SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING LAPSES OF COMMUNICATION IN RADIO VOICE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20090170506A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Hirsch
• Original Assignee: Michael Hirsch
• Inventors: Hirsch, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,155,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/74 for increasing reliability, e.g. using redundant or spare channels or apparatus replacing by standby devices for amplifiers H03F1/52, H03F1/542
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/3912 Simulation models, e.g. distribution of spectral power density or received signal strength indicator [RSSI] for a given geographic region

Abstract

A system and method are provided for preventing lapses of communication in radio voice communications. The system may include a communications transceiver for transmitting signals through a communications antenna. A protection antenna, which may be isolated from the communications antenna, may obtain a received signal from a remote transmitter. The received signal may contain a signal of interest that may be combined with interference from the communications the communications transceiver. A protection receiver, coupled to the protection antenna, may obtain a sample of a transmit signal from the communications transceiver. Using the sample of this transmit signal, the protection receiver may remove the interference from the received signal to obtain the signal of interest. If it is determined that a communications channel is blocked, the protection receiver may store the transmit signal and later retransmit the stored transmit signal when the communication channel is unblocked.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting radio communications, comprising:

a communications transceiver configured to transmit signals through a communications antenna;

a protection antenna configured to obtain a received signal containing a signal of interest from a remote transmitter combined with interference from the communications transceiver; and

a protection receiver coupled to the protection antenna and configured to;

obtain a sample of a transmit signal,

obtain the signal of interest by removing the interference from the received signal by using the transmit signal, and

store the transmit signal if a communication channel is blocked and retransmitting the stored transmit signal when the communication channel is unblocked.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the protection receiver uses the sample of the transmit signal to cancel at least part of the interference on the communication channel.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications transceiver provides a current operating frequency to the protection receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the protection receiver determines a current operating frequency by examining characteristics of the sample of the signal.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone coupled to the protection receiver for obtaining an audio signal, wherein the protection receiver transmits the audio signal to the communications transceiver for transmission.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a push-to-talk switch coupled to the protection receiver for switching the communications transceiver from receive mode to transmit mode.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a busy signal is sent to a speaker, coupled to the protection receiver, indicating transmission over the communication channel is blocked.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication channel is considered blocked if the remote transmitter is transmitting simultaneously with the communications transceiver on the same communication channel.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a warning module, coupled to the protection receiver, for providing visual warnings indicating transmission over the communication channel is blocked.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the warning module includes one or more lights.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications antenna and the protection antenna are isolated.

12. A method for preventing lapses of communication in radio voice communications, comprising:

obtaining a received signal containing a signal of interest from a remote transmitter combined with interference from a communications transceiver;

obtaining a sample of a transmit signal;

obtaining the signal of interest by removing the interference from the received signal by using the transmit signal; and

storing the transmit signal if a communication channel is blocked and retransmitting the stored transmit signal when the communication channel is unblocked.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising using the sample of the transmit signal to cancel at least part of the interference on the communication channel.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a current operating frequency from a communications transceiver.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining a current operating frequency by examining characteristics of the sample of the signal.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a busy signal to a speaker indicating transmission over the communication channel is blocked.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating a visual indicator indicating transmission over the communication channel is blocked.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the method is operational on an aircraft when communicating with a ground station.

19. A system for transmitting radio communications, comprising:

means for obtaining a received signal containing a signal of interest from a remote transmitter combined with interference from a communications transceiver;

means for obtaining a sample of the transmit signal;

means for obtaining the signal of interest by removing the interference from the received signal by using the transmit signal; and

means for storing the transmit signal if a communication channel is blocked and retransmitting the stored transmit signal when the communication channel is unblocked.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for using the sample of the transmit signal to cancel at least part of the interference on the communication channel