HF radio system with concurrent and quicker channel search capabilities
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorDavid A. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radio transceiver includes an alternate channel searching algorithm that reduces alternate channel search times. The alternate channel search algorithm determines the actual availability of alternate channels by receiving squitter messages. The alternate channels are ranked according to signal-to-noise ratios and displayed for selection by an operator. The squitter messages are received while the radio is not communicating on the main channel.
Claims20
A radio capable of receiving radio signals on an HF data link, the radio signals being communicated on at least a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel, the radio signals being communicated in accordance with a time division multiplexed protocol including a plurality of time slots, wherein a first squitter message is provided on the first channel in a first time slot of the time slots, wherein a second squitter message is provided on the second channel in a second time slot of the time slots, wherein a third squitter message is provided on the third channel in a third time slot of the time slots, the radio comprising a receiver means for receiving the radio signals and a control means for tuning the receiver means to at least the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel, wherein the control means causes the receiver means to receive the second squitter message while the radio is waiting to communicate information on the first channel in accordance with the time division multiplexed protocol, the control means monitoring the availability of the second channel in response to the second squitter message, whereby synchronization to alternate channels is achieved more quickly.
A transceiver apparatus for use with a high frequency (HF) radio communication system, the communication system including a plurality of channels, the communication system operates in a plurality of time slots, wherein one time slot of the slots contains a protocol message, the transceiver apparatus comprising:
- an antenna;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the antenna, wherein the control circuit communicates information on a selected channel of the channels in a particular time slot of the time slots via the antenna in accordance with the protocol message, wherein the control circuit receives the protocol message from at least one different channel of the channels when the information on the selected channel is not germane to protocol operation on the selected channel, the control circuit determining the availability of the different channel in response to the protocol message from the different channel.
A method of determining availability of alternative channels on a high frequency (HF) link, the method comprising:
- receiving a main squitter message on a main channel;
- communicating in at least one assigned time slot on the main channel;
- receiving at least one alternative squitter message on at least one of the alternative channels in a non-assigned time slot;
- and
- determining the availability of the at least one alternative channel in response to the alternative squitter message.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.