Synchronization method and apparatus for simulcast transmission system
First Claim
1. In a simulcast transmission system having a prime site and a plurality of remote site transmitters, a method for synchronizing the plurality of remote site transmitters with each other, using a received asynchronous data signal that, from time to time, includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the data signal being modulated to a first level and transmitted from the prime site at a predetermined data rate, the first pattern being used for synchronization, the second pattern indicating completion of the first pattern, each of the plurality of remote site transmitters having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate and a modulation clock pulse, the modulation clock pulse having at least a first and second phase polarity, the method comprising the steps of, at each of the plurality of remote site transmitters:
- detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence;
selecting, responsive to said step of detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse; and
buffering, responsive to the step of selecting, particular portions of the data signal for modulation to a second level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of synchronizing a plurality of remote site transmitters (200) in a digital simulcast transmission system is described that enables use of four-level modulation on two-level modulation systems. A synchronization signal is transmitted at a predetermined data rate from a prime site, which signal might include a synchronization pattern having a first and a second portion. The first portion of the synchronization pattern is used for synchronization, while the second portion indicates the completion of the first portion. The method includes detecting (205, 320) of the first portion of the synchronization pattern. Each remote site transmitter (200) further has a modulation clock having a phase polarity which is selected (215, 324) in response to the detection of the first portion of the synchronization signal.
34 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a simulcast transmission system having a prime site and a plurality of remote site transmitters, a method for synchronizing the plurality of remote site transmitters with each other, using a received asynchronous data signal that, from time to time, includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the data signal being modulated to a first level and transmitted from the prime site at a predetermined data rate, the first pattern being used for synchronization, the second pattern indicating completion of the first pattern, each of the plurality of remote site transmitters having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate and a modulation clock pulse, the modulation clock pulse having at least a first and second phase polarity, the method comprising the steps of, at each of the plurality of remote site transmitters:
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detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; selecting, responsive to said step of detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse; and buffering, responsive to the step of selecting, particular portions of the data signal for modulation to a second level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a simulcast transmission system having a prime site and a plurality of remote site transmitters, a method for synchronizing the plurality of remote site transmitters with each other, using a received asynchronous data signal that, from time to time, includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the received signal being two-level modulated and transmitted from the prime site at a first data rate and having a plurality of binary data values, the first portion being used for synchronization, the second portion indicating completion of the first portion, each remote site transmitter having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate, each remote site further having a modulation clock pulse having at least a first and a second phase polarity for buffering di-bit pairs of the received signal into a four level modulator, the method comprising the steps of, at each of the plurality of remote site transmitters:
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receiving a control signal from the prime site, said control signal indicating that the received signal contains a synchronization sequence; detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; and selecting, responsive to said step of detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A remote site transmitter in a simulcast transmission system, which system includes a prime site and a plurality of such remote site transmitters requiring synchronization with each other, the remote site transmitter receiving an asynchronous data signal that, from time to time includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the received signal being two-level modulated and transmitted from the prime site at a first data rate and having a plurality of binary data values, the first pattern being used for synchronization, the second pattern indicating completion of the first pattern, the remote site transmitter having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate and a modulation clock pulse having at least a first and second phase polarity, the remote site transmitter comprising:
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means for detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; and means for selecting, coupled to said means for detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse; and means for buffering, coupled to said means for selecting, di-bit pairs of the data signal for inputting to a four-level modulator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification