US3839707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fault-alarm and control for a microwave communication network
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-29
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1992-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A maintenance system and method is provided to alarm faults detected in a switched-data microwave communications network, and to initiate control messages for corrective action. Located at the transmission nodes (stations) of the microwave network may be nodal monitors, which may sense the local faults detected, and initiate limited corrective action. Supervising respective districts of such nodal monitors, may be district processors which can review fault messages from, and initiate corrective messages to, the local (nodal) monitors. Nodal monitors are preferably linked, communicatively, in series with each other and with the district processor.
Inventors
- 👤 D Woodward
- 👤 K Wehr
- 👤 L Wollner
- 👤 Neill J O
- 👤 L Sichel
- 👤 J Bienas
- 👤 J Kelsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/02; H04B3/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
Fault-alarm and control system for a microwave communication network, said network having a maintenance channel in the microwave transmission for communication between transmission stations and having sensors at said local transmission stations for detecting fault conditions and having controllers at local transmission stations for affecting equipment operation, comprising: a first multiplicity of means each for monitoring an individual transmission station portion of said network for alarming said faults detected and for initiating limited compensating messages to said local controllers for some of said faults alarmed; a second multiplicity of means each for monitoring a respective fixed number of said first monitoring means for receiving fault-alarm messages generated by said fixed number of first monitoring means and for initiating compensating messages to said local controllers through said first monitoring means; and wherein each of said first monitoring means are communicativeLy tied in series with each other and to said respective second monitoring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
Fault-alarm and control system for a microwave communication network, said network having a maintenance channel in the microwave transmission for communication between transmission stations and having sensors at said local transmission stations for detecting fault conditions and having controllers at local transmission stations for affecting equipment operation, comprising: a first multiplicity of means each for monitoring an individual transmission station portion of said network for alarming said faults detected and for initiating limited compensating messages to said local controllers for some of said faults alarmed; a second multiplicity of means each for monitoring a respective fixed number of said first monitoring means for receiving fault-alarm messages generated by said fixed number of first monitoring means and for initiating compensating messages to said local controllers through said first monitoring means; and wherein each of said first monitoring means are communicativeLy tied in series with each other and to said respective second monitoring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said multiplicity of monitoring means includes a digital microprocessor; and wherein each of said second multiplicity of monitoring means includes a digital processor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said digital microprocessors and each of said digital processors is microprogrammably changeable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each monitoring means also includes: means associated with said digital microprocessor for coding and decoding communications from one of said second monitoring means as received from said network transmission hardware.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
Fault-alarm and control apparatus for a microwave communications network, said network having a plurality of nodes being the radio relay stations of the network, said plurality of nodes being dividable into districts, said network also having sensors translating station and transmission status into digital signals and controls accepting digital messages for effecting equipment operation, and providing a maintenance channel for communication between nodes, comprising: a multiplicity of monitors, one at each of said network''s nodes, said monitors being communicatively linked in series via said maintenance channel; and a multiplicity of processors, one each located at each of said network''s districts, each of said district processors being communicatively linked with each of said monitors in its district, serially, and communicatively linked with other of said district processors, serially, through said multiplicity of monitors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
Fault-alarm and control apparatus for a microwave communications network, said network having a plurality of nodes being the radio relay stations of the network, said plurality of nodes being dividable into districts, said network also having sensors translating station and transmission status into digital signals and controls accepting digital messages for effecting equipment operation, and providing a maintenance channel for communication between nodes, comprising: a multiplicity of monitors, one at each of said network''s nodes, said monitors being communicatively linked in series via said maintenance channel; and a multiplicity of processors, one each located at each of said network''s districts, each of said district processors being communicatively linked with each of said monitors in its district, serially, and communicatively linked with other of said district processors, serially, through said multiplicity of monitors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of said monitors includes: a modulator/demodulator connected to said provided maintenance channel; a multiplexor/demultiplexor tied to said modulator/demodulator; a mini-digital processor tied to said mutliplexor/demultiplexor; a sensor interface connecting said processor and said network sensors at said station; and a control interface connecting said processor and said network controls at said station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said mini-digital processor is microprogrammably changeable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said district processors are microprogrammably changeable digital processors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
Method of fault-alarm and control in a microwave communication network, said network providing a maintenance channel for communication between microwave relay stations, said network also having sensors at each microwave relay station for translating network status into digital signals, and controls for effecting equipment operation in response to digital signals, said network further having monitors at each relay station capable of monitoring status sensed and driving said station controls, and having district processors for supervising a plurality of relay station monitors, comprising: sensing and storing alarm status at said relay station monitors; communicatively linking pluralities of said station monitors serially; establishing a district processor for supervising and communicating with a respective plurality of said relay station monitors; communicating between each district processor and its respective station monitors serially; performing limited maintenance decisions at said station monitors; and performing a majority of maintenance decisions at said district processors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
Method of fault-alarm and control in a microwave communication network, said network providing a maintenance channel for communication between microwave relay stations, said network also having sensors at each microwave relay station for translating network status into digital signals, and controls for effecting equipment operation in response to digital signals, said network further having monitors at each relay station capable of monitoring status sensed and driving said station controls, and having district processors for supervising a plurality of relay station monitors, comprising: sensing and storing alarm status at said relay station monitors; communicatively linking pluralities of said station monitors serially; establishing a district processor for supervising and communicating with a respective plurality of said relay station monitors; communicating between each district processor and its respective station monitors serially; performing limited maintenance decisions at said station monitors; and performing a majority of maintenance decisions at said district processors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 also including the step of: communicating between an adjacent district processor and said series of station monitors in the district.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of communicating between station monitors includes: receiving a maintenance message from the neighboring monitor; reading data from the coded station address in the maintenance message; writing data in the proper station address in the maintenance message; and transmittinG the maintenance message along to the next monitor in the series.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the steps of communicating between district processors and respective district monitors and communicating between an adjacent district processor and said district monitors includes: transmitting a maintenance message containing monitor instructions from said district processor through said series of district monitors; decoding the message at each monitor; operating upon instructions decoded at each monitor; encoding status alarms into said maintenance message at each monitor; receiving said maintenance message by said adjacent district processor; storing all status alarm information in said adjacent district processor; transmitting an empty maintenance message back from said adjacent processor to said district processor through said series of monitors in said district; encoding status alarms into said maintenance message at each monitor; and receiving district status alarms at said district processor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |