Multitone signal synchronization

• US 8,483,301 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Ray, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHAVAL V
• Application Number:
  US13/045,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20120230456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 375/260, 375/267, 375/262, 375/265, 375/340, 375/343, 375/346, 375/347, 370/203, 370/204, 370/205, 370/208, 370/209, 370/210
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0065 using measurement of signal travel time

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method to generate a set of tone frequencies within an operating frequency range for use in a timing acquisition process in a wireless communication system comprises selecting a system frequency resolution generating a set of frequency tones which are relatively prime integers with respect to the frequency resolution and within an operating frequency range of the wireless communication system. Other embodiments may be described.

Claims

1. A method to generate a set of tone frequencies within an operating frequency range for use in a timing acquisition process in a wireless communication system, comprising:

selecting a system frequency resolution, f_r;

generating a set of frequency tones which are prime integers with respect to the frequency resolution f_r and within an operating frequency range, R, of the wireless communication system, wherein generating a set of frequency tones which are relatively prime integers with respect to the frequency resolution f_r and within an operating frequency range, R, of the wireless communication system comprises choosing a set of frequency tones for which the frequency tone divided by the frequency resolution has a greatest common divisor less than or equal to 1.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adapting the set of tones to changes in one or more environmental conditions in the transmission medium or to limit unauthorized usage of the wireless communication system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adapting the set of tones comprises:

selecting a first subset of frequency tones from the set of frequency tones; and

transmitting the subset of frequency tones from the transmitter.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving at least two signals comprising the first subset of frequency tones; and

computing a phase difference between the two signals.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving feedback from at least one receiver which indicates that one or more frequency tones in the first subset of frequency tones are corrupt; and

in response thereto selecting a second subset of frequency tones, at least a portion of which are different than the first subset of frequency tones.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting the second subset of frequency tones from the transmitter.

7. An apparatus to generate a set of tone frequencies within an operating frequency range for use in a timing acquisition process in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory module comprising logic instructions which, when executed, configure the processor to;

select a system frequency resolution, f_r;

generate a set of frequency tones which are prime integers with respect to the frequency resolution f_r and within an operating frequency range, R, of the wireless communication system; and

choosing a set of frequency tones for which the frequency tone divided by the frequency resolution has a greatest common divisor less than or equal to 1.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed, configure the processor to:

adapt the set of tones to changes in one or more environmental conditions in the transmission medium or to limit unauthorized usage of the wireless communication system.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed, configure the processor to:

select a first subset of frequency tones from the set of frequency tones; and

transmit the subset of frequency tones from the transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a receiver to receive at least two signals comprising the first subset of frequency tones;

a processor; and

a memory module comprising logic instructions which, when executed, configure the processor to compute a phase difference between the two signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed, configure the processor to:

receive feedback from at least one receiver which indicates that one or more frequency tones in the first subset of frequency tones are corrupt; and

in response thereto, select a second subset of frequency tones, at least a portion of which are different than the first subset of frequency tones.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising logic instructions which, when executed, configure the processor to transmit the second subset of frequency tones from the transmitter.