Method and System for Maritime High Speed Broadband Communication Networking

• US 20140086191A1
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kongsberg Discovery As
• Original Assignee: Kongsberg Seatex AS (Government of Norway)
• Inventors: Rinnan, Arne, Berntsen, Per Christian, Rosshaug, Harald Fossum
• Granted Patent: US 9,608,793 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/34 Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes for subaqueous use H01Q1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0619 using feedback from receiving side feedback signaling for adaptive modulation/coding H04L1/0001
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0862 receiver computing weights based on information from the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0058 Allocation criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

Method and system for providing an integrated long range, high capacity communication system between several entities involved in maritime Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS). The method and system makes use of narrow lobe phase steerable antenna being controllable in both azimuth and elevation by software control.

Claims

1-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A method for setting up a maritime high speed broadband communication network between several users (11) cooperating in a maritime SIMOPS operation, which users are provided with a user unit (100) including a user control unit (101), communication unit (102), an interface unit (103) and a user interface (104), comprising the following steps:

a) each user (11) performing a scan for other users (11) or issuing an interrogation message asking operative, location, heading, velocity and user identification status of other users via a phase steerable antenna (106) generating one narrow lobe,

b) forming a network (110) via which the users (11) can communicate directly with each other via each user setting up a database including operative users (11) with respective positions, headings and velocities identified,

c) calculating optimized transmission parameters, directly from one user (11) to another user (11) by measuring signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, data throughput and other optional transmission parameters,

d) optimizing direction of the narrow lobe of the steerable antenna (106) in both azimuth and elevation for best possible data throughput for each user (11) directly to the respective other users (11),

e) controlling the phase steerable antennas (106) for users (11) communicating directly with each other based on optimized transmission parameters from step (c) and antenna lobe directions from step d) to achieve high gain in both azimuth and elevation for the generated narrow lobes,

f) repeating steps (a)-(e) at predetermined intervals.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein step a) includes performing a search both in azimuth and elevation, via one narrow lobe, to cover all possible transmission paths directly between respective users (11).

51. The method of claim 50, comprising performing the search over 360 degrees in azimuth and 90 degrees in elevation.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein step e) includes one or more of the following steps:

increasing transmit power or reducing transmission speed to achieve optimized transmission parameters for direct communication between respective users (11),

steering the narrow lobe of the phase steerable antenna (106) to a direction having highest energy content between the respective users (11), and

forming the narrow lobe of the phase steerable antenna (106) by individually controlling the phase of each single antenna element in the narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106).

53. The method of claim 52, comprising one or both of:

forming a narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) beam having one or more deep nulls, as well as narrow beams, and

tailoring a narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) directional diagram to the most suitable form for the actual application.

54. The method of claim 49, comprising generating several main lobes in different directions in order to simultaneously communicate directly with several different users (11).

55. The method of claim 49, comprising exchanging data and information directly between the respective users (11) by software controlled network architecture including point-to-point, point-to-multipoint or meshed network.

56. The method of claim 55, comprising combining the different network architectures if point-to-point is not possible, by setting up a meshed network for reaching users (11) not being directly available by point-to-point.

57. The method of claim 49, comprising the step of checking identity or encoding/decoding of signals.

58. The method of claim 49, comprising limiting information or data flow by marking separate messages with a priority designation, the messages being processed in order of relative degree of priority.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein if throughput of data is determined to be low, messages are prioritized according to the priority designation to prioritize the most important messages.

60. The method of claim 49, comprising one or more of the following steps:

actively monitoring communication channels and using only free channels, thereby avoiding interference with other systems, and

actively compensating beam steering algorithms with regard to movement of the users (11) by using information from a movement sensor in order to maintain a correct antenna lobe position in both azimuth and elevation.

61. The method of claim 49, comprising using geographical position data for each user (11) to select frequencies and power levels for an actual area and automatically controlling the phase steerable antenna (106) according to the selected frequencies and power levels.

62. The method of claim 49, comprising measuring path delay and computing the direct distance between the respective users (11) or measuring beam angels and time of flight of messages directly between respective users (11) and computing direct distance between the respective users (11).

63. The method of claim 49, comprising locally generating differential correction signals for position identification which can be used by any user (11) in an associated network.

64. The method of claim 49, comprising updating a user interface with received data at predefined periods.

65. The method of claim 49, comprising measuring the distance directly from a user (11) to one or more fixed units with known distances to provide a correction factor for distance that can be applied for measurement toward other users.

66. The method of claim 49, comprising suppressing interfering signals by steering antenna zero points towards an interfering source or adjusting lobe elevation to an optimum interference free angle for reception.

67. The method of claim 49, comprising optimizing the signal-to-interference ratio by either maximising the signal level or minimising the interfering signal level.

68. The method of claim 49, comprising reducing interference from reflected signals by pointing one antenna lobe directly at a transmitting user (11) and pointing one lobe towards a reflection point, and introducing an additional phase shift on measured reflected signal in such a way that it will always add the reflected signal to the direct signal.

69. The method of claim 49, comprising reducing interference from reflected signals by calculating direction and position of a reflection point based on position of the transmitting and receiving user (11), distance between transmitting and receiving user (11) and antenna height at both sides, and generating one or more nulls in the steerable phase antenna'"'"'s diagram in direction of the reflection point.

70. The method of claim 49, comprising reducing interference from reflected signals by monitoring characteristics of a reflection point by establishing a dedicated monitoring channel using a reflection path, either by monitoring received signal only, or by using a dedicated pilot signal with known parameters and modulation transmitted from the transmitting user (11).

71. The method of claim 70, comprising:

the receiving user (11) pointing a narrow lobe directly at the reflection point,

analysing the received signal and measuring predetermined characteristic parameters for the reflection point,

creating a model of behaviour of reflecting surface and reflected signal,

using the model to estimate correction signals, and

using the estimated correction signals for correction of a main signal.

72. The method of claim 70, comprising:

the transmitting user (11) transmitting a dedicated carrier modulated signal with a known code word sequence directly towards the reflection point,

the receiving user (11) recording the signal after the signal is reflected by a reflecting surface,

generating an estimated correction signal by correlating the received signal and the transmitted signal, and

correcting a main signal with the estimated correction signal.

73. The method of claim 49, comprising reducing interference from reflected signals by:

splitting the antenna lobe of the receiving user (11) into two portions,

aligning one antenna lobe portion with direct free space path and the other antenna lobe portion directly to a reflection point, and

delaying the direct signal to be in phase with the reflected signal, thereby creating a constructive interference between the direct and the reflected signal and canceling the negative influence of the reflected signal.

74. The method of claim 55, comprising establishing a mesh network and transmitting a prioritized message through several routes via several other users (11) at the same time.

75. The method of claim 74, comprising using controlled delay in each unit of the mesh network to avoid collision between messages from different routes and ensuring that the receiving user receives all messages from the different routes in a controlled manner.

76. The method of claim 49, comprising predicting the position of the users (11) based on available information for position, heading and velocity and directing the antenna lobe toward the predicted position.

77. The method of claim 49, comprising the step of performing ranging between the respective users (11) by:

transmitting one or more addressed ranging message from one user (11) to at least one other user (11),

receiving users (11) responding with confirmation messages to the transmitting user (11) after receipt and decoding a message, and

calculating the distance between transmitting user (11) to receiving user (11) based on time delay from transmission to receipt.

78. The method of claim 49, comprising performing ranging between the respective users (11) by:

transmitting one or more ranging message from one user (11) to one or more named other user (11),

responding users (11) introducing a controlled delay corresponding to their identity and responding with confirmation messages including controlled delay and identify to the transmitting user when the respective messages are received and decoded as a ranging messages, and

calculating distance between the respective users (11) based on time delay from transmission to reception and controlled time delay.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein phase measurements of the received signal are used to increase the accuracy of the ranging.

80. The method of claim 77, comprising comparing the calculated distance with measured GPS or DGPS distance.

81. The method of claim 49, comprising reducing interference by:

measuring or identifying noisy frequencies and directions to interference sources and storing the information in a database,

using adaptive optimization algorithm to analyse the interference source and direction based on one or more of the following interference characteristics;

frequency, amplitude, timing, duration and history, and

controlling the phase steerable antenna (106) to form nulls in the direction of the interference source or by forming of a signal adapted to counteract the interference signal, and thereby block the signal from the interference sources.

82. The method of claim 49, comprising detecting interference from electric equipment or faulty transmitters onboard other users (11) includes:

searching for the direction of one or more interference sources originating from one or more users (11) by phase steerable antennas (106), and

computing position and distance to the interference source using information from the users (11).

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the position and distance to the interference sources are used to control the phase steerable antenna (106) to form nulls in the direction of the one or more interference sources and thereby blocking the signal from the interference sources.

84. An integrated high speed broadband communication network system for use between several users (11) cooperating in a maritime SIMOPS operation, having user units (100) arranged to each user (11), which user unit (100) includes a user control unit (101), communication unit (102), an interface unit (103) and a user interface (104), wherein the communication unit (102) includes a radio system (105) and a narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) being controllable in both azimuth and elevation by software control, which narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) is fixed to the respective user (11) and includes no movable parts, and the user units (100) are arranged for forming a network (110) by setting up a database including operative users (11) with respective position, heading and velocity, via which network (110) the users (11) can communicate directly with each other.

85. The broadband communication network system of claim 84, wherein the user control unit (101) is arranged for performing a scan of the horizon in both azimuth and elevation for other users or issue an interrogation message asking operative, location and user identification status.

86. The broadband communication network system according to claim 84, wherein the user control unit (101) is configured for measuring signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio, data throughput and other transmission parameters, and thereafter reactively optimizing lobe direction for the narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) in azimuth and elevation for best possible data throughput, directly from one user (11) to another user (11).

87. The broadband communication network system according to claim 84, wherein the user control unit (101) is provided with external or internal memory or both for data storage.

88. The broadband communication network system according to claim 84, being configurable from the user interface (104), which configuration can be easily changed in order to reflect current operational needs.

89. The broadband communication network system of claim 84, wherein the user control unit (101) is configured for one or more of the group consisting of:

controlling or steering the narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) based on optimized transmission parameters and antenna lobe direction for communication directly with respective other users (11),

controlling data transmission to the communication unit (102), and arranged for supplying input data for operation of communication unit (102),

distributing status data or pictures from operations or real time video streaming and presenting the information in the same user interface (104),

receiving other relevant data input chosen from the group consisting of data from sensors, sea state data, met data, met forecasts, GPS, Automatic Identification Systems, motion sensors, radar, speech, video, Differential Global Positioning System data or local correction data,

monitoring transmission conditions, and automatically detecting the deterioration and compensating by increasing transmit power, increasing re-transmission or reducing transmission speed of the narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) in response to detection of deteriorating transmission conditions,

data channel switching, multiplexing, controlling the user interface (104) and providing an interface to the communication unit (102),

increasing transmission power or reducing transmission speed of the narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) to achieve optimized transmission parameters between the respective users (11),

steering the narrow lobe phase steerable antenna'"'"'s (106) beam to a direction having highest energy content,

forming a narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) beam by individually controlling the phase of each single antenna element in the narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106),

forming a narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) beam having one or more deep nulls and narrow beams,

tailoring a narrow lobe phase steerable antenna (106) directional diagram to the most suitable form for the actual application,

exchanging data and information between the respective users (11) via software controlled architecture selected from one or more of point to point, point to multipoint or meshed network,

checking identity or encoding and decoding signals,

limiting information or data flow by marking separate messages with a priority designation, the messages being processed in order of relative degree of priority.

actively monitoring communication channels in use and using only free channels to avoid interference with other systems,

actively compensating beam steering algorithms with regard to vessel movement by using information from a movement sensor in order to maintain a correct antenna lobe position in both azimuth and elevation,

using position data for controlling frequencies and power levels which are dependent on geographical position of the respective users (11),

checking position data with positions obtained by measuring beam angels and time of flight of messages between two respective users (11),

locally generating differential correction signals for position identification which can be used by any user in an associated network,

measuring path delay and computing the distance between users (11),

measuring distance to one or more fixed units with known distances to provide a correction factor for distance that can be applied to measurement toward other users,

suppressing interfering signals by steering antenna zero points towards an interfering source,

optimizing the signal to interference ratio by either maximising the signal level or minimizing the interfering signal level,

cancelling interference from reflections by splitting antenna lobes in two portions, and pointing one lobe portion towards another user and the other lobe portion towards a reflection point,

analysing characteristics of a reflecting surface or reflection point,

performing ranging between respective users by using messages,

advanced messages system related to tasks,

detecting interference sources.

90. The broadband communication network system according to claim 89, wherein the user control unit (101) is configured for combining different architectures if point to point is not possible, by setting up a meshed network for reaching users (11) not being directly available by point to point.

91. The broadband communication network system according to claim 89, wherein the user control unit (101) is configured for prioritizing messages according to the priority designation to prioritize the most important messages.

92. The broadband communication network system according to claim 89, wherein the user control unit (101) is configured for generating several main lobes in different directions in order to simultaneously communicate with several different users or for cancellation of interference from reflection points.

93. The broadband communication network system according to claim 84, configured for direct communication between all users selected from one or more of the group consisting of ordinary telephone systems, speakerphones, conference facilities, and integrated messaging system arranged for transmission of written messages or mail.

94. The broadband communication network system according to claim 84, wherein system is provided with 3D databases of the physical layout of units and objects in order to compute the closest distance between a unit and other objects.

95. The broadband communication network system according to claim 84, configured for one or more of the group consisting of increasing resistance to interference and jamming, logging facilities for replay of critical events, and generating input data for simulation and training purposes.