Integrated data link concept for air traffic control applications

Patent 5440544 Issued on August 8, 1995. Estimated Expiration Date:

December 27, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3875339

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Inventor

Zinser, Jr., Richard L.

Application

No. 173226 filed on 12/27/1993

US Classes:

370/319, Multiple access (e.g., FDMA)370/321, Time division (TDMA)370/330, Having both time and frequency assignment375/285, Antinoise or distortion375/346, Interference or noise reduction455/63.1Distortion, noise, or other interference prevention, reduction, or compensation

Examiners

Primary: Hsu, Alpus H.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Zale; Lawrence P., Snyder; Marvin

International Classes

H04J 004/00
H04M 011/00

Abstract

An integrated full duplex radio data link for aircraft capable of a sustained 4 to 8 Mb/sec raw data transfer rate communicates on newly proposed dedicated digital channels (DDC) for radio communications between the existing analog VHF amplitude modulated (AM) voice channels, and causes no perceptible interference to the remaining AM voice channels. While the present invention is intended primarily for terminal areas and airport surface applications, it may be employed with enroute applications. The present invention transmits AM encoded digital aircraft identification information appended to AM voice transmissions. An ground unit strips off the aircraft identification and assigns a DDC frequency to that aircraft unit over a control uplink channel (CUC) for further data communication. Downlink information, such as acknowledgement of the DDC assigned is transmitted over a digital control downlink channel (CDC). Data communication then proceeds on the DDC. The data is transmitted as a low power encoded signal having a constant envelope, and narrow bandwidth. Any interference from the DDC into the AM voice channel appears as background "white noise" to the AM receiver. The channel assignment scheme allows the present invention to function at an acceptable bit error rate.

Other References

Nov. 1993--"Integrated VHF Data Link for Air Traffic Control Applications", Handouts for a Presentation at the Air Traffic Control Assoc. (ATCA) Conference
Nov. 1993--"12.5 khz Offset Channel High Capacity VHF Data Link", Handouts Given During the Presentation to the FAA at Emergy Riddle Aeronautical Univ., Daytona Beach, Fla
Apr. 1993--Confidential `White Paper` Marked as `GE Confidential` Sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in Response to a Broad Area Announcement RFI 930219-0465
Dec. 1992--"Integrated VHF Data Link Concept for Air Traffic Control Applications", Slides of a Talk Given to the FAA at General Electric CR&D, Schenectady, N.Y.; and the FAA and Mitre Corp. which Evaluates Proposals for the FAA, at the FAA
Oct. 1992--"Integrated VHF Data Link Concept for Air Traffic Control Applications", Slides of a Talk Given to the FAA and Mitre Corp., Washington, D.C
Oct. 1992--"Integrated VHF Data Link Concept for Air Traffic Control Applications" Provided as a Confidential Document to the FAA and Mitre Cor