US6084919A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Communication unit having spectral adaptability
Assignee: General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc
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Filing: 1998-01-30
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Granted: 2000-07-04
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Expires: 2018-01-30
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a communications system (100) that is capable of adapting to an unknown or varying spectral environment in a channel (14) between two communications units (12, 16). The system (100) maintains a spectral profile of the channel (14) and uses the spectral profile to determine appropriate transmit parameters for the system (100). The system (100) can be programmed to provide an optimal transmit signal for achieving a predetermined performance goal (such as, for example, maximum data rate at a given bit error rate (BER)) in light of the spectral environment in the channel (14). In one embodiment, the spectral profile is maintained in a spectrum table memory (27) that is periodically (or continuously) updated.
Inventors
- 👤 John Eric Kleider
- 👤 Jeffery Scott Chuprun
- 👤 William Michael Campbell
- 👤 Chad Scott Bergstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04K; H04K3/00; H04K3/20; H04K3/22; H04K3/224; H04K3/226; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/69; H04B1/707; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/0001; H04L1/0015; H04L1/0002; H04L1/0003; H04L1/0009; H04L1/0014; H04L1/0023; H04L1/0025; H04L1/0026; H04L1/12; H04L2001/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A communications system comprising: a transmit unit for generating a signal and for transmitting said signal into a communications channel, said transmit unit being capable of varying at least one characteristic of said signal in response to a control signal; a receive unit for receiving said signal from said communications channel and for processing said signal to extract information from said signal; means for determining a spectral profile in said communications channel, said spectral profile being indicative of spectral content in said channel; means for generating said control signal based upon said spectral profile; and means for dynamically adjusting at least one receive parameter based upon said spectral profile; and said means for dynamically adjusting includes means for adjusting channel detection thresholds in said multi-channel receiver.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A communications system comprising: a transmit unit for generating a signal and for transmitting said signal into a communications channel, said transmit unit being capable of varying at least one characteristic of said signal in response to a control signal; a receive unit for receiving said signal from said communications channel and for processing said signal to extract information from said signal; means for determining a spectral profile in said communications channel, said spectral profile being indicative of spectral content in said channel; means for generating said control signal based upon said spectral profile; and means for dynamically adjusting at least one receive parameter based upon said spectral profile; and said means for dynamically adjusting includes means for adjusting channel detection thresholds in said multi-channel receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The receive unit, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said at least one characteristic of said transmit signal includes at least one of the following: data rate, symbol rate, center frequency, sampling frequency, bandwidth, and power level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said means for determining is located in said receive unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said means for determining is located in said transmit unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said means for generating is located in said transmit unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said means for determining comprises a spectrum analyzer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said means for generating said control signal includes a microprocessor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said receive unit comprises a multi-channel receiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said communications system overlays at least one of the following: a partialband communications system and a narrowband communications system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
A subsystem for use in a communications system that is operative in a predetermined frequency band, said subsystem comprising: a spectrum analysis unit for monitoring spectral content within said predetermined frequency band; a processor for determining transmit signal parameter values for achieving a predetermined performance goal based on said spectral content; a signal modulation/coding unit, responsive to said processor, for generating a transmit signal based on said transmit signal parameter values; a memory associated with said processor for storing at least one transmit signal parameter determination algorithm; and said memory includes a plurality of algorithms that each correspond to a different system performance goal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
A subsystem for use in a communications system that is operative in a predetermined frequency band, said subsystem comprising: a spectrum analysis unit for monitoring spectral content within said predetermined frequency band; a processor for determining transmit signal parameter values for achieving a predetermined performance goal based on said spectral content; a signal modulation/coding unit, responsive to said processor, for generating a transmit signal based on said transmit signal parameter values; a memory associated with said processor for storing at least one transmit signal parameter determination algorithm; and said memory includes a plurality of algorithms that each correspond to a different system performance goal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The subsystem, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said spectrum analysis unit is located within a receive unit in said communications system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The subsystem, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said signal modulation/coding unit is located in a transmit unit in said communications system, wherein said transmit unit is physically separate from said receiver unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The subsystem, as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said transmit unit and said receive unit are each part of separate handheld communicators that are each capable of duplex operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The subsystem, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said spectrum analysis unit is located within a transmit unit in said communications system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The subsystem, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said signal modulation/coding unit includes a source coder for performing variable rate data compression on a data signal in accordance with a control signal from said processor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The subsystem, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said signal modulation/coding unit includes a channel coder/interleaver for performing variable channel coding/interleaving on a data signal in accordance with a control signal from said processor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The subsystem, as claimed in claim 10, wherein: said signal modulation/coding unit includes a multi-mode modulator for performing variable modulation functions on a data signal in accordance with a control signal from said processor, wherein said variable modulation functions include adjusting at least one of the following for the data signal: data rate, symbol rate, center frequency, sampling frequency, bandwidth, power level, modulation type, processing gain, and spreading waveform type.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for use in a communications system that is operative in a predetermined frequency band, wherein said communications system includes a transmit unit, a receive unit, and a communications channel for use in carrying a signal between the transmit unit and the receive unit, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first signal from the channel in the receive unit; performing a spectrum analysis on said first signal to identify potentially interfering spectral components in the predetermined frequency band; determining transmit signal parameter values based on potentially interfering spectral components identified in said performing step; generating a transmit signal in the transmit unit using said transmit signal parameter values; and said step of determining includes determining transmit signal parameter values that result in a transmit signal having a spectral content that occupies portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not substantially occupied by the potentially interfering spectral components.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for use in a communications system that is operative in a predetermined frequency band, wherein said communications system includes a transmit unit, a receive unit, and a communications channel for use in carrying a signal between the transmit unit and the receive unit, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a first signal from the channel in the receive unit; performing a spectrum analysis on said first signal to identify potentially interfering spectral components in the predetermined frequency band; determining transmit signal parameter values based on potentially interfering spectral components identified in said performing step; generating a transmit signal in the transmit unit using said transmit signal parameter values; and said step of determining includes determining transmit signal parameter values that result in a transmit signal having a spectral content that occupies portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not substantially occupied by the potentially interfering spectral components.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method, as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said step of determining includes calculating transmit signal parameter values to achieve a desired performance goal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method, as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said step of determining includes determining a processing gain for the transmit signal.
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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) | 2003-07-04 | 2004-01-03 | 2004-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-04 | 2008-01-03 | 2008-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-04 | 2012-01-03 | 2012-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |