Antenna switching technique for improved data throughput in communication networks

• US 5,881,371 A
• Filed: 10/27/1995
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/549,631
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66, 455/67.1, 455/68, 455/79, 455/82, 455/83, 455/88, 455/103, 455/129
• US Class Current: 455/83
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching

Abstract

The r.f. power generating apparatus interacting with the communication network is disclosed. The apparatus comprises the dummy load and the computer operated antenna-dummy load switch. The computer operates the antenna-dummy load switch in such a way that the attack and decay phases associated with the data transmission from the r.f. power generating apparatus to the communication network are eliminated. A plurality of the r.f. apparatuses interacting with the same communication network on the same frequency wherein each of the apparatuses includes the antenna-dummy load switch is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for improved data throughput in a communication network;

said apparatus comprising;

an antenna;

a dummy load;

a radio frequency receiving-transmitting circuit;

a modem coupled to said receiving-transmitting circuit;

a computer coupled to said modem;

a time-determination system coupled to said computer;

an antenna-dummy load switch operably coupled to said antenna, operably coupled to said receiving-transmitting system, and operably coupled to said dummy load; and

a computer software means;

wherein said computer software means determines if a polling message including a reporting schedule has been received by said apparatus from said communication network; and

wherein said software means directs said computer to operate said antenna-dummy load switch according to said reporting schedule at times determined by said time-determination system; and

wherein when said antenna-dummy load switch is connected to said dummy load said apparatus is disconnected from said communication network, and when said antenna-dummy load switch is connected to said antenna said apparatus is connected to said communication network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said time-determination system is selected from a class of satellite-based time-location determination systems consisting of a Global Positioning System Receiver and a Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System Receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said time-determination system is selected from a class of ground-based time-location determination systems consisting of Loran, Tacan, Decca, Omega, JTIDS Relnav, PLRS, and VOR/DME Receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiving-transmitting circuit transmits at a frequency, f;

and wherein said receiving-transmitting circuit receives at said frequency f.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiving-transmitting circuit transmits at a frequency f1;

and wherein said receiving-transmitting circuit receives at a different frequency f2.

6. A single frequency system comprising a plurality of apparatuses connected to a communication network for improved data throughput into said communication network, each said apparatus comprising:

an antenna;

a dummy load;

a radio frequency receiving-transmitting circuit;

a modem coupled to said receiving-transmitting circuit;

a computer coupled to said modem;

a time-determination system coupled to said computer;

a computer operated antenna-dummy load switch operably coupled to said antenna, operably coupled to said receiving-transmitting circuit, and operably coupled to said dummy load; and

a computer software means;

wherein said computer software means determines if a polling message including a reporting schedule has been received by said apparatus from said communication network; and

wherein said software means directs said computer to operate said antenna-dummy load switch according to said reporting schedule at times determined by said time-determination system; and

wherein each said apparatus interacts with said communication network on the same single radio frequency f0.

7. A plurality of single frequency systems connected to a communication network for improved data throughput in to said communication network, each said single frequency system comprising:

a plurality of apparatuses;

each said apparatus comprising;

an antenna;

a dummy load;

a radio frequency receiving-transmitting circuit;

a modem coupled to said receiving-transmitting circuit;

a computer coupled to said modem;

a time-determination system coupled to said computer;

a computer operated antenna-dummy load switch operably coupled to said antenna, operably coupled to said receiving-transmitting circuit, and operably coupled to said dummy load;

a computer software means; and

a multi-frequency switch;

wherein said computer software means determines if a polling message including a reporting schedule has been received by said apparatus from said communication network; and

wherein said software means directs said computer to operate said antenna-dummy load switch according to said reporting schedule at times determined by said time-determination system; and

wherein each said single frequency system interacts with said communication network on a different frequency.

8. A method for improved data throughput in a communication network;

said method employing an apparatus comprising;

an antenna, a dummy load, a radio frequency receiving-transmitting circuit, a modem, a computer, a program means, a time-determination system, and a computer operated antenna-dummy load switch;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) switching said antenna-dummy load switch onto said antenna using said computer;

(b) operating said receiving-transmitting circuit in a receiving mode to detect a polling message from said communication network;

(c) reading said polling message using said program means to detect a reporting schedule contained in said polling message;

(d) determining the start of the actual data transmission time from said reporting schedule by said computer;

(e) switching said antenna-dummy load switch onto said dummy load during the attack time of data transmission by said receiving-transmitting circuit using said computer;

(f) switching said antenna-dummy load switch onto said antenna during the actual time of data transmission by said receiving-transmitting circuit using said computer;

(g) operating said receiving-transmitting circuit in the transmitting mode to transmit data from said apparatus to said communication network;

(h) switching said antenna-dummy load switch onto said dummy load during the decay time of data transmission by said receiving-transmitting circuit using said computer; and

(i) repeating steps (a) through (h).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step (d) of determining the start of the actual data transmission time from said reporting schedule by said computer further includes the step of determining the absolute data transmission time by said time-determining system according to said reporting schedule, and wherein said absolute transmission time is referenced to the EPOCH time mark not related to said reporting schedule.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step (d) of determining the start of the actual data transmission time from said reporting schedule by said computer further includes the step of determining the relative data transmission time by said time-determining system according to said reporting schedule, and wherein said relative transmission time is referenced to the EPOCH time mark related to said reporting schedule.

11. A method for improved data throughput in to a communication network, said method employing a single frequency system comprising a plurality of apparatuses connected to said communication network;

said plurality of apparatuses comprising a first apparatus, a second apparatus, and each consecutively numbered apparatus until said plurality of apparatuses is exhausted, the last said apparatus being numbered as an N-apparatus, N being an integer;

each said apparatus comprising an antenna, a dummy load, a radio frequency receiving-transmitting circuit, a modem, a computer, a time-determination system, a program means, and a computer operated antenna-dummy load switch, each said apparatus interacting with said communication network on the same single radio frequency f0, each said apparatus having the same attack time and the same decay time;

said method comprising the steps of;

(a) switching said first antenna-dummy load switch onto said antenna using said first computer of said first apparatus;

(b) operating said first receiving-transmitting circuit of said apparatus in a receiving mode to detect a polling message from said communication network;

(c) reading said polling message using said first program means of said first apparatus to detect a first reporting schedule for said first apparatus contained in said polling message;

(d) determining the start of the actual data transmission time from said first reporting schedule by said first computer of said first apparatus;

(e) switching said first antenna-dummy load switch onto said first dummy load during the attack time of data transmission by said first receiving-transmitting circuit using said first computer of said first apparatus;

(f) switching said first antenna-dummy load switch onto said first antenna during the actual time of data transmission by said first receiving-transmitting circuit using said first computer of said first apparatus;

(g) operating said first receiving-transmitting circuit in the transmitting mode to transmit data from said first apparatus into said communication network;

(h) switching said first antenna-dummy load switch onto said first dummy load during the decay time of data transmission by said first receiving-transmitting circuit using said first computer of said first apparatus;

(i) switching said first antenna-dummy load switch onto said antenna using said first computer of said first apparatus;

(k) operating said first receiving-transmitting circuit of said apparatus in a receiving mode to detect a next polling message from said communication network;

(l) repeating steps (a) through (k) for said second apparatus, wherein the attack time of said second apparatus data transmission starts at attack time prior to the end of the data transmission by said first apparatus, and wherein said second apparatus starts the data transmission at the same time mark when said first apparatus ends the data transmission;

(m) repeating steps (a) through (l) for each consecutive pair of said t-apparatus and said (t-1) apparatus, t being an integer, wherein t is greater than 2 and less or equal to N; and

(n) repeating steps (a) through (m) for each said polling message.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step (d) determining the start of the actual data transmission time from said first reporting schedule by said first computer of said first apparatus further includes the step of determining the absolute data transmission time by said first time-determining system according to said first reporting schedule, and wherein said absolute transmission time is referenced to the EPOCH time mark not related to said first reporting schedule.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said step (d) determining the start of the actual data transmission time from said first reporting schedule by said first computer of said first apparatus further includes the step of determining the relative data transmission time by said first time-determining system according to said first reporting schedule, and wherein said relative transmission time is referenced to the EPOCH time mark related to said first reporting schedule.