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US3816666A
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System for changing the burst format in a tdma communication system
Assignee: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
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Filing: 1972-10-02
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1992-10-02
Abstract
Abstract In a satellite transponder communication system operating in a time division multiple access mode, each earth station transmits data in a burst format. Each earth station apparatus is arranged in modular form enabling many forms of data to be included within a station''s burst of transmission. Individual terrestrial interface modules receive data, voice, etc. in various forms and convert the data, voice, etc. into bit format suitable for inclusion in the transmitted burst. A multiplexer at the transmitter is controlled by a programmable memory to select and determine the order in which bits are extracted from the various terrestrial interface modules and entered into the bit stream of the transmitted burst. The receiver includes a demultiplexer controlled by a programmable memory to properly demultiplex the bit stream of the received burst and to direct the demultiplexed blocks of bits to respective ones of the terrestrial interface modules. The memories are provided with at least two sections to enable a change in burst format without loss of communications. At the multiplexer one section controls the format while a new program is written into the other section. A similar arrangement is provided at the receiver. A memory status signal is included in the station''s burst and this status is detected by the receive stations. When the multiplexer memory is to be switched from one section to another the status signal changes. The status signal is transmitted as part of the signalling portion of the burst preamble.
Inventors
- 👤 A Tomozawa
- 👤 H Ford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/204; H04B7/212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A TDMA communications system of the type in which multiple stations transmit bursts of communications in a time separated format, comprising, at a station, a memory means having at least two sections, for controlling the format of a burst of communications, means for selecting either one of said sections of said memory to control said format, means responsive to a burst format change command for entering a memory status signal in the transmitted burst from said station, and delay means responsive to said burst format change command for actuating said selecting means a fixed time after transmitting said memory status signal to cause said selecting means to change the selection of the memory section which controls said format.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A TDMA communications system of the type in which multiple stations transmit bursts of communications in a time separated format, comprising, at a station, a memory means having at least two sections, for controlling the format of a burst of communications, means for selecting either one of said sections of said memory to control said format, means responsive to a burst format change command for entering a memory status signal in the transmitted burst from said station, and delay means responsive to said burst format change command for actuating said selecting means a fixed time after transmitting said memory status signal to cause said selecting means to change the selection of the memory section which controls said format.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A TDMA communications system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for entering comprises a. a register for holding a plurality of bits of information, b. means for periodically entering new bits of information into said register, c. means for transmitting successive bits from said register during the preamble time of each burst from said station, all said bits being transmitted via bursts during said period, d. means responsive to said burst format change command for storing a signal representing the memory section to be selected, and e. means for entering said stored signal into said register.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A TDMA communications system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system is of the type which includes a signalling channel within the burst preamble of the transmitted bursts, said means for entering a memory status signal comprising, a. means for storing a status signal representing the section of said memory which is controlling the format of said burst, b. means responsive to said burst format change command for changing the status signal in said storing means, and c. means for including the signal from said storing means within the signalling channel of the transmitted bursts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A TDMA communications system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising, a. means for receiving bursts of communications from remote stations, b. memory status register means for detecting and storing status signals in said received bursts representing selection of memories at said remote stations, c. memory means for controlling the demultiplexing of said received bursts, and d. addressing means responsive to said status signals in said memory status register for addressing said last mentioned memory means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A TDMA communications system as claimed in claim 3 further comprising, a. means for receiving bursts of communications from remote stations, b. memory status register means for detecting and storing status signals in said received bursts representing selection of memories at said remote stations, c. memory means for controlling the demultiplexing of said received bursts, and d. addressing means responsive to said status signals in said memory status register for addressing said last mentioned memory means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
220 words
A TDMA satellite communications system comprising, a. a plurality of information means adapted to store blocks of information, b. a control signal unit for generating and storing blocks of control signal information, c. memory means having first and second sections therein adapted to store programming information, d. means for periodically reading out the programming information from one of said first and second sections, said latter means including a memory section selection means, e. means responsive to said program read out from said memory for extracting information from said information means and control signal unit, and f. means for transmitting said extracted information, g. said control signal unit comprising i. means for storing a status signAl representing the section of said memory which is being selected by said memory section selection means, ii. means responsive to said storage means for including said status signal in said block of control signal information, and iii. means responsive to a command signal for changing the contents of said storing means to indicate the other of said memory sections, and h. means responsive to a changed status signal in said storing means for causing said memory section selection means to select said other memory section a fixed period of time following the entry of said changed status signal into said block of control signal information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
220 words
A TDMA satellite communications system comprising, a. a plurality of information means adapted to store blocks of information, b. a control signal unit for generating and storing blocks of control signal information, c. memory means having first and second sections therein adapted to store programming information, d. means for periodically reading out the programming information from one of said first and second sections, said latter means including a memory section selection means, e. means responsive to said program read out from said memory for extracting information from said information means and control signal unit, and f. means for transmitting said extracted information, g. said control signal unit comprising i. means for storing a status signAl representing the section of said memory which is being selected by said memory section selection means, ii. means responsive to said storage means for including said status signal in said block of control signal information, and iii. means responsive to a command signal for changing the contents of said storing means to indicate the other of said memory sections, and h. means responsive to a changed status signal in said storing means for causing said memory section selection means to select said other memory section a fixed period of time following the entry of said changed status signal into said block of control signal information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
189 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 6 further comprising, a. means for receiving bursts of communications from remote stations, each said burst including a preamble portion and data portion, said preamble portion including a block of control signal information including a status signal representative of the status of a memory at the remote location which transmitted said burst, b. a second memory having a plurality of programs therein, c. means responsive to said receiving means for detecting the origin of each of said received bursts, d. said control signal unit further comprising i. means for detecting and storing said received status signals, said status signals emanating from each remote station being separately stored, e. means responsive to said stored status signals in said latter means and said origin detecting means for selecting a program in said second memory in dependence upon the origin of the burst being received and the status of the memory at said origin station, and f. demultiplexing means for separating out blocks of information in said received burst in response to and in accordance with said selected program in said second memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said control signal unit further comprises, a. parallel input serial output register means for holding a predetermined number of information bits corresponding to said block of control signal information, b. means including said means responsive to said status signal storage means for periodically entering said block of control signal information, including said status signal, into said parallel input serial output register.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said means for extracting information comprises means for extracting a fixed number of information bits from said parallel input serial output registers each time said program is read out, said fixed number and said period for entering said bits of information being so related that all of said information bits are extracted during said period.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for storing said status signal comprises a single bit register and said status is a single bit, and wherein said means for entering said block of control signal information comprises a gating connection means for entering said single status bit into a fixed position of said parallel input serial output register.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
A TDMA satellite communcations system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a timing means for generating first framing signals having a period equal to said period of reading out said memory and second framing signals having a period which is a substantial multiple of said first period and wherein said means for periodically reading out the programming information is responsive to said first framing signals and wherein said means for periodically entering said block of control information is responsive to said second framing signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
A TDMA satellite communcations system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said memory station selection means comprises, a second single bit register having an output which addresses the section of said memory in accordance with the single bit stored therein, and Wherein said means for causing said memory section selection means to select said other memory section after a fixed time delay comprises gating means responsive to said second framing signals for gating the status signal bit held in said first single bit register into said second single bit register, whereby said delay time is equal to the period of said second framing signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A TDAMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 7 wherein every nth preamble from each station includes a submultiplexing framing signal, and wherein said system further comprises means for detecting said received submultiplexing framing signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
139 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said means for detecting and storing said received status signals comprises a separate means for detecting and storing status signals received from separate remote stations, respectively, each said separate means comprising, a. serial in parallel out register means for receiving and storing the bits of said control signal information contained in the burst from a given remote location, b. a single bit receive side memory storage register, c. means responsive to said detected submultiplexing framing signals in a burst from said given remote location entering a bit held in a fixed position of said serial in parallel out register into said single bit receive side memory storage register, whereby said latter storage register holds a status signal bit which represents the memory section selection at said remote location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claims 12 wherein every nth preamble from each station includes a submultiplexing framing signal, and wherein said system further comprises means for detecting said received submultiplexing framing signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 15 wherein said means for detecting and storing said received status signals comprises separate means for detecting and storing status signals received from separate remote stations, respectively, each said separate means comprising, a. serial in parallel out register means for receiving and storing the bits of said control signal information contained in the bursts from a given remote location, b. a single bit receive side memory storage register, c. means responsive to said detected submultiplexing framing signals in a burst from said given remote location for entering a bit held in a fixed position of said serial in parallel out register into said single bit receive side memory storage register, whereby said latter storage register holds a status signal bit which represents the memory section selection at said remote location.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A TDMA satellite communications system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the period of said submultiplexing framing signals from any given remote station is the same as the period of said second framing signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |