US4115661A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single channel per burst TDMA multiple transponder network
Assignee: MCI TELECOMMUNICATION Corp
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Filing: 1977-03-21
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Granted: 1978-09-19
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Expires: 1997-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A time division multiple access (TDMA) communication system has a plurality of geographically separated stations including a first group of stations, each of which can communicate with any other station in the first group through a first transponder in a predetermined portion of a TDMA frame (intra-group traffic), and a second group of stations, each of which can communicate with any other station in the second group through a second transponder in a predetermined portion of a TDMA frame associated with the second transponder (intra-group traffic). The TDMA frames of the first and second transponders are synchronized and inter-group traffic, i.e., communications between a station in the first group and a station in the second group, takes place in another predetermined portion of each of the frames which is exclusive of the predetermined portion of both frames used for intra-group traffic. Transponder hopping is employed without requiring needless duplication of terminal equipment and, at the same time, assuring non-overlapping transmissions through the same transponder.
Inventors
- 👤 William G. Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/204; H04B7/212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A multi-transponder communication network for communication among a plurality of geographically remote stations comprising a first transponder associated with a first group of stations of said plurality, each of said first group of stations having means for establishing go and return communication links through said first transponder, each said link employing an identical pair of carrier frequencies, a first frequency for transmitting from a station to said first transponder, and a second frequency for transmitting from said first transponder to a station of said first group of stations, a second transponder associated with a second group of stations of said plurality, each of said second group of stations having further means for establishing go and return communication links through said second transponder, each said link employing an identical pair of carrier frequencies, a third frequency for transmitting from a station of said second transponder and a fourth frequency for transmitting from said second transponder to a station of said second group, said first group of stations including additional means for establishing go or return communication links with stations of said second group through said second transponder and said second group of stations including further additional means for correspondingly establishing return or go communication links with stations of said first group through said first transponder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A multi-transponder communication network for communication among a plurality of geographically remote stations comprising a first transponder associated with a first group of stations of said plurality, each of said first group of stations having means for establishing go and return communication links through said first transponder, each said link employing an identical pair of carrier frequencies, a first frequency for transmitting from a station to said first transponder, and a second frequency for transmitting from said first transponder to a station of said first group of stations, a second transponder associated with a second group of stations of said plurality, each of said second group of stations having further means for establishing go and return communication links through said second transponder, each said link employing an identical pair of carrier frequencies, a third frequency for transmitting from a station of said second transponder and a fourth frequency for transmitting from said second transponder to a station of said second group, said first group of stations including additional means for establishing go or return communication links with stations of said second group through said second transponder and said second group of stations including further additional means for correspondingly establishing return or go communication links with stations of said first group through said first transponder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said means employ time division multiple access with periodic reference bursts, said further means also employing time division multiple access with further periodic reference bursts, said reference bursts and further reference bursts establishing respective time division multiple access frames synchronized with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network of claim 2 wherein said further means and additional further means operate in predetermined portions of said time division multiple access frames.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The network of claim 3 wherein said predetermined portions of said frames occur simultaneously.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The network of claim 1 in which said further means and further additional means establish go and return communication links, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said further means and additional further means establish return and go communication links, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
A time division multiple access network for communication between a plurality of geographically separated stations through at least two satellite-located transponders, comprising a first transponder associated with a first group of stations of said plurality, each of said first group of stations capable of establishing go and return communication links through said first transponder using a first common up-link frequency and a first common down-link frequency, a second transponder associated with the second group of stations of said plurality, each of said second group of stations capable of establishing go and return communication links through said second transponder using a second common up-link frequency and a second common down-link frequency, said first group of stations capable of establishing go or return communication links with stations of said second group through said second transponder, exclusive of said first transponder, and said second group of stations capable of correspondingly establishing return or go communication links with stations of said first group through said first transponder, exclusive of said second transponder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
168 words
A time division multiple access network for communication between a plurality of geographically separated stations through at least two satellite-located transponders, comprising a first transponder associated with a first group of stations of said plurality, each of said first group of stations capable of establishing go and return communication links through said first transponder using a first common up-link frequency and a first common down-link frequency, a second transponder associated with the second group of stations of said plurality, each of said second group of stations capable of establishing go and return communication links through said second transponder using a second common up-link frequency and a second common down-link frequency, said first group of stations capable of establishing go or return communication links with stations of said second group through said second transponder, exclusive of said first transponder, and said second group of stations capable of correspondingly establishing return or go communication links with stations of said first group through said first transponder, exclusive of said second transponder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
A time division multiple access communication network including a plurality of geographically separated stations and a plurality of satellite transponders in which a first group of stations of said plurality communicates with other stations in said group only through a first transponder and a second group of stations of said plurality communicates with other stations of said second group only through a second transponder, the improvement comprising: means enabling communication between stations of said first and second groups comprising first switching means at stations of said first group enabling a communication link with stations of said second group through said first transponder and second switching means at stations of said second group enabling a communication link with stations of said first group through said second transponder, wherein said respective communication links are in complementary directions to enable go and return communication channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
142 words
A time division multiple access communication network including a plurality of geographically separated stations and a plurality of satellite transponders in which a first group of stations of said plurality communicates with other stations in said group only through a first transponder and a second group of stations of said plurality communicates with other stations of said second group only through a second transponder, the improvement comprising: means enabling communication between stations of said first and second groups comprising first switching means at stations of said first group enabling a communication link with stations of said second group through said first transponder and second switching means at stations of said second group enabling a communication link with stations of said first group through said second transponder, wherein said respective communication links are in complementary directions to enable go and return communication channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 8 in which communications are carried out in respective repetitive frames and said first and second switching means are operated for a predetermined portion of said respective repetitive frames.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 9 in which said first and second switching means are operated simultaneously in said frames.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 9 in which said first switching means, when operated, enables the associated station of said first group to transmit to said second transponder and said second switching means, when operated, enables the associated station of said second group to transmit to said first transponder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 9 in which said first switching means, when operated, enables the associated station of said first group to receive from said second transponder and said second switching means, when operated, enables the associated station of said second group to receive from said first transponder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 10 in which said predetermined portions include a plurality of traffic slots, only a single station transmitting into a given slot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 13 in which said predetermined portions include a plurality of go traffic slots and a further separate portion of return traffic slots.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 14 in which at least one go traffic slot has a corresponding return traffic slot normally available for use only with said go traffic slot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 14 in which each go traffic slot has a corresponding return traffic slot normally available for use only with said go traffic slot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 15 in which said at least one go traffic slot occurs simultaneously in said frames with said corresponding return traffic slot.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of TDMA communications between a station of a first group normally communicating with other stations of said first group through a first transponder having an up-link and down-link frequency, and a station of a second group, normally communicating with other stations of said second group through a second transponder having a different up-link and down-link frequency, comprising the steps of: a. synchronizing TDMA frames of said first and second transponders; b. controlling said station of said first group to communicate with other first group stations only in a first predetermined portion of said first transponder frame; c. controlling said station of said second group to communicate with other second group stations only in a first predetermined portion of said second transponder frame, said first predetermined portion of said second transponder frame overlapping, at least in part, with said first predetermined portion of said first transponder frame; d. enabling communication between said first and second group stations through said first transponder and complementary communication between said first and second group stations through said second transponder for a second predetermined portion of said frames exclusive of said first predetermined portions.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
190 words
A method of TDMA communications between a station of a first group normally communicating with other stations of said first group through a first transponder having an up-link and down-link frequency, and a station of a second group, normally communicating with other stations of said second group through a second transponder having a different up-link and down-link frequency, comprising the steps of: a. synchronizing TDMA frames of said first and second transponders; b. controlling said station of said first group to communicate with other first group stations only in a first predetermined portion of said first transponder frame; c. controlling said station of said second group to communicate with other second group stations only in a first predetermined portion of said second transponder frame, said first predetermined portion of said second transponder frame overlapping, at least in part, with said first predetermined portion of said first transponder frame; d. enabling communication between said first and second group stations through said first transponder and complementary communication between said first and second group stations through said second transponder for a second predetermined portion of said frames exclusive of said first predetermined portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step (d) includes i. enabling said station of said first group to transmit to said second transponder; ii. enabling said station of said second group to transmit to said first transponder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 19 for communications initiated by said first group station and wherein said step (i) includes 1. enabling said first group station to transmit in a one slot of a number of slots only in a selected segment of said second predetermined portion of said frame; 2. enabling said second group station to transmit in another slot of a number of slots in a segment of said second predetermined portion of said frame, said another slot corresponding to said one slot.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said one and another slots of steps (1) and (2) occur simultaneously in said frames.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step (d) includes i. enabling said station of said first group to receive from said second transponder, and ii. enabling said station of said second group to receive from said first transponder.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 22 for communications initiated by said first group station and wherein said step (i) includes 1. enabling said first group station to transmit in a one slot of a number of slots only in a selected segment of said second predetermined portion of said frame; 2. enabling said second group station to transmit in another slot of a number of slots in a segment of said second predetermined portion of said frame said another slot corresponding to said one slot.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said one and another slots of steps (1) and (2) occur simultaneously in said frames.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4004098A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-18 | 1982-03-20 | 1982-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-18 | 1986-03-20 | 1986-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-18 | 1990-03-20 | 1990-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |