar, and the transceivers being arranged to communicate directly with any other station, wherein the system comprises:
assigning at least one control channel of predetermined frequency to the network or transmitting control signals between the stations;
assigning to each station which may assume control a ranking position in a priority list of stations which may assume control of the network;
each station being arranged to monitor the control channel or channels to determine whether control has been established and each station being arranged to transmit at a predetermined time, the time of transmission being predetermined according to the ranking position of the station, control information on the channel or channels for assuming control of the network.
Thus in operation of the invention, when a station wishes to go `on air`, it will monitor the control channels which are of frequencies known to the station to determine whether control signals are being transmitted by a station in control of the network. If the station detects such signals which will be transmitted at regular intervals, say every half-hour, then the station will decode the control information for initialisation and synchronisation information and a list of channel frequencies on which it may attempt data transmission.
If the station wishing to go `on air` does not detect control signals on the control channels, then the station will at a predetermined time transmit control signals on the control channels for assuming network control. This information will include initialisation and synchronisation information which will be received by other stations lower in the priority list for accepting instructions from the station seeking control. Such station wi
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patent: 4155040 (1979-05-01), Harmon et al.
patent: 4509203 (1985-04-01), Yamada
patent: 4534061 (1985-08-01), Ulig
patent: 4554677 (1985-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4887267 (1989-12-01), Felix
"Functions and Structure of a Packet Ratio Station", by J. Burchfiel et al., A.F.I.P.S. Conference Proceedings, 1975 National Computer Conf., AFIPS Press, pp. 245-251.
"Distributed Routing and Relay Management in Mobile Packet Radio Networks", by Jane W. S. Liu, Compcon '80, 21st IEEE Computer Society Int'l Conf., 1980, pp. 235-243.
"Packet Distribution System in a Survivable Satellite Network", by Dr. Ricci, ICC '79 Conf. Record, Int'l Conf. on Communications, Boston, MA, 6/79, IEEE, pp. 41.1.1-41.1.5.
Kuntz Curtis
Siemens Plessey Electronic Systems Limited
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