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US5239672A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Synchronization method and apparatus for simulcast transmission system

Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1991-06-28
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Granted: 1993-08-24
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Expires: 2011-06-28
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Abstract

Abstract A method of synchronizing a plurality of remote site transmitters (200) in a digital simulcast transmission system is described that enables use of four-level modulation on two-level modulation systems. A synchronization signal is transmitted at a predetermined data rate from a prime site, which signal might include a synchronization pattern having a first and a second portion. The first portion of the synchronization pattern is used for synchronization, while the second portion indicates the completion of the first portion. The method includes detecting (205, 320) of the first portion of the synchronization pattern. Each remote site transmitter (200) further has a modulation clock having a phase polarity which is selected (215, 324) in response to the detection of the first portion of the synchronization signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Christopher N. Kurby
  • 👤 John P. Monson
  • 👤 Krsman Martinovich
  • 👤 David G. Wiatrowski

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 13:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04H; H04H20/00; H04H20/65; H04H20/67

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 194 words
In a simulcast transmission system having a prime site and a plurality of remote site transmitters, a method for synchronizing the plurality of remote site transmitters with each other, using a received asynchronous data signal that, from time to time, includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the data signal being modulated to a first level and transmitted from the prime site at a predetermined data rate, the first pattern being used for synchronization, the second pattern indicating completion of the first pattern, each of the plurality of remote site transmitters having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate and a modulation clock pulse, the modulation clock pulse having at least a first and second phase polarity, the method comprising the steps of, at each of the plurality of remote site transmitters: detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; selecting, responsive to said step of detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse; and buffering, responsive to the step of selecting, particular portions of the data signal for modulation to a second level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 194 words
In a simulcast transmission system having a prime site and a plurality of remote site transmitters, a method for synchronizing the plurality of remote site transmitters with each other, using a received asynchronous data signal that, from time to time, includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the data signal being modulated to a first level and transmitted from the prime site at a predetermined data rate, the first pattern being used for synchronization, the second pattern indicating completion of the first pattern, each of the plurality of remote site transmitters having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate and a modulation clock pulse, the modulation clock pulse having at least a first and second phase polarity, the method comprising the steps of, at each of the plurality of remote site transmitters: detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; selecting, responsive to said step of detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse; and buffering, responsive to the step of selecting, particular portions of the data signal for modulation to a second level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of, at each of the remote site transmitters, storing the received signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 2, wherein the step of buffering further comprises the step of, at each of the remote site transmitters, buffering di-bit pairs of said stored signal into a four level modulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of, at each of the remote site transmitters, detecting the second pattern of the synchronization sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of, at each of the remote site transmitters, receiving a control signal from the prime site, said control signal indicating that the received signal contains a synchronization sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step of detecting the first pattern is responsive to said control signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step of selecting the first phase polarity is responsive to said received control signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 210 words
In a simulcast transmission system having a prime site and a plurality of remote site transmitters, a method for synchronizing the plurality of remote site transmitters with each other, using a received asynchronous data signal that, from time to time, includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the received signal being two-level modulated and transmitted from the prime site at a first data rate and having a plurality of binary data values, the first portion being used for synchronization, the second portion indicating completion of the first portion, each remote site transmitter having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate, each remote site further having a modulation clock pulse having at least a first and a second phase polarity for buffering di-bit pairs of the received signal into a four level modulator, the method comprising the steps of, at each of the plurality of remote site transmitters: receiving a control signal from the prime site, said control signal indicating that the received signal contains a synchronization sequence; detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; and selecting, responsive to said step of detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 210 words
In a simulcast transmission system having a prime site and a plurality of remote site transmitters, a method for synchronizing the plurality of remote site transmitters with each other, using a received asynchronous data signal that, from time to time, includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the received signal being two-level modulated and transmitted from the prime site at a first data rate and having a plurality of binary data values, the first portion being used for synchronization, the second portion indicating completion of the first portion, each remote site transmitter having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate, each remote site further having a modulation clock pulse having at least a first and a second phase polarity for buffering di-bit pairs of the received signal into a four level modulator, the method comprising the steps of, at each of the plurality of remote site transmitters: receiving a control signal from the prime site, said control signal indicating that the received signal contains a synchronization sequence; detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; and selecting, responsive to said step of detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of, at each of the remote site transmitters, detecting the second pattern of the synchronization pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of, at each of the remote site transmitters, dividing the system clock frequency by two, to produce the modulation clock pulse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 8, wherein said step of detecting the first pattern is responsive to said received control signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method for synchronizing in accordance with claim 8, wherein said step of selecting the first phase polarity is further responsive to said received control signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 190 words
A remote site transmitter in a simulcast transmission system, which system includes a prime site and a plurality of such remote site transmitters requiring synchronization with each other, the remote site transmitter receiving an asynchronous data signal that, from time to time includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the received signal being two-level modulated and transmitted from the prime site at a first data rate and having a plurality of binary data values, the first pattern being used for synchronization, the second pattern indicating completion of the first pattern, the remote site transmitter having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate and a modulation clock pulse having at least a first and second phase polarity, the remote site transmitter comprising: means for detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; and means for selecting, coupled to said means for detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse; and means for buffering, coupled to said means for selecting, di-bit pairs of the data signal for inputting to a four-level modulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 190 words
A remote site transmitter in a simulcast transmission system, which system includes a prime site and a plurality of such remote site transmitters requiring synchronization with each other, the remote site transmitter receiving an asynchronous data signal that, from time to time includes a synchronization sequence having a first and a second pattern, the received signal being two-level modulated and transmitted from the prime site at a first data rate and having a plurality of binary data values, the first pattern being used for synchronization, the second pattern indicating completion of the first pattern, the remote site transmitter having a system clock operating at a frequency substantially equal to the predetermined data rate and a modulation clock pulse having at least a first and second phase polarity, the remote site transmitter comprising: means for detecting, in the received signal, the first pattern of the synchronization sequence; and means for selecting, coupled to said means for detecting the first pattern, the first phase polarity for the modulation clock pulse; and means for buffering, coupled to said means for selecting, di-bit pairs of the data signal for inputting to a four-level modulator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 17 words
A remote site transmitter in accordance with claim 13, further comprising means for storing the received signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
A remote site transmitter in accordance with claim 13, further comprising means for detecting the second pattern of the synchronization pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
A remote site transmitter in accordance with claim 13, further comprising means for receiving a control signal from the prime site, said control signal indicating that the received signal contains a synchronization sequence.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 24 words
A remote site transmitter in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for detecting the first pattern is responsive to said received control signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 25 words
A remote site transmitter in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for selecting the first phase polarity is responsive to said received control signal.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4231114A Cited
US4369443A Cited
US5060240A Cited
US5117424A Cited
US5128971A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-08-23 1997-02-22 1997-08-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-08-23 2001-02-22 2001-08-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-08-23 2005-02-22 2005-08-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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