Method for dissemination of multi-sensor products

• US 6,154,451 A
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Zscheile, John Walter Jr., Weber, Bruce John
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Min
• Application Number:
  US09/107,209
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 370/203, 370/206, 370/318, 370/316, 370/465, 375/296, 375/297, 375/298, 455/12.1, 455/13.4, 455/69
• US Class Current: 370/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone

Abstract

In a multi-mode dual channlel data link there is provided a method for automatically controlling or allocating a predetermined amount of power to each of the dual channels. Two diverse product signal are transmitted from a master station down link to a plurality of ground stations. The ground stations receive the diverse product signals and individually determine the integrity of each product signal and transmit the product integrity information and a station identifier back to the master station. The master station processes the integrity information and reallocates a predetermined percentage of total power to be transmitted from each of the dual channels to achieve a predetermined product integrity at one or more of the plurality of ground stations.

Claims

1. A method for changing the amount of power allocated to each channel of a dual channel data link, comprising the steps of:

allocating a percentage of total power to be transmitted in each of said channels in said data link,

transmitting two diverse product data signals from an up link station to a plurality of down link stations,

determining the integrity of each diverse product signal at each down link station,

transmitting up link from each down link station a product integrity value for each product signal accompanied by a down link station identifier, and

processing said up link product values in a link management processor to determine a minimum power allocation for one of said dual channels in said data link,

reallocating a new percentage of total power to be transmitted in said one dual channel sufficient to supply said minimum power to a selected down link station, and

allocating the remaining unallocated power to the other dual channel.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 which further includes recalculating the data rate of the diverse product signal in the other said dual channels.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of allocating a percentage of total power further includes the step of:

determining which of said dual channels shall be the dominant or primary channel for the allocation of power.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 which further includes determining a data rate for a dominant channel of said dual channels.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 which further includes, prior to said step of allocating the percentage of total power, the step of:

determining a select group of down link stations having a priority which allocates power in both channels that produces a usable signal in both channels.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 which further includes a step of allocating a minimum power level to the same channels of a same group of down link stations, and

allocating the remaining power to the other channel of the same group of down link stations.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 which further includes, prior to the step of allocating the percentage of total power, the step of:

setting priorities for one or more ground stations to receive all allocatable power for a dominant channel, and

allocating any excessive power from said stations so long as all priority stations receive a usable picture product signal in said dominant channel.

8. A method for controlling two diverse picture products, comprising the steps of:

transmitting two picture products in the form of in-phase and quadrature data component signals from an airborne platform to a plurality of ground stations,

receiving said data component signals at said plurality of ground stations,

determining the inherent data quality of said data component signals at said ground stations,

transmitting to said airborne platform from said ground stations the maximum data rate at which picture errors will not occur at the predetermined signal power level being received, and

simultaneously adjusting the data rate and the power level of said data component signals to obtain a predetermined optimum picture quality condition for at least one of said plurality of said ground stations.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein said step of simultaneously adjusting the data rate and the power level of the two picture product signals further includes the step of transmitting a data rate and power level of one of said picture products that assures a minimum optimum picture quality at a predetermined plurality of said ground stations.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said predetermined plurality of ground stations includes as a minimum all ground stations of a selected type.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said ground stations of a selected type comprise ground stations adapted to receive and process only one of said two picture products.