Method for dynamically routing frequency hopping signals in a multiple carrier communications system

• US 6,639,938 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1999
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Riddle, Robert G., Goyette, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/401,896
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 375/132, 375/135, 375/260, 375/267, 375/299
• US Class Current: 375/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7136 Arrangements for generation of hop frequencies, e.g. using a bank of frequency sources, using continuous tuning or using a transform
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/715 Interference-related aspects

Abstract

A method of routing a frequency hopping signal to one of two transmitting antennas in a multiple carrier communication system is disclosed. The method comprises storing known a-priori information regarding frequency hopping signal assignments, scanning a transmitter frequency and antenna path assignment table to determine the closest existing transmitting frequency and its antenna to the frequency hopping signal to be assigned, assigning the frequency hopping signal to an available path on the other antenna, and updating the transmitter frequency and antenna path assignment table. In addition the method includes determining whether the assigned path on the other antenna conflicts with existing frequency assignments, and preempting the antenna assignment when a conflict exists.

Claims

1. A method for routing a frequency hopping signal to one of two transmitting antennas in a multiple carrier communications system comprising:

storing known a-priori information regarding frequency hopping signal assignments;

scanning a transmitter frequency and antenna path assignment table to determine the closest existing transmitting frequency to the frequency hopping signal to be assigned and to determine the antenna associated with the closest existing transmitting frequency;

assigning the frequency hopping signal to an available path on the other antenna, which is not associated with the closest existing transmitting frequency;

determining whether the assigned path on the other antenna conflicts with existing frequency assignments; and

updating the transmitter frequency and antenna path assignment table.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising preempting the antenna assignment when a conflict exists, and updating the transmitter and antenna assignment table to reflect the conflict.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein the step of determining whether the assigned path conflicts comprises using a frequency arbitration algorithm to determine if a conflict will exist if the frequency hopping signal is assigned to the assigned antenna path.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising determining when one of the existing transmitting frequencies has terminated transmitting, and removing the corresponding transmitter frequency and its antenna path assignment from the transmitter frequency and antenna path assignment table.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising determining when one of the existing transmitting frequencies has terminated transmitting, removing the corresponding transmitter frequency and its antenna path assignment from the transmitter frequency and antenna path assignment table, and updating the transmitter frequency and antenna path assignment table.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising routing the frequency hopping signal to its assigned path.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising routing the frequency hopping signal to its assigned path via a software router.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, and further comprising routing the frequency hopping signal to its assigned path via a hardware router.