Method and system for data communications using synchronizing signals of different data length

A communication system comprising:

• on-board communication equipment mounted in a vehicle and used to execute a communication processing according to communication signals received when passing a specified communication area;
• wherein the on-board communication equipment includes:
• a receiver configured to (i) detect at least two synchronizing signals when receiving the communication signals and (ii) execute a subsequent communication by setting a communication timing according to the detected synchronizing signals;
• and
• wherein each synchronizing signal includes a predetermined bit pattern and a predetermined data length defined by a number of bits in the bit pattern, the data length of one of the synchronizing signals being longer than the data length of the other synchronizing signal, and a portion of the bit pattern of the one synchronizing signal having the longer data length matching an entirety of the bit pattern of the other synchronizing signal;
• received data storage means for storing the synchronizing signals in a digital form;
• a first comparator for comparing a bit pattern of a first plurality of bits of the synchronizing signals stored in the received data storage means with a first reference bit pattern;
• and
• a second comparator for comparing a bit pattern of a second plurality of bits of the synchronizing signals stored in the received data storage means with a second reference bit pattern.

A method for data communications comprising:

• transmitting and receiving communication signals so as to exchange communication data, the communication signals including at least two synchronizing signals, each synchronizing signal including a predetermined bit pattern and a predetermined data length defined by a number of bits in the bit pattern, wherein (i) the data length of one of the synchronizing signals is longer than the data length of the other synchronizing signal, and (ii) a portion of the bit pattern of the one synchronizing signal having the longer data length matches an entirety of the bit pattern of the other synchronizing signal;
• adding an identification bit pattern including a specified number of bits to each of the synchronizing signals;
• and
• setting the identification bit pattern of the synchronizing signal having the shorter data length differently from the bit pattern of the synchronizing signal having the longer data length.

A communication system comprising:

• on-board communication equipment mounted in a vehicle and used to execute a communication processing according to communication signals received when passing a specified communication area;
• wherein the on-board communication equipment includes:
• a receiver configured to (i) detect at least two synchronizing signals when receiving the communication signals and (ii) execute a subsequent communication by setting a communication timing according to the detected synchronizing signals;
• and
• wherein each synchronizing signal includes a predetermined bit pattern and a predetermined data length defined by a number of bits in the bit pattern, the data length of one of the synchronizing signals being longer than the data length of the other synchronizing signal, and a portion of the bit pattern of the one synchronizing signal having the longer data length matching an entirety of the bit pattern of the other synchronizing signal;
• and
• wherein the synchronizing signal has the longer data to indicate a start of a new communication, and the synchronizing signal has the shorter data length to indicate continuation of a communication for sending subsequent data.

A communication system comprising:

• on-board communication equipment mounted in a vehicle and used to execute a communication processing according to communication signals received when passing a specified communication area;
• wherein the on-board communication equipment includes:
• a receiver configured to (i) detect at least two synchronizing signals when receiving the communication signals and (ii) execute a subsequent communication by setting a communication timing according to the detected synchronizing signals;
• and
• wherein each synchronizing signal includes a predetermined bit pattern and a predetermined data length defined by a number of bits in the bit pattern, the data length of one of the synchronizing signals being longer than the data length of the other synchronizing signal, and a portion of the bit pattern of the one synchronizing signal having the longer data length matching an entirety of the bit pattern of the other synchronizing signal;
• and
• road side communication equipment configured to communicate with the on-board communication equipment by sending communication signals to the specified communication area;
• wherein the road side communication equipment includes a transmitter configured to transmit the communication signals to the receiver of the on-board communication equipment;
• and
• wherein the transmitter transmits based upon selection of one of the synchronizing signals when starting a communication.

A communication system comprising:

• on-board communication equipment mounted in a vehicle and used to execute a communication processing according to communication signals received when passing a specified communication area;
• wherein the on-board communication equipment includes:
• a receiver configured to (i) detect at least two synchronizing signals when receiving the communication signals and (ii) execute a subsequent communication by setting a communication timing according to the detected synchronizing signals;
• and
• wherein each synchronizing signal includes a predetermined bit pattern and a predetermined data length defined by a number of bits in the bit pattern, the data length of one of the synchronizing signals being longer than the data length of the other synchronizing signal, and a portion of the bit pattern of the one synchronizing signal having the longer data length matching an entirety of the bit pattern of the other synchronizing signal;
• wherein the synchronizing signal having the shorter data length includes identification code bits;
• and
• the receiver further has:
• received data storage means for storing the synchronizing signals in a digital form;
• a first comparator for comparing a bit pattern of a first plurality of bits of the synchronizing signals stored in the received data storage means with a first reference bit pattern;
• a second comparator for comparing a bit pattern of a second plurality of bits of the received data storage means with a second reference bit pattern;
• a decoder for decoding the identification code;
• and
• a receiving start determination circuit for receiving outputs of the comparators and the decoder to determine a start of receiving subsequent data.

A method for data communications, the method comprising:

• transmitting and receiving communication signals so as to exchange communication data, the communication signals including at least two synchronizing signals, each synchronizing signal including a predetermined bit pattern and a predetermined data length defined by a number of bits in the bit pattern, wherein (i) the data length of one of the synchronizing signals is longer than the data length of the other synchronizing signal, and (ii) a portion of the bit pattern of the one synchronizing signal having the longer data length matches an entirety of the bit pattern of the other synchronizing signal;
• and
• processing subsequent communication data in accordance with the at least two synchronizing signals;
• wherein the transmitting and receiving further comprise transmitting the communication signals including the synchronizing signal having the longer data length in order to indicate a start of a new communication, and transmitting the communication signals including the synchronizing signal having the shorter data length in order to indicate continuation of a communication for sending subsequent data.

A communication system comprising:

• on-board communication equipment mounted in a vehicle and used to execute a communication processing according to communication signals received when passing a specified communication area, the on-board communication equipment including:
• a receiver configured to (i) detect synchronizing signals when receiving the communication signals and (ii) execute a subsequent communication by setting a communication timing according to the detected synchronizing signals, the receiver further including;
• received data storage means for storing the synchronizing signals in a digital form;
• a first comparator for comparing a bit pattern of a first plurality of bits of the synchronizing signals stored in the received data storage means with a first reference bit pattern;
• a second comparator for comparing a bit pattern of a second plurality of bits of the synchronizing signals stored in the received data storage means with a second reference bit pattern;
• a decoder for decoding the identification code;
• and
• a receiving start determination circuit for receiving outputs of the comparators and the decoder to determine a start of receiving subsequent data;
• wherein the synchronizing signals include at least two types of bit patterns having a data length different from each other, and a bit pattern of the synchronizing signal having a longer data length includes a bit pattern of the synchronizing signal having a shorter data length;
• and
• wherein the synchronizing signal having the shorter data length includes identification code bits.