Ad hoc configurable TDMA datalink

• US 9,621,259 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Phillips, David W., Sabin, James H., Bayer, Kevin M., Barnette, Gary V., Schatz, Steven V., Loeb, Logan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elpenord, Candal
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOO, JUVENA W
• Application Number:
  US13/475,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20130308624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 370310-350
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2656 for structure of frame, burst
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and system for providing configuration parameters to TDMA nodes are disclosed. The configuration parameters are repeatedly transmitted to the TDMA nodes in a predetermined fashion, allowing existing nodes to receive the up-to-date configuration parameters from messages being broadcast in the TDMA network. Any new node joining the TDMA network may also receive the up-to-date configuration parameters, allowing the new node to apply such parameters accordingly and join the network as applicable.

Claims

1. A Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) communication system, comprising:

a controller configured for repeatedly broadcasting TDMA configuration data in at least one predetermined time slot on a data stream every predetermined number of frames according to a predetermined schedule, wherein the TDMA configuration data includes at least one of;

a maximum bandwidth parameter of the TDMA communication system, a TDMA slot start time parameter, and a data rate parameter of the TDMA communication system;

at least one node in communication with the controller, said at least one node configured for;

selecting a TDMA slot schedule from a local memory of the at least one node and implementing the TDMA slot schedule prior to receiving the TDMA configuration data from the data stream;

receiving the TDMA configuration data from the data stream;

determining whether the TDMA configuration data received from the data stream is different than the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node; and

updating the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node based on the TDMA configuration data received from the data stream.

2. The TDMA communication system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined schedule is to broadcast TDMA configuration data in a predetermined time slot in every frame.

3. The TDMA communication system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined schedule is configurable.

4. The TDMA communication system of claim 1, wherein said at least one node is configured for repeatedly receiving the TDMA configuration data according to the predetermined schedule.

5. The TDMA communication system of claim 1, wherein said at least one node is configured for continue utilizing the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node when the TDMA configuration data received from the data stream is not different than the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node.

6. The TDMA communication system of claim 1, wherein the TDMA communication system is adapted for servicing a Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS).

7. A method for configuring Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) configuration data in at least one node in a TDMA communication system, the method comprising:

selecting a TDMA slot schedule from a local memory of the at least one node and implementing the TDMA slot schedule prior to receiving the TDMA configuration data being broadcasted;

receiving the TDMA configuration data being broadcasted in at least one predetermined time slot on a data stream every predetermined number of frames according to a predetermined schedule, wherein the TDMA configuration data includes at least one of;

a maximum bandwidth parameter of the TDMA communication system, a TDMA slot start time parameter, and a data rate parameter of the TDMA communication system;

determining whether the TDMA configuration data received from the data stream is different than the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node; and

updating the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node based on the TDMA configuration data received from the data stream.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined schedule is to receive TDMA configuration data in a predetermined time slot in every frame.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined schedule is configurable.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one node is configured for repeatedly receiving the TDMA configuration data according to the predetermined schedule.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one node is configured for continue utilizing the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node when the TDMA configuration data received from the data stream is not different than the TDMA configuration data being utilized by said at least one node.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the TDMA communication system is adapted for servicing a Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS).

13. A method for providing Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) configuration data to at least one node in a TDMA communication system, the method comprising:

specifying a TDMA configuration data broadcasting schedule, the broadcasting schedule is configured to broadcast TDMA configuration data in at least one predetermined time slot in every predetermined number of frames;

allocating time slots on a data stream according to the specified broadcasting schedule; and

repeatedly broadcasting the TDMA configuration data on the data stream in the allocated time slots, wherein the TDMA configuration data includes at least one of;

a maximum bandwidth parameter of the TDMA communication system, a TDMA slot start time parameter, and a data rate parameter of the TDMA communication system, and wherein said at least one node is configured to select a TDMA slot schedule from a local memory of the at least one node and implement the TDMA slot schedule prior to receiving the TDMA configuration data from the data stream.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the broadcasting schedule is to broadcast TDMA configuration data in a predetermined time slot in every frame.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the broadcasting schedule is configurable.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the TDMA configuration data is divided into a plurality of data portions, and the plurality of data portions is broadcasted sequentially according to the specified broadcasting schedule.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the TDMA communication system is adapted for servicing a Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS).