TACAN data link system
First Claim
1. In a navigation system having a plurality of remote stations each having a navigational unit for transmitting to and receiving replies from a corresponding master navigational station to obtain navigational information on a corresponding navigational channel, a communication system having a master communication station for transmitting communication information to and receiving communication information from said remote stations on a common communication channel different than each of said corresponding navigational channels, said communication system comprising:
- tuning means at each of said remote stations for momentarily tuning its navigation unit from its corresponding navigational channel to said common communication channel during a synchronized assigned discrete time interval and then back to its navigational channel whereby only a single remote station communicates during its assigned time interval.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The instant invention permits a communication function to be performed by utilizing the transmitter/receiver portion of existing navigational equipment such as, for example, DME equipment, TACAN/DME equipment, and VOR/DME equipment. Rather than utilizing the same channel as the navigation function, the communication function utilizes another of the equipment'"'"'s channels specifically assigned for communication purposes. Specifically, when it is desired to communicate with a communication or master station, the airborne or remote navigational equipment is momentarily turned from the navigational frequency channel to the frequency channel specifically assigned for the communication function. While momentarily tuned to the communication channel, it sends data to, and receives data from, the communication station. Having completed the communication process, the airborne or remote unit tunes back to the navigational channel and resumes its navigational function. Tuning from the navigational channel and the time spent on the communication channel is sufficiently short so that the navigational function is not impaired.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. In a navigation system having a plurality of remote stations each having a navigational unit for transmitting to and receiving replies from a corresponding master navigational station to obtain navigational information on a corresponding navigational channel, a communication system having a master communication station for transmitting communication information to and receiving communication information from said remote stations on a common communication channel different than each of said corresponding navigational channels, said communication system comprising:
tuning means at each of said remote stations for momentarily tuning its navigation unit from its corresponding navigational channel to said common communication channel during a synchronized assigned discrete time interval and then back to its navigational channel whereby only a single remote station communicates during its assigned time interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- 13. In a navigation system having a plurality of remote navigational stations each having a respective navigational channel, an encoder or decoder at each of said stations for momentarily tuning the navigation station from its respective navigational channel to a common communication channel, different than each respective navigational channel, for transmitting and receiving communication information via said navigation station during a synchronized assigned discrete time interval and then tuning back to said navigational channel whereby only a single remote navigational station communicates during its assigned time interval.
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25. An encoder or decoder for use in a navigation system having a plurality of remote stations each having a navigational unit with a corresponding navigational channel for transmitting or receiving navigational information, said encoder or decoder comprising:
tuning means for momentarily tuning the navigational unit from its navigational channel to a communication channel different than said navigational channel, and common to a plurality of said remote stations, during a synchronized assigned discrete time interval for transmitting and receiving communication information via said navigational unit and then turning back to the navigational channel whereby only a single remote station communicates during its assigned time interval. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A navigation and communication system including a plurality of remote stations each having a navigational unit with a respective navigational channel and a common communication channel, different than the navigational channel, and a master navigation station for transmitting and receiving navigational information on said navigational channel for guiding, or determining the position of, the remote stations, wherein each remote station comprises:
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navigation means within each navigation unit, responsive to the transmitted navigational information from said navigation station, for establishing a navigational link on said navigational channel between the master navigation station and said remote station; and communication means coupled to said navigation means for transmitting and receiving, on said common communication channel, communication information between a master communication station and said remote station, said communication means comprising tuning means for momentarily tuning the navigation means from said navigational channel to said common communication channel during a synchronized assigned discrete time interval and then back to the navigational channel whereby only a single remote station communicates during its assigned time interval. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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- 49. In a navigation system having a plurality of remote stations and each having a navigation unit for transmitting or receiving navigational information on a particular one of said navigation channels, a method of transmitting and receiving communication information on a common communication channel corresponding to another of said channels, different than said one navigational channel, comprising the step of momentarily tuning said navigation unit from said navigational channel to said common communication channel during a synchronized assigned discrete time interval and then back to said navigational channel whereby only a single remote station communicates during its assigned time interval.
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52. A method of transmitting and receiving communication information on a common communication channel via a navigation system including a first remote station having a navigational unit and a second remote station having a navigational unit, each unit having a navigational channel different than said common communication channel for transmitting and receiving navigational information, comprising the steps of:
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momentarily tuning the navigational unit of said first remote station from its navigational channel to said common communication channel, for receiving said communication information, and then back to its navigational channel; momentarily tuning the navigational unit of said second remote station from its navigational channel to said communication channel, for receiving said communication information, and then back to its navigational channel; transmitting said communication information from a master communication station to said first remote station at a first discrete time interval assigned to said first remote station, and transmitting said communication information to said second remote station at a second discrete time interval different from said first discrete time interval, assigned to said second remote station; and synchronizing the tuning of said first remote station from its navigational channel to said common communication channel with the occurrence of said first discrete time interval, and synchronizing the tuning of said second remote station from its navigational channel to said common communication channel with the occurrence of said second discrete time interval.
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Specification