Real-time programming of electronic radio system resource assets

• US 7,430,415 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Campbell, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/411,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 4555521-5531, 455/431, 455418-420, 375/259, 342/37, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/406 with more than one transmission mode, e.g. analog and digital modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A method to efficiently implement a reconfigurable electronic radio system (400) including resource assets (402-408, 410-416, 418, 420-426, 428) and a processor (428). The processor (428) generates RF control and switching control signals during each mission segment of an aircraft to create radio function threads through the resource assets (402-408, 410-416, 418, 420-426, 428) to realize the radio functions for that mission segment. The processor (428) may also be coupled to a master processor (440) that sends the processor (428) a radio function set selection signal. The radio function set selection signal identifies the radio function set that the processor (428) will implement through the resource assets (402-408, 410-416, 418, 420-426, 428). The processor (428) performs all signal, data, message, cryptographic and control processing required for the radio function threads being implemented by the resource assets.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable electronic radio system (RERS) comprising:

a reconfigurable set of resource assets including two or more electronic radio system multifunction slices (ERSMSs), one or more antennas and one or more antenna pre-conditioners, each of the two or more ERSMSs including an antenna interface coupled to the one or more antennas and the one or more antenna pre-conditioners, an input/output (I/O) interface, a transceiver coupled to the antenna interface and operable over a wide band of frequencies, and a slice processor having a program memory and being coupled to the antenna interface, the I/O interface, the transceiver, and the other of the two or more ERSMSs through one of the I/O interface and a network interface,

wherein the slice processor is operable in real time during operation of the RERS to;

generate first control signals to configure at least one resource asset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets in accordance with a first radio function by establishing a first radio function thread through a first subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets; and

generate second control signals to reconfigure the at least one resource asset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets in the RERS in accordance with the first radio function by establishing a second radio function thread through a second subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets.

2. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the slice processor is further operable in real time during operation of the RERS to generate third control signals to configure the reconfigurable set of resource assets in the RERS in accordance with one or more second radio functions by establishing a third radio function thread through a third subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets.

3. The RERS of claim 1, further comprising a master processor coupled to the two or more ERSMSs, wherein the master processor is operable in real time during operation of the RERS to:

communicate a radio function set selection signal to the two or more ERSMSs to program the two or more ERSMSs in real-time, the radio function set selection signal identifying one or more of the first radio function and an alternate radio function.

4. The RERS of claim 3, wherein the master processor includes the slice processor associated with one of the two or more ERSMSs.

5. The RERS of claim 3, wherein:

the master processor is further operable in real-time during operation of the RERS to establish priorities for the first radio function and the alternate radio function, and

the alternate radio function includes an alternate radio function thread for avoiding a failed one of the reconfigurable set of resource assets, the alternate radio function thread established based on the established priorities.

6. The RERS of claim 3, wherein the radio function set selection signal includes a software program capable of being stored in the program memory, the software program for generating one or more of the first control signals, the second control signals, first switching control signals, and second switching control signals.

7. The RERS of claim 3, wherein the radio function set selection signal includes a software program to activate a stored program in the at least one of the two or more ERSMSs, the activated stored program for generating one or more of the first control signals, the second control signals, first switching control signals, and second switching control signals.

8. The RERS of claim 2, wherein the slice processor is further operable in real-time to generate third switching control signals to program the respective one of the two or more ERSMSs to provide an identification radio function for identifying an operational condition associated with the RERS.

9. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the slice processor is further operable in real time during operation of the RERS to:

generate first switching control signals to program the respective one of the two or more ERSMSs to provide the first radio function using the first radio function thread; and

generate second switching control signals to program the respective one of the two or more ERSMSs to provide the first radio function using the second radio function thread.

10. The RERS of claim 1, further comprising a master processor coupled to the two or more ERSMSs, wherein the master processor is further operable in real time during operation of the RERS to:

generate a radio function set selection signal; and

communicate the radio function signal to the slice processor to program the slice processor in real-time, the radio function set selection signal identifying one or more of the first radio function and an alternate radio function.

11. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the alternate radio function includes an alternate radio function thread for avoiding a failed one of the reconfigurable set of resource assets.

12. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the one of the I/O interface and the network interface is further operable in real time during operation of the RERS to:

transfer a radio function set selection signal to the two or more ERSMSs to program the two or more ERSMSs in real-time, the radio function set selection signal identifying one or more of;

the first radio function and an alternate radio function.

13. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the one of the I/O interface and the network interface is further operable in real time during operation of the RERS to:

receive a radio function set selection signal from a master processor to program the RERS in real-time, the radio function set selection signal identifying one or more of;

the first radio function and an alternate radio function.

14. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the slice processor is further operable in real-time to:

identify a change in an operational condition associated with one of the two or more ERSMSs; and

generate third switching control signals to re-program the respective one of the two or more ERSMSs to provide an alternate radio function for modified operation of the RERS in accordance with the identified change in operational condition.

15. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the slice processor is further operable in real-time to:

identify a change in an operational condition associated with one of the two or more ERSMSs; and

report the change in the operational condition to one of a master processor and an RERS operator,

wherein the master processor is operable in real-time to;

generate third switching control signals to re-program the respective one of the two or more ERSMSs to provide an alternate radio function for modified operation of the RERS in accordance with the identified change in operational condition.

16. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the slice processor is further operable in real-time to:

identify a change in an operational condition associated with the two or more ERSMSs;

identify priorities associated with the first radio function and other radio functions; and

generate third switching control signals to re-program the respective one of the two or more ERSMSs to provide an alternate radio function for modified operation of the RERS in accordance with the identified change in operational condition and the identified priorities.

17. The RERS of claim 1, further comprising a master processor coupled to the two or more ERSMSs, the master processor operable in real-time to:

identify a change in an operational condition associated with the two or more ERSMSs;

identify priorities associated with the first radio function and other radio functions; and

generate third switching control signals to re-program the respective one of the two or more ERSMSs to provide an alternate radio function for modified operation of the RERS in accordance with the identified change in operational condition and the identified priorities.

18. The RERS of claim 14, wherein the identified change in the operational condition includes one or more of:

a fault in one or more of the reconfigurable set of resource assets, a change in a signal environment;

a change in an operational priority;

a change in an operational segment; and

a reception of a radio function set selection signal.

19. The RERS of claim 17, wherein the identified change in the operational condition includes one or more of:

a fault in one or more of the reconfigurable set of resource assets, a change in a signal environment;

a change in an operational priority;

a change in an operational segment;

a change in the first radio function, an input from an RERS operator, and a reception of a radio function set selection signal.

45. The RERS of claim 1, wherein the two or more ERSMSs are identical.

20. A method for performing one of real-time programming and re-programming of a reconfigurable electronic radio system (RERS), the RERS having a plurality of resource assets including two or more electronic radio system multifunctional slices (ERSMSs) the method comprising:

identifying an operational condition associated with the RERS; and

performing one or more of;

establishing one or more radio function threads in at least one of the two or more ERSMSs,

disestablishing the one or more radio function threads in the at least one of the two or more ERSMSs,

starting the one or more radio function threads in the at least one of the two or more ERSMSs, and

stopping the one or more one or more radio function threads in the at least one of the two or more ERSMSs,

wherein;

the performing the one or more of the establishing, the disestablishing, the starting, and the stopping is based on the identified operational condition associated with the RERS to establish a changeable set of radio functions; and

the one or more of the establishing, the disestablishing, the starting, and the stopping, is capable of being performed simultaneously during operation of an other radio function thread.

46. The method of claim 20, wherein the two or more ERSMSs are identical.

21. A method for re-programming two or more electronic radio system multifunction slices (ERSMSs) in a reconfigurable electronic radio system (RERS), the RERS including a reconfigurable set of resource assets including the two or more ERSMSs, each of the two or more ERSMSs having an input/output (I/O) interface, a transceiver coupled to the antenna interface and operable over a wide band of frequencies, and a slice processor coupled to the transceiver and the other of the two or more ERSMSs through one of the I/O interface and a network interface, the method comprising:

identifying a change in operation of a first radio function thread within one of the ERSMSs associated with a first radio function; and

reconfiguring the set of resource assets to establish an alternate radio function thread based on the change in operation.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the change in operation includes a failure in a first radio function thread within one of the ERSMSs associated with a first radio function;

and

wherein the reconfiguring the set of resource assets to establish an alternate radio function thread includes reconfiguring the alternate radio function thread to avoid the failure in the first radio function thread.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the reconfiguring to establish an alternate radio function thread includes selecting the alternate radio function thread based on predetermined radio function priorities.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined radio function priorities are established based on a requirement associated with one of an operational segment and a mission segment of the RERS.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the reconfiguring to establish an alternate radio function thread further includes selecting the alternate radio function thread based on the predetermined radio function priorities and de-selecting a lower priority radio function.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the reconfiguring to establish an alternate radio function thread further includes receiving an external selection of the alternate radio function over the one of the I/O interface and the network interface, the external selection including a selection generated from one of a master processor and an RERS operator.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the identifying the failure in the first radio function thread includes identifying the failure in the reconfigurable set of resource assets associated with the two or more ERSMSs.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the reconfiguring to establish an alternate radio function thread further includes programming at least one of the ERSMSs with a set of function thread software to perform one or more of signal processing, modem processing, data processing, and encryption processing necessary to establish the alternate radio function thread.

47. The method of claim 21, wherein the two or more ERSMSs are identical.

29. A method for controlling a reconfigurable electronic radio system (RERS), the RERS including a reconfigurable set of resource assets including two or more electronic radio system multifunction slices (ERSMSs), one or more antennas and one or more antenna pre-conditioners, each of the two or more ERSMSs being identical to the other and having additional ones of the reconfigurable set of resource assets including an antenna interface coupled to the one or more antennas and the one or more antenna pre-conditioners, an input/output (I/O) interface, a transceiver coupled to the antenna interface and operable over a wide band of frequencies, and a slice processor coupled to the antenna interface, the I/O interface, the transceiver, and the other of the two or more ERSMSs through one of the I/O interface and a network interface, the slice processor having a program memory, the method comprising:

configuring the reconfigurable set of resource assets in the RERS in accordance with a first radio function by establishing a first radio function thread through a first subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets; and

reconfiguring the reconfigurable set of resource assets in the RERS in accordance with the first radio function by establishing a second radio function thread through a second subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

reconfiguring the reconfigurable set of resource assets in the RERS in accordance with a second radio function by establishing a third radio function thread through a third subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the configuring includes:

allocating ones of the first radio function threads to the two or more ERSMSs to establish the one or more first radio functions;

programming at least one of the two or more ERSMSs to establish the first radio function threads through the first subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets; and

starting operation of the first radio function thread.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the allocating, the programming, and the starting operation are performed using a master processor communicating with the two or more ERSMSs.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the allocating includes:

determining a unique configuration of the reconfigurable set of resource assets associated with the first radio function thread; and

communicating information associated with the unique configuration to each of the two or more ERSMSs.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the determining and the communicating are performed using a master processor communicating with the two or more ERSMSs.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the unique configuration includes one or more of:

software for performing one or more of high speed pre-processing, signal processing, modem processing, data processing, and encryption processing associated with the first radio function thread;

control information associated with configuring the first subset of resource assets within the two or more ERSMSs; and

switching control information associated with configuring the reconfigurable set of resource assets to establish the first radio function thread.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the reconfiguring includes:

allocating ones of the second radio function threads to the two or more ERSMSs to establish the one or more second radio functions;

programming at least one of the two or more ERSMSs to establish the second radio function threads through the second subset of the reconfigurable set of resource assets; and

starting operation of the second radio function thread.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the allocating, the programming, and the starting operation are performed using a master processor communicating with the two or more ERSMSs.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the allocating includes:

determining a unique configuration of the reconfigurable set of resource assets associated with the second radio function thread; and

communicating information associated with the unique configuration to each of the two or more ERSMSs.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the unique configuration includes one or more of:

software for performing one or more of high speed pre-processing, signal processing, modem processing, data processing, and encryption processing associated with the second radio function thread;

control information associated with configuring the second subset of resource assets within the two or more ERSMSs; and

switching control information associated with configuring the reconfigurable set of resource assets to establish the second radio function thread.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the determining and the communicating are performed using a master processor communicating with the two or more ERSMSs.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the unique configuration information is provided by a master processor.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the unique configuration information is provided by a master processor, the master processor including the slice processor associated with one of the ERSMSs.

43. The method of claim 35, wherein the unique configuration information is provided by a master processor.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the unique configuration information is provided by a master processor, the master processor including the slice processor associated with one of the ERSMSs.