Broadcast system for distribution automation and remote metering
First Claim
1. A radio communication system for selectively addressing and controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatus comprising in combination:
- (A) central controller means adapted to generate digital address &
control signals for transmission to a local AM radio broadcast station, said signals being synchronized to special sync signals broadcasted by said AM radio station,(B) a local AM radio broadcast station adapted to generate and broadcast special sync signals derived from its master oscillator and adapted to receive and broadcast digital signals received from said controller by modulating the phase of its normally broadcasted radio frequency carrier at small angle subaudible rates that do not suppress and spread its normally unused residual carrier power by more than a predetermined amount nor interfere with normal transmissions of said radio station that are simultaneously broadcasted,(c) a plurality of remotely located addressable digital radio receivers controlling a plurality of external apparatus and tuned to detect and phase-lock to residual carrier frequency of said broadcast station to synchronously demodulate and decode said special sync signals and said address &
control signals and selectively respond to control said apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventor discloses a bidirectional communication system for electric power load management and distribution automation application, and the like, wherein outgoing control signals to a plurality of remotely located receivers and transmitters are sent using an existing standard AM broadcast station using small angle subaudible quadrature modulation. The broadcast signal is detected by narrowband synchronous receivers phase-locked to the carrier component of the broadcast station. The radio frequencies of the plurality of reverse link transmitters are closely spaced and synthesized from frequency of said broadcast carrier and their time of transmission, digital bit streams, and message frames are all synchronized from the broadcast signal. The broadcast station thereby orchestrates all communication activity to and from the plurality of remote locations to optimize traffic flow and maximize a priori information to all components to significantly increase reliability. A unique fast Fourier transform processor synchronized by the broadcast station is employed in the central receiver to detect back link transmission.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A radio communication system for selectively addressing and controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatus comprising in combination:
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(A) central controller means adapted to generate digital address &
control signals for transmission to a local AM radio broadcast station, said signals being synchronized to special sync signals broadcasted by said AM radio station,(B) a local AM radio broadcast station adapted to generate and broadcast special sync signals derived from its master oscillator and adapted to receive and broadcast digital signals received from said controller by modulating the phase of its normally broadcasted radio frequency carrier at small angle subaudible rates that do not suppress and spread its normally unused residual carrier power by more than a predetermined amount nor interfere with normal transmissions of said radio station that are simultaneously broadcasted, (c) a plurality of remotely located addressable digital radio receivers controlling a plurality of external apparatus and tuned to detect and phase-lock to residual carrier frequency of said broadcast station to synchronously demodulate and decode said special sync signals and said address &
control signals and selectively respond to control said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A radio communication system for selectively addressing and controlling a plurality of remotely located apparatus comprising in combination:
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(A) central controller means adapted to generate address &
control tone code selection signals for transmission to a local AM radio broadcast station,(B) a local AM radio broadcast station adapted to generate tone coded signals derived from its master oscillator by frequency divider means and adapted to receive and broadcast the tone code selections received from said broadcasted radio frequency carrier at small angle subaudible rates that do not suppress and spread its normally unused residual carrier power by more than a predetermined amount nor interfere with normal transmissions of said radio station that are broadcasted simultaneously, (C) a plurality of remotely located addressable tone coded radio receivers controlling a plurality of external apparatus and tuned to detect and phase-lock to residual carrier frequency of said broadcast station to thereby demodulate and decode said tone coded address &
control signals and selectively respond thereto to control said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A narrowband bidirectional radio communication system comprising:
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(A) a plurality of independent paired radio receiver and transmitter means wherein said receivers are adapted to detect broadcasted sync and address &
control signals from an existing standard AM broadcast station in its forward link, and said transmitters are adapted to accept RF reference and sync signals from its companion receiver and to accept reply message signals from message sources connected at their respective inputs and to transmit said reply message signals synchronously on a corresponding plurality of closely spaced radio carrier frequencies that are phase-locked to the carrier of said broadcast station in the reverse link to a central station receiver selectively in response to coded address &
control signals transmitted from the local radio broadcast station;(B) the central station receiver being adapted to receive said radio reply signals simultaneously at said plurality of closely spaced reverse link radio carrier frequencies, and to simultaneously detect said sync signals from said broadcast station and employ them to synchronously demodulate the radio signals from said plurality of remote transmitters, (C) central controller means adapted to generate digital address &
control signals being synchronized to said sync signals broadcasted by said AM radio station.(D) a local AM radio broadcast station adapted to generate and broadcast special sync signals derived from its master oscillator and adapted to receive and broadcast digital address &
control signals received from said central controller by modulating the phase of its normally broadcasted radio frequency carrier at small angle subaudible rates that do not suppress and spread its normally unused residual carrier power by more than a predetermined amount nor interfere with normal transmissions of said radio station that are simultaneously broadcast. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification