Remote Programmable Reference

• US 20070281645A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Edewaard, David O., Halladay, Henry, Swann, Terry M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/187.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/23 Testing, monitoring, correcting or calibrating of receiver elements

Abstract

Remote programmable reference systems and methods are described. A remote programmable reference system maintains a set of parameters from which a reference signal can be generated to transmit the reference signal to a system platform. In an embodiment, a parameters update can be received from which a modified reference signal can be generated to transmit the modified reference signal. In another embodiment, the remote programmable reference system maintains multiple sets of parameters from which respective reference signals can be generated for any one or more system platforms having different system configurations. The system platforms can interface with the remote programmable reference system through a system interface via a communication network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining a set of parameters to generate a first reference signal;

maintaining an additional set of parameters to generate a second reference signal that is different from the first reference signal;

receiving an input to initiate transmission of the first reference signal;

generating the first reference signal from the set of parameters to transmit the first reference signal;

receiving an additional input to initiate transmission of the second reference signal; and

generating the second reference signal from the additional set of parameters to transmit the second reference signal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the input is received from a first system platform to request the transmission of the first reference signal; and

wherein,

the additional input is received from a second system platform to request the transmission of the second reference signal, the second system platform having a different system configuration than the first system platform.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the input is received from a system platform to request the transmission of the first reference signal; and

wherein,

the additional input is received from the system platform to request the transmission of the second reference signal such that the system platform receives both the first reference signal and the different second reference signal.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the input is received from a system platform to request the transmission of the first reference signal, the input being received via a communication network and through a network interface by which the system platform communicates the input.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the set of parameters are programmable reference signal parameters that include at least one of:

a transmission start time;

a transmission duration;

a reference signal power level;

a reference signal frequency;

an antenna band designation;

an exclusion band designation;

geographic location information.

6. A method, comprising:

maintaining a set of parameters to generate a reference signal;

generating the reference signal from the set of parameters to transmit of the reference signal;

receiving a parameters update to modify the reference signal; and

generating a modified reference signal from the parameters update to transmit the modified reference signal.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising receiving an input from a system platform to initiate generating the reference signal, the input being received via a communication network and through a network interface by which the system platform communicates the input.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving an input from a system platform to initiate generating the reference signal;

receiving the parameters update from the system platform; and

receiving an additional input from the system platform to initiate generating the modified reference signal.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving an input from a first system platform to initiate generating the reference signal;

receiving the parameters update from a second system platform having a different system configuration than the first system platform; and

receiving an additional input from the second system platform to initiate generating the modified reference signal.

10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the reference signal is generated at a scheduled time for transmission of the reference signal.

11. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the set of parameters are programmable reference signal parameters that include at least one of:

a transmission start time;

a transmission duration;

a reference signal power level;

a reference signal frequency;

an antenna band designation;

an exclusion band designation;

geographic location information.

12. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

maintaining multiple sets of parameters, each set corresponding to a different programmable reference signal;

scheduling a transmission start time for each of the different programmable reference signals; and

wherein,

the reference signal is generated from a respective set of parameters according to a scheduled transmission start time.

13. A method, comprising:

communicating an input for a calibration reference signal to a remote programmable reference system that generates and transmits the calibration reference signal; and

receiving the calibration reference signal from the remote programmable reference system to calibrate a system platform.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the input is communicated to the remote programmable reference system via a communication network and through a network interface by which the system platform communicates the input.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the input is communicated for a geolocation calibration reference signal to the remote programmable reference system that generates and transmits the geolocation calibration reference signal, and wherein the system platform is a geolocation platform that receives the geolocation calibration reference signal from the remote programmable reference system to calibrate the geolocation platform.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the input is communicated as a request to initiate that the remote programmable reference system generate and transmit the calibration reference signal.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the input is communicated as a set of programmable parameters from which the calibration reference signal is generated.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the set of programmable parameters include at least one of:

a transmission start time of the calibration reference signal;

a transmission duration of the calibration reference signal;

a calibration reference signal power level;

a calibration reference signal frequency;

an antenna band designation;

an exclusion band designation;

geographic location information.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the input is communicated as a set of programmable parameters from which the calibration reference signal is generated, and wherein the method further comprises:

communicating a request to initiate that the remote programmable reference system generate and transmit the calibration reference signal from the set of programmable parameters;

communicating an additional set of programmable parameters for a modified calibration reference signal to the remote programmable reference system; and

communicating an additional request to initiate that the remote programmable reference system generate and transmit the modified calibration reference signal from the additional set of programmable parameters.

20. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the input is communicated as a set of programmable parameters from which the calibration reference signal is generated at a scheduled time for transmission of the calibration reference signal.