Reconfigurable radio system architecture

Claim 2

A field configurable radio frequency communications system comprising: a radio frequency unit having a transmitter section for receiving carrier based modulated digital signals for transmission, and having a receiver section for receiving carrier based modulated signals and outputting carrier based modulated digital signals; a configurable carrier based digital signal processing circuit, responsive to digital commands, for configuration in accordance to any of a plural communications signaling schemes to receive digital input signals for modulation as carrier based signals modulated digital signals to be supplied to the transmitter section, and for configuration in accordance to any of a plural communications signaling schemes to receive carrier based modulated digital signals from the receiver section for demodulation as digital signals; an input circuit adapted for receiving digital commands for selecting the transmitter and receiver modes of operation and for selecting the communications signaling scheme, and a control system, including at least one digital processor that is responsive to digital commands received by the input circuit, for processing digital commands to configure the digital signal processing circuit to modulate input digital signals as carrier based modulated digital signals in the transmitter mode of operation in accordance with the selected communications signaling scheme, and to demodulate carrier based modulated digital signals as digital signals in the receiver mode of operation in accordance with the selected communications signaling scheme.

Claim 3

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 1 wherein: the control system includes a memory for storing digital commands for configuring the radio frequency communications system for transmitter and receiver modes of operation, and for storing digital commands for plural communications signaling schemes.

Claim 4

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 2 wherein: the digital commands received by the input circuit includes commands in the form of complete radio frequency communication system configurations as well as modification and upgrades to previously stored commands.

Claim 5

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 3 wherein: the control system controls the loading of the digital commands into the memory.

Claim 6

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 4 wherein: the carrier frequency of transmission and reception of the carrier based signals of the radio frequency unit are in the radio frequency range, and the carrier frequency of the carrier based modulated digital signal of the digital processing circuit are at intermediate frequencies.

Claim 7

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 5 wherein: the input circuit is adapted to receive configuration software programs for storage in the memory.

Claim 8

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 6 wherein: the control system includes two digital processors, the first digital processor being responsive to instructions from the input circuit to process corresponding configuration commands and software programs from memory to interconnect the digital processing circuit with the first signal processor via the second digital processor and configure the digital processing circuit to the selected transmitter and receiver modes of operations and the selected communication signaling scheme.

Claim 9

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 7 wherein: the control systems includes an additional digital processor, responsive to the transfer of configuration commands and software programs, that is adapted to be interconnected with the first and second digital processors and the digital processing circuit, and configured so as to provide expanded control capability with the first digital processor to control the configuration and the operation of the radio frequency communications system.

Claim 10

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 7 wherein: the second digital processor is a control programmable gate array that is responsive to commands from the first data processor that provides for the interconnection of the first digital processor and the digital signal processing circuit and processing of configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 11

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 9 wherein: the control system includes a third digital signal processors functions as an auxiliary digital processor coupled to the control programmable gate array to receive configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 12

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 10 wherein: the third digital processor is coupled to the control programmable gate array via a second programmable gate array.

Claim 13

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 11 wherein: fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array to receive configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 14

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 12 wherein: the fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array via a third programmable array.

Claim 15

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 13 wherein: the third digital processor is adapted to receive configuration commands and software programs from memory for configuration so as to process voice and data digital signals.

Claim 16

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 14 wherein: the fourth digital processor is adaptive to receive configuration commands and software programs from memory for configuration so as to provide encryption and decryption of digital signals.

Claim 17

A field configurable radio frequency receiver system comprising: a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio frequency modulated signals and outputting intermediate frequency modulated digital signals; an input circuit for receiving digital signals for selecting the receiver mode of operation and signaling scheme to be employed, and a configurable intermediate frequency digital processing circuit responsive to digital signals for configuration to the selected receiver mode of operation and signaling scheme for demodulating the intermediate frequency modulated digital signals from the radio frequency receiver to digital signals, and a control system, including at least one digital signal processor that is responsive to digital signals received by the input circuit for configuring the intermediate frequency digital signal processing circuit for the selected receiver mode of operation and the selected signaling scheme.

Claim 18

A field configurable radio frequency receiver system comprising: a radio frequency receiver for receiving radio frequency modulated signals and outputting intermediate frequency modulated digital signals; an input circuit for receiving digital signals for selecting the receiver mode of operation and signaling scheme to be employed, and a configurable intermediate frequency digital processing circuit responsive to digital signals for configuration to the selected receiver mode of operation and signaling scheme for demodulating the intermediate frequency modulated digital signals from the radio frequency receiver to digital signals, and a control system, including at least one digital signal processor that is responsive to digital signals received by the input circuit for configuring the intermediate frequency digital signal processing circuit for the selected receiver mode of operation and the selected signaling scheme.

Claim 19

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 16 wherein: the control system includes a memory for storing digital signals for configuring the radio frequency receiver system for plural receiver modes of operation, and for storing digital signals for plural communications signaling schemes.

Claim 20

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 17 wherein: the configuration digital signals received by the input circuit includes digital commands in the form of complete radio frequency receiver system configurations as well as modification and upgrades to configuration commands stored in memory.

Claim 21

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 18 wherein: the control system controls the loading of the configuration commands into the memory.

Claim 22

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 19 wherein: the input circuit is adapted to received configuration commands and software programs for storage in the memory.

Claim 23

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 20 wherein: the control system includes two digital processors, the first digital processor being responsive to instructions from the input circuit to process corresponding configuration commands and software programs from memory to interconnect the digital processing circuit with the first digital signal processor via the second digital processor and configure the digital processing circuit to the selected receiver mode of operations and the selected signaling scheme.

Claim 24

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 21 wherein: the second digital processor is a control programmable gate array that is responsive to commands from the first data processor that provides for the interconnection of the first digital processor and the digital signal processing circuit and processing of configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 25

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 22 wherein: the control system includes a third digital signal processors functions as an auxiliary digital processor coupled to the control programmable gate array to receive configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 26

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 23 wherein; the third digital processor is coupled to the control programmable gate array via a second programmable gate array.

Claim 27

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 24 wherein: fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array to receive configuration commands and soft ware programs.

Claim 28

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 25 wherein: the fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array via a third programmable array.

Claim 29

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 26 wherein: the third digital processor is adapted to receive configuration commands and software programs from memory for configuration so as to process voice and data digital signals.

Claim 30

A radio frequency receiver system as defined in claim 27 wherein: the fourth digital processor is adaptive to receive configuration commands and software programs from memory for configuration so as to provide encryption and decryption of digital signals.

Claim 31

A field configurable radio frequency transmitter system comprising: a radio frequency transmitter for receiving intermediate frequency modulated digital signals and transmitting radio frequency modulated signals; an input circuit for receiving digital signals selecting the transmitter mode and signaling scheme to be employed, and a configurable intermediate frequency digital processing circuit responsive to digital signals for configuration to the selected transmitter mode of operation and signaling scheme to modulate digital input signals as intermediate frequency modulated digital signals for transmission, and a control system, including at least one digital signal processor that is responsive to digital signals received by the input circuit for configuring the intermediate frequency digital signal processing circuit for the selected transmitter mode of operation and the selected signaling scheme.

Claim 32

A field configurable radio frequency transmitter system comprising: a radio frequency transmitter for receiving intermediate frequency modulated digital signals and transmitting radio frequency modulated signals; an input circuit for receiving digital signals selecting the transmitter mode and signaling scheme to be employed, and a configurable intermediate frequency digital processing circuit responsive to digital signals for configuration to the selected transmitter mode of operation and signaling scheme to modulate digital input signals as intermediate frequency modulated digital signals for transmission, and a control system, including at least one digital signal processor that is responsive to digital signals received by the input circuit for configuring the intermediate frequency digital signal processing circuit for the selected transmitter mode of operation and the selected signaling scheme.

Claim 33

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 29 wherein: the control system includes a memory for storing digital signals for configuring the radio frequency transmitter system for transmitter plural transmitter modes of operation, and for storing digital signals for plural communications signaling schemes.

Claim 34

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 29 wherein: the configuration digital signals received by the input circuit includes commands in the form of complete radio frequency transmitter system configurations as well as modification and upgrades to configuration commands stored in memory.

Claim 35

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 31 wherein: the control system controls the loading of the configuration commands into the memory.

Claim 36

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 32 wherein: the input circuit is adapted to received configuration commands and software programs for storage in the memory.

Claim 37

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 33 wherein: the control system includes two digital processors, the first digital processor being responsive to instructions from the input circuit to process corresponding configuration commands and software programs from memory to interconnect the digital processing circuit with the first digital signal processor via the second digital processor and configure the digital processing circuit to the selected transmitter mode of operations and the selected signaling scheme.

Claim 38

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 34 wherein: the control system includes a third digital signal processors functions as an auxiliary digital processor coupled to the control programmable gate array to receive configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 39

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 35 wherein: the second digital processor is a control programmable gate array that is responsive to commands from the first data processor that provides for the interconnection of the first digital processor and the digital processing circuit and processing of configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 40

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 36 wherein; the third digital processor is coupled to the control programmable gate array via a second programmable gate array.

Claim 41

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 37 wherein: fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array to receive digital commands and software programs.

Claim 42

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 38 wherein: the fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array via a third programmable array.

Claim 43

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 39 wherein: the third digital processor is adapted to receive configuration commands and software programs from memory for configuration to process voice and data digital signals.

Claim 44

A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 40 wherein: the fourth digital processor is adaptive to receive configuration commands and software programs from memory for configuration to provide encryption and decryption of digital signals.

Claim 45

A control system for a field configurable communications system including a radio frequency transceiver comprising: a digital intermediate frequency stage responsive to digital instructions to configure into plural receiver and transmitter modes of operation; an input circuit for receiving digital instructions for selecting the receiver and transmitter modes of operation; a control circuit responsive to digital instructions received by the input circuit to configure the digital intermediate frequency stage to function with the radio frequency transceiver in the selected receiver and transmitter modes of operation; wherein, the control circuit includes a memory for storing digital commands for configuring the radio frequency communications system for plural transmitter and receiver modes of the operation including plural signaling schemes, and the control circuit processes the digital commands to configure the digital intermediate frequency stage to function in the selected one of the plural transmitter and receiver modes and with the selected one of the plural signaling schemes.

Claim 46

A control system for a field configurable communications system including a radio frequency transceiver comprising: a digital intermediate frequency stage responsive to digital instructions to configure into plural receiver and transmitter modes of operation; an input circuit for receiving digital instructions for selecting the receiver and transmitter modes of operation; a control circuit responsive to digital instructions received by the input circuit to configure the digital intermediate frequency stage to function with the radio frequency transceiver in the selected receiver and transmitter modes of operation; wherein, the control circuit includes a memory for storing digital commands for configuring the radio frequency communications system for plural transmitter and receiver modes of the operation including plural signaling schemes, and the control circuit processes the digital commands to configure the digital intermediate frequency stage to function in the selected one of the plural transmitter and receiver modes and with the selected one of the plural signaling schemes.

Claim 47

A control system as defined in claim 42 wherein: the control circuit includes a digital processor for processing commands from memory corresponding to input instructions to configure the configurable digital intermediate frequency stage.

Claim 48

A control system as defined in claim 43 wherein: the input circuit is adapted to receive transmitter and receiver operating mode configuration commands and signaling scheme configuration commands, to be loaded into the memory.

Claim 49

A control system as defined in claim 44 wherein: the configuration instructions received by the input circuit includes instructions in the form of complete communications system configurations as well as modification and upgrades to configuration instructions stored in memory.

Claim 50

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 45 wherein: the input circuit is adapted to receive digital configuration instructions and configuration software programs for storage in the memory.

Claim 51

A control system as defined in claim 46 wherein: the control circuit includes two digital processors, the first digital processor being responsive to instructions from the input circuit to process corresponding configuration commands and software programs from memory to interconnect the processing circuit with the first signal processor via the second digital processor and configure the processing circuit to the selected transmitter and receiver modes of operations and the selected signaling scheme.

Claim 52

A control system as defined in claim 47 wherein: the control systems includes an additional digital processor, responsive to the process of configuration instructions and software programs, that is adapted to be interconnected with the first and second digital processors and the processing circuit, and configured so as to provide expanded control capability with the first digital processor to control the configuration and the operation of the communications system.

Claim 53

A control system as defined in claim 47 wherein: the second digital processor is a control programmable gate array that is responsive to instructions from the first data processor that provides for the interconnection of the first digital processor and the processing circuit and processing of configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 54

A control system as defined in claim 49 wherein: the control circuit includes a third digital signal processors functions as an auxiliary digital processor coupled to the control programmable gate array to receive configuration instructions and software programs.

Claim 55

A control system as defined in claim 50 wherein: the third digital processor is coupled to the control programmable gate array via a second programmable gate array.

Claim 56

A control system as defined in claim 51 wherein: a fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array to receive configuration commands and software programs.

Claim 57

A control system as defined in claim 52 wherein: the fourth digital processor is coupled to the second programmable array via a third programmable array.

Claim 58

A control system as defined in claim 53 wherein: the third digital processor is adapted to receive configuration instructions and software programs from memory for configuration so as to process voice and data digital signals.

Claim 59

A control system as defined in claim 54 wherein: the fourth digital processor is adaptive to receive configuration instructions and software programs from memory for configuration so as to provide encryption and decryption of digital signals.

Claim 62

A method as defined in claim 56 wherein: a fifth step of operatively connecting a second digital processor to the first digital processor and the configurable digital intermediate frequency circuit through the interconnect circuit, and a sixth step of processing commands and software from memory to the second digital processor to function in the selected mode of operation and configuring the second digital signal processor to receive input signals to be transmitted and to output received signals.

Claim 63

A method as defined in claim 57 wherein: a seventh step operatively connects a third digital processor to the first digital processor and the configurable digital intermediate frequency circuit through the interconnect circuit, and an eighth step processes commands and software from memory to the third digital processor to function in the selected mode of operation scheme and configuring the third digital processor to interact with the second digital processor to further process signal to be transmitted and received signals.

Claim 64

A method as defined in claim 58 wherein: the eighth step processes commands and software to the third digital processor to configure the third digital processor to encode and decode digital signals.

Claim 65

A field configurable radio frequency communications system comprising: a radio frequency transceiver a configurable digital circuit operatively connected to the transceiver, responsive to digital signals for configuration to process signals to and from the transceiver; an input circuit for receiving digital data for configuring the radio frequency communications system for a plurality of modes of operation; memory means for storing the configuration data for the plurality of communications system configurations provided by the input circuit; selection means for selecting the configuration of the mode of operation of the radio frequency system, and control means, responsive to the selection means, for configuring the operation of the configurable digital circuit from the stored configuration data.

Claim 66

A field configurable radio frequency communications system comprising: a radio frequency transceiver a configurable digital circuit operatively connected to the transceiver, responsive to digital signals for configuration to process signals to and from the transceiver; an input circuit for receiving digital data for configuring the radio frequency communications system for a plurality of modes of operation; memory means for storing the configuration data for the plurality of communications system configurations provided by the input circuit; selection means for selecting the configuration of the mode of operation of the radio frequency system, and control means, responsive to the selection means, for configuring the operation of the configurable digital circuit from the stored configuration data.

Claim 67

A field configurable radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 60 wherein: the control means includes a plurality of digital processors responsive to the select means for processing stored data corresponding to the selected mode of operation to the configurable digital circuit.

Claim 68

A field configurable radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 61 wherein: the input and the output to the configurable digital circuit includes a multiplex arrangement so as to provide for signal processing of signals into and out of the configurable digital circuit by plural digital processors on a multiplex basis.

Claim 69

A field configurable radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 61 wherein: the configurable digital circuit is adapted to function as a modulator for the transmit mode and a demodulator for the receive mode, and the configuration data includes data for selecting the receive and transmit modes and data for selecting the signal scheme and parameters to be involved.

Claim 70

A field configurable radio frequency communications system comprising: a radio frequency unit having a radio frequency transmitter section for receiving digital signals for transmission, and having a radio frequency receiver section for outputting received signals in digital form; a memory for storing digital commands for configuring the radio frequency communications system for operation in the transmitter and receiver modes, and for storing digital commands for configuring the radio frequency communications system to operate with any of a plurality of communication signaling schemes; an input circuit for receiving instructions for selecting the transmitter and receiver modes of operation for the radio frequency communications system and for selecting which of the plurality of communications signaling scheme to be employed; a configurable digital processing circuit responsive to digital commands for configuration so as to receive input digital signals for transmission by the radio frequency transmitter and processing the input digital signals in accordance with the selected communications signaling scheme, and for configuration so as to receive the digital signals outputted by the radio frequency receiver section and processing the received digital signals in accordance with the selected communications signaling scheme, and a control system, responsive to instructions received by the input circuit and the commands in the memory for configuring the configurable digital processing circuit in accordance with the selected transmit and receive mode of operation and in accordance with the selected communication signaling scheme.

Claim 71

A field configurable radio frequency communications system comprising: a radio frequency unit having a radio frequency transmitter section for receiving digital signals for transmission, and having a radio frequency receiver section for outputting received signals in digital form; a memory for storing digital commands for configuring the radio frequency communications system for operation in the transmitter and receiver modes, and for storing digital commands for configuring the radio frequency communications system to operate with any of a plurality of communication signaling schemes; an input circuit for receiving instructions for selecting the transmitter and receiver modes of operation for the radio frequency communications system and for selecting which of the plurality of communications signaling scheme to be employed; a configurable digital processing circuit responsive to digital commands for configuration so as to receive input digital signals for transmission by the radio frequency transmitter and processing the input digital signals in accordance with the selected communications signaling scheme, and for configuration so as to receive the digital signals outputted by the radio frequency receiver section and processing the received digital signals in accordance with the selected communications signaling scheme, and a control system, responsive to instructions received by the input circuit and the commands in the memory for configuring the configurable digital processing circuit in accordance with the selected transmit and receive mode of operation and in accordance with the selected communication signaling scheme.

Claim 72

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 64 wherein: the input circuit is adapted to receive transmitter and receiver operating modes configuration digital commands and communication signal schemes configuration digital commands, to be loaded into the memory.

Claim 73

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 65 wherein: the configuration digital commands received by the input circuit includes digital commands in the form of complete radio frequency communication system configurations as well as modification and upgrades to configuration commands stored in memory.

Claim 74

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 66 wherein: the control system controls the loading of the configuration digital commands into the memory.

Claim 75

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 67 wherein: the transmission digital signals and the received digital signals are multi bit digital signals.

Claim 76

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 68 wherein: the frequency of transmission and reception of the radio frequency unit is in the radio frequency range, and the configurable digital processing circuit includes an intermediate frequency modulation circuit for processing the input digital signals to be transmitted by the radio frequency transmitter section in accordance with the selected communication signaling scheme, and an intermediate frequency demodulation circuit for processing the output digital signals from the radio frequency receiver section in accordance with the selected communication scheme.

Claim 77

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 69 wherein: the control system includes a digital processor that is responsive to receiving instructions from the input circuit to configure the digital processing circuit for the selected transmitter and receiver modes of operation and for the selected communication signal scheme, in accordance with commands in the memory corresponding to the instructions.

Claim 78

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 70 wherein: the control system includes at least two digital processors, the first digital processor is responsive to instructions from the input circuit and memory commands to interconnect the digital processing circuit with the first digital processor via the second digital processor to transmit the digital commands from the memory and configure the digital processing circuit to the selected transmitter and receiver modes of operations and the selected communication signaling scheme.

Claim 79

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 71 wherein: the control systems includes an additional third digital processor that is adapted to be interconnected with the first and second digital processors and the digital processing circuit and configured so as to provide expanded control capability to interact with the first digital processor to control the configuration and operate the radio frequency communications system.

Claim 80

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 72 wherein: the second digital processor is a control field programmable gate array that is responsive to commands from the first digital processor to provide for the interconnection of the digital processor and the digital processing circuit and for the transmission of configuration commands.

Claim 81

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 73 wherein: the control system includes a third digital processor is coupled to the first digital processor and the digital processing circuit via the second digital processor to receive configuration commands from memory to configure the third digital processor to provide further processing of the input digital signals to be applied to the digital processing circuit and received digital signal from the digital processing circuit.

Claim 82

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 74 wherein: the third digital processor functions to added processing of voice and data digital signals.

Claim 83

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 75 wherein: a fourth digital processor, responsive to commands from the memory, couples the third digital processor to the second digital processor.

Claim 84

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 76 wherein: a fifth digital processor, responsive to commands from memory, coupled to the third digital processor and the second digital processor via the fourth digital processor for further processing of the input digital signals to be applied to the digital processing circuit and received digital signal from the digital processing circuit.

Claim 85

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 77 wherein: a sixth digital processor, responsive to commands from the memory, couples the fifth digital processor to the second and third digital processor via the fourth digital processor.

Claim 86

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 78 wherein: the fifth digital processor, responsive to commands from the memory, is configured to provide encryption and decryption of the input digital signals to be applied to the digital processing circuit and received digital signal from the digital processing circuit.

Claim 87

A radio frequency communications system as defined in claim 72 wherein: the configurable digital processing circuit includes plural buffer stages connected to process signals into and out of the configurable digital processing circuit, and the control system controls the buffer stages to multiplex signal between plural digital processors.