Method and system for synchronising stations within communications networks and stations for use therein
First Claim
1. A system for synchronising stations in a wireless communications network comprising:
- at least one airborne or space-based vehicle; and
at least two stations, each station having receiver means in data communication with the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle and control means in data communication with the receiver means and in control communication with a communication means,wherein, when each receiver means receives a synchronisation signal from the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle;
each receiver means forwards the synchronisation signal to its respective control means;
each control means processes the synchronisation signal to determine an operational frequency required by its respective communication means to maintain or establish communication with the other station; and
each control means controls its respective communication means to change to the determined operational frequency,the system being characterized in that each station also has a real-time clock for emitting a time pulse, the clock being coupled to the control means of the station, the synchronisation signal comprising a time and position sentence, the control means parses the sentence to determine a time of a timing pulse that immediately precedes the sentence, and in that a rising edge of the timing pulse is used to synchronise the clock.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for synchronizing stations in a communications network comprising: at least one airborne or space-based vehicle; and at least two stations, each station having receiver means in data communication with the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle and control means in data communication with the receiver means and in control communication with a communication means. When each receiver means receives a synchronization signal from the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle each receiver means forwards the synchronization signal to its respective control means. The respective control means processes the synchronization signal to determine the operational frequency required by its respective communication means to maintain or establish communication with the other station. The respective control means also operates to control its respective communication means to change to the determined operational frequency.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A system for synchronising stations in a wireless communications network comprising:
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at least one airborne or space-based vehicle; and at least two stations, each station having receiver means in data communication with the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle and control means in data communication with the receiver means and in control communication with a communication means, wherein, when each receiver means receives a synchronisation signal from the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle; each receiver means forwards the synchronisation signal to its respective control means; each control means processes the synchronisation signal to determine an operational frequency required by its respective communication means to maintain or establish communication with the other station; and each control means controls its respective communication means to change to the determined operational frequency, the system being characterized in that each station also has a real-time clock for emitting a time pulse, the clock being coupled to the control means of the station, the synchronisation signal comprising a time and position sentence, the control means parses the sentence to determine a time of a timing pulse that immediately precedes the sentence, and in that a rising edge of the timing pulse is used to synchronise the clock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A station for use in a system for synchronising stations in a wireless communications, comprising:
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at least one airborne or space-based vehicle; and at least two of the stations, each station having receiver means in data communication with the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle, and control means in data communication with the receiver means and in control communication with a communication means; wherein, when each receiver means receives a synchronisation signal from the at least one airborne or space-based vehicle; each receiver means forwards the synchronisation signal to its respective control means; each control means processes the synchronisation signal to determine an operational frequency required by its respective communication means to maintain or establish communications with another station; and each control means controls its respective communication means to change to the determined operational frequency, the system being characterised in that each station also has a real-time clock for emitting a time pulse, the clock being coupled to the control means of the station, the synchronisation signal comprising a time and position sentence, the control means parses the sentence to determine a time of a timing pulse that immediately precedes the sentence, and in that a rising edge of the timing pulse is used to synchronise the clock.
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32. A method of synchronising stations in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving, at each station of the communications network, a synchronisation signal from at least one airborne or space-based vehicle; processing the synchronisation signal to determine an operational frequency required by a communication means of each station to maintain or establish communication with another station; and changing a frequency of the communication means to communicate on the operational frequency, the method being characterised in that a control means of each station parses a time and position sentence of the synchronisation signal to determine a time of a timing pulse that immediately precedes the sentence, and in that a rising edge of the timing pulse is used to synchronise a real-time clock of each station, the clock being for emitting a time pulse, and the clock being coupled to the control means of the station. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification