Frequency diversity time multiplex means for increasing the capacity of a cooperative collision avoidance system

Claim 2

In a collision avoidance system wherein collision avoidance messages are transmitted by various units within the system during time determined time slots and wherein each time slot is assigned one out of a plurality of different frequencies upon which a unit transmitting during that time slot will transmit its collision avoidance message, receiver means comprising: clock means for keeping account of said time slots and for generating clock signals; and, a receiver qualified by said clock signals to receive said transmitted collision avoidance messages.

Claim 3

Receiver means as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises: local oscillator generator means responsive to said clock signals for generating a plurality of local oscillator frequencies, one at a time, each said local oscillator frequency being correlated to a particular time slot and being generated during that time slot; and, means responsive to said transmitted collision avoidance messages and the local oscillator frequency being generated for receiving said collision avoidance messages.

Claim 4

Receiver means as recited in claim 1 and including an intermediate frequency means responsive to a receiver intermediate frequency for receiving said collision avoidance messages and wherein said receiver comprises: means responsive to said clock signals for generating a plurality of local frequencies, one at a time, each said local frequency being associated with a particular time slot and being generated during that time slot, one of the mixed frequencies of any local frequency with the frequency assigned to its associated time slot being said receiver intermediate frequency; and, means responsive to said transmitted collision avoidance messages and said local frequencies for generating said receiver intermediate frequency.

Claim 5

A collision avoidance receiver comprising: a source of clock signals; local oscillator means responsive to said clock signals for generating a plurality of local oscillator frequencies on a predetermined time schedule; means for receiving transmitted collision avoidance messages; and, means responsive to said generated local oscillator frequencies for extracting collision avoidance information from said received collision avoidance messages.

Claim 6

A collision avoidance receiver comprising: a source of clock signals; local oscillator means responsive to said clock signals for generating a plurality of local oscillator frequencies on a predetermined time schedule; means for receiving transmitted collision avoidance messages; and, means responsive to said generated local oscillator frequencies for extracting collision avoidance information from said received collision avoidance messages.

Claim 7

A collision avoidance receiver as recited in claim 4 wherein said local oscillator means comprises: first means for generating a first local frequency; second means for generating at least a second local frequency; and, means responsive to said clock signals for energizing only said second means duriNg a second predetermined time period, said first and second local frequencies being two of said plurality of local oscillator frequencies.

Claim 8

In a transmitter of a collision avoidance system for transmitting a collision avoidance message from one unit of said system to other units of said system wherein said one unit transmits its collision avoidance message via said transmitter during a unique time slot assigned to said one unit in a system epoch on a frequency assigned to said unique time slot, said assigned frequency being one of a plurality of frequencies assigned to said system said one unit including clock means for counting and timing said time slots and for generating signals in accordance therewith, an improvement comprising means responsive to said clock signals for generating said first frequency during said unique time slot.

Claim 9

In a transmitter of a collision avoidance system for transmitting a collision avoidance message from one unit of said system to other units of said system wherein said one unit transmits its collision avoidance message via said transmitter during a unique time slot assigned to said one unit in a system epoch on a frequency assigned to said unique time slot, said assigned frequency being one of a plurality of frequencies assigned to said system said one unit including clock means for counting and timing said time slots and for generating signals in accordance therewith, an improvement comprising means responsive to said clock signals for generating said first frequency during said unique time slot.

Claim 10

The collision avoidance system and means recited in claim 6 with additionally receiver means comprising: local oscillator means responsive to said clock signals for generating a plurality of local oscillator frequencies, each said local oscillator frequency correlated to one of said plurality of frequencies assigned to said system, one mixed frequency product of any local oscillator frequency with its correlated frequency being equal to the intermediate frequency of said receiver means; and, means responsive to said intermediate frequency for extracting collision avoidance information encoded thereon.

Claim 11

A collision avoidance transmitter comprising: a source of clock signals; means responsive to said clock signals for generating a frequency signal during a predetermined time period; means for generating signals correlated to the location of said transmitter; means for modulating said frequency signal with said location signals; and, means for transmitting said modulated frequency signal.

Claim 12

A collision avoidance transmitter comprising: a source of clock signals; means responsive to said clock signals for generating a frequency signal during a predetermined time period; means for generating signals correlated to the location of said transmitter; means for modulating said frequency signal with said location signals; and, means for transmitting said modulated frequency signal.

Claim 13

A collision avoidance transmitter as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for generating signals correlated to the location of said transmitter comprises means for generating signals correlated to at least the altitude of said transmitter.

Claim 14

A collision avoidance transmitter as recited in claim 8 wherein said predetermined time period is a time slot in a collision avoidance system epoch, said frequency signal being assigned, out of a plurality of frequencies, to said time slot.

Claim 15

In a collision avoidance system for transmitting and receiving collision avoidance messages between individual units of said system wherein each transmitting unit within said system transmits a collision avoidance message during a unique time slot assigned to said unit on one radio frequency of a plurality of radio frequencies assigned to said system, said one radio frequency being assigned to said unique time slot, said unique time slot being one of a plurality of time slots in a system epoch, a transmitter associated with said unit comprising: clock means for counting and timing said time slots and for generating clock signals; and, means responsive to said clock signals for generating and transmitting unit''s collision avoidance message during said unit''s assigned time slot on said time slot''s assigned radio frequency.

Claim 16

In a collision avoidance system for transmitting and receiving collision avoidance messages between individual units of said system wherein each transmitting unit within said system transmits a collision avoidance message during a unique time slot assigned to said unit on one radio frequency of a plurality of radio frequencies assigned to said system, said one radio frequency being assigned to said unique time slot, said unique time slot being one of a plurality of time slots in a system epoch, a transmitter associated with said unit comprising: clock means for counting and timing said time slots and for generating clock signals; and, means responsive to said clock signals for generating and transmitting unit''s collision avoidance message during said unit''s assigned time slot on said time slot''s assigned radio frequency.

Claim 17

In a collision avoidance system as recited in claim 11 additionally means for receiving collision avoidance messages transmitted from remote units during various time slots on various radio frequencies assigned to said time slots comprising: means responsive to said clock signals for generating a plurality of local frequencies, one said local frequency being associated with each of said plurality of radio frequencies, said one local frequency being generated during the time slot of its associated radio frequency; and, means responsive to said local frequencies for receiving said collision avoidance messages.

Claim 18

A collision avoidance system receiver comprising: means for generating clock signals; means responsive to said clock signals for generating a pluralIty of local oscillator signals, one at a time, on a time ordered schedule; means for receiving transmitted collision avoidance messages; and, means responsive to said local oscillator signals for demodulating said received collision avoidance messages.

Claim 19

A collision avoidance system receiver comprising: means for generating clock signals; means responsive to said clock signals for generating a pluralIty of local oscillator signals, one at a time, on a time ordered schedule; means for receiving transmitted collision avoidance messages; and, means responsive to said local oscillator signals for demodulating said received collision avoidance messages.

Claim 20

In a collision avoidance system wherein time is divided into system epochs and said epochs are further divided into time slots and wherein a plurality of radio frequencies are available for assignment one to a time slot whereby at least adjacent time slots are assigned different ones of said available radio frequencies, a transmitter assigned to a unique time slot for use in said system comprising: means for generating the radio frequency assigned to said unique time slot during said unique time slot; a source of collision avoidance information; means for modulating said generated radio frequency with said collision avoidance information; and, means for transmitting said modulated radio frequency.

Claim 21

In a collision avoidance system wherein time is divided into system epochs and said epochs are further divided into time slots and wherein a plurality of radio frequencies are available for assignment one to a time slot whereby at least adjacent time slots are assigned different ones of said available radio frequencies, a transmitter assigned to a unique time slot for use in said system comprising: means for generating the radio frequency assigned to said unique time slot during said unique time slot; a source of collision avoidance information; means for modulating said generated radio frequency with said collision avoidance information; and, means for transmitting said modulated radio frequency.

Claim 22

A transmitter as recited in claim 14 wherein said generating means comprises: clock means for keeping account of said epochs and time slots and for generating clock signals in accordance therewith; and, means responsive to said clock signals for generating said radio frequency assigned to said unique time slot during said unique time slot.