Frequency Hopping Synchronization via Segmented Acquisition Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Frequency hopping systems face challenges in synchronization due to increased bandwidth requirements, leading to reduced receiver sensitivity and longer synchronization delays, especially in mobile data and voice applications where devices frequently lose and regain signal, necessitating more efficient methods to minimize re-synchronization times without additional frequency coordination components.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a hopping interleave ratio and timing to reduce the number and duration of acquisition frequencies, distributing them throughout the hop cycle, allowing for faster synchronization and re-synchronization without waiting for a full cycle, and using shorter acquisition channel transmit durations to minimize receiver scan times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the receiver scans all frequencies in a particular hopset to achieve synchronization, then the receiver can establish frequency hopping synchronization, but the synchronization delay becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization establishmentVSAvoidsynchronization delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hopset frequencies are segmented into two distinct groups: acquisition frequencies (a small number of predetermined channels) and payload frequencies (the remaining frequencies). The receiver only needs to scan the acquisition frequencies to establish synchronization, while payload frequencies are transmitted only after synchronization is achieved. This segmentation dramatically reduces the scan time and synchronization delay while maintaining reliable synchronization establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the transmitter increases transmit bandwidth to support higher data rates, then data transmission capacity increases, but receiver sensitivity degrades due to widened receive filter bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata rateVSAvoidreceiver sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency spectrum is segmented into acquisition frequencies and payload frequencies. Acquisition frequencies use narrow bandwidth for reliable synchronization with high receiver sensitivity, while payload frequencies can utilize wider bandwidth for high-data-rate transmission. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high productivity during payload transmission without sacrificing receiver sensitivity during the synchronization phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic acquisition frequencies that are transmitted at regular intervals throughout the hop cycle. These periodic transmissions on acquisition frequencies provide continuous synchronization opportunities, allowing the receiver to maintain synchronization without requiring continuous wideband transmission, thus preserving receiver sensitivity while supporting high data rates during payload phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the per frequency transmit duration is increased to maintain equal frequency usage, then frequency distribution remains uniform, but the receiver scan time and synchronization delay increase proportionally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency usage distributionVSAvoidreceiver scan time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transmit duration is segmented and differentiated between acquisition frequencies and payload frequencies. Acquisition frequencies have significantly shorter transmit durations optimized for rapid scanning and synchronization, while payload frequencies have longer durations optimized for data transmission. This segmentation allows uniform frequency usage over the complete hop cycle while minimizing receiver scan time, as the receiver only needs to detect the shorter acquisition frequency transmissions to establish synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10313992B2System and method for synchronizing frequency hopping transmitters, receivers, transceivers, repeaters and other radio networks

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 MARVEL ERIC

AI summary

A method of synchronizing frequency hopping transmitters, receivers, transceivers, repeaters and other radio networks is provided, utilizing non-coordinated shared frequencies bands that synchronizes communications between transmitter(s) and receiver(s) via a pool of frequencies having a first group of frequencies being assigned to transmit for a specific duration per frequency per transmission and a second group of frequencies in which the total number of frequencies is a paired first factor of the first group's total number of frequencies or a paired first factor of any factor of the first group's total number of frequencies and which is then divided into transmit slots, the duration being a fraction of the first groups transmit duration and also being the corresponding paired second factor of the first groups total number of frequencies.