Radio communication system

• US 4,633,463 A
• Filed: 03/28/1984
• Issued: 12/30/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canadian Marconi Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Canadian Marconi Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mack, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scutch, III, Frank M.
• Application Number:
  US06/594,113
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 370/95, 455/33, 455/53, 455/54, 455/56
• US Class Current: 370/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]

Abstract

A communication system, adapted particularly for use in military tactical situations, includes a plurality of central stations and at least one remote station assigned to each such central station. Each central station includes an omnidirectional antenna and each remote station includes a directional antenna, directed toward the central station to which the remote station is assigned. Each central station transmits at a distinct frequency and each remote station assigned thereto receives at the frequency of its assigned central station and transmits at a different frequency, unique to itself. Transmission qualities between central stations is evaluated to optimize communication paths between remote stations.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of central stations each including an omnidirectional antenna, a transmitter, each such central station transmitter transmitting at a frequency different from all other such central station transmitters, each said central station further having receivers operating at the frequencies of the transmitters of other system central stations and at least one further receiver for a remote station assigned to such central station, said further receiver operating at the transmitting frequency of such remote station;

(b) each said remote station including a directional antenna directed toward the central station to which such remote station is assigned and having a transmitter operating at a distinct transmitting frequency and a receiver operating at the frequency of its assigned central station transmitter; and

(c) received signal quality evaluation means for each said central station for collectively indicating the transmission and reception quality of each central station-to-central station communication path provided by said omnidirectional antennas.

2. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein all said central station transmitters transmit a time division multiplexed group having a time slot which is a common coordinating channel for said central stations.

3. The system claimed in claim 2 wherein each said central station further includes switch means operable on the basis of such quality indication of said means (c) for establishing communication paths through said central stations between participating such remote stations of all of said central stations.

4. The system claimed in claim 3 wherein each said central station further includes translation means for assigning time slots in said time division multiplexed group in accordance with the communication paths established by said switch means.

5. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein each said means (c) includes control means for directing the transmitter of its central station to transmit transmission quality evaluation packets successively in preselected number and for determining the quality of transmission quality evaluation packets received from others of said central stations.

6. The system claimed in claim 5 wherein said control means is operative in such determination of the quality of such received transmission quality evaluation packets to provide output indication of transmission quality in one of plural quality levels.

7. The system claimed in claim 6 wherein said control means is operative in such determination of the quality of such received transmission quality evaluation packets to detect error rate therein.

8. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein each said means (c) includes control means for determining the quality of received transmissions of others of said central stations by detecting error rate therein.

9. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of central stations each including an omnidirectional antenna, a transmitter, each such central station transmitter transmitting at a frequency different from all other such central station transmitters, each said central station further having receivers operating at the frequencies of the the transmitters of other system central stations and at least one further receiver for a remote station assigned to such central station, said further receiver operating at the transmitting frequency of such remote station;

(b) each said remote station including a directional antenna directed toward the central station to which such remote station is assigned and having a transmitter operating at a distinct transmitting frequency and a receiver operating at the frequency of its assigned central station transmitter;

all said central station transmitters transmitting a time division multiplexed group having a time slot which is a common coordinating channel for said central stations.

10. The system claimed in claim 9 wherein each said central station further includes switch means for establishing communication paths between remote stations in said system and translation means for assigning time slots in said time division multiplexed group to said transmissions between remote stations correspondingly to said communication paths established by said switch means, whereby communication in said system is effected on a circular broadcast zone basis.