Adaptive frequency sharing method and apparatus

[0002] The invention relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to a method for adaptive frequency sharing for use in a frequency hopping communication system.

[0003] Frequency hopping is a commonly used technique to provide a secured communication system. Frequency hopping involves the changing of the radio carrier or center frequencies periodically to avoid detection or jamming. That is, frequency hopping transmission systems are a type of spread spectrum system in which a wideband signal is generated by hopping from one frequency to another over a large number of frequency choices. In systems employing very fast frequency hopping, the signal is transmitted at each frequency for a very short period such as 20 milliseconds. The frequencies used are chosen by a pseudo random code similar to those used in direct sequence systems. For general background on spread spectrum systems, reference is made to a text entitled Spread Spectrum Systems, 2nd edition, by Robert C. Dixon and published by Wiley-Interscience, New York (1984). In order to increase the efficiency of digital radios employing spread spectrum characteristics, digital engineers have raised the number of modulation levels and have generally dealt with modulation/demodulation techniques, spectral shaping and synchronization schemes. This has led to widespread and more efficient use of the digital radio systems.

[0004] As one can ascertain, a major problem in the transmission of digital data signals is interference. Hence, interference or noise, in any communication system, plays an important part in the design and operation of the system. For general background on digital radio and particularly for microwave operation, reference is made to a text entitled Microwave Digital Radioedited by Larry J. Greenspan and Mansoor Shafi and published by the IEEE Press, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, New York (1988).

[0005] Frequency Hop (FH) radios spread their transmitted RF energy over a wide frequency spectrum by transmitting only a short burst of data on any one frequency in the allocated frequency spectrum. FH radio effectiveness with jamming and interference is based on having a large hop set of frequencies spread over a wide frequency spectrum. The object is to either make a jammer or an interferer spread its energy over the full spectrum of hop set frequencies, thereby reducing the amount of interference energy on any single frequency, or to correct the errors due to interference on a small number of frequencies by the use forward error correction coding on the transmitted data. The frequencies used are chosen by a pseudo noise code similar to those used in direct sequence systems.

[0006] FH radios perform best when greater than half of the frequencies in the hop set do not contain interference. Otherwise, the required overhead associated with low rate, forward error correction code consumes a large percentage of the channel capacity and results in a large reduction in data throughput. Unfortunately, in government or military operations, allocation of frequencies is often restricted to a small set of available frequencies.

[0007] Because FH operation does not perform well where the number of hop set frequencies is restricted, the users of such FH radios experience less-than-optimal communication performance in the field. This frequency shortage has become a more severe problem with the large amount of wireless communications required for both military and civilian communications. Permission to use a large frequency hop set for military exercises and for joint NATO operations is becoming a more intense problem. In addition to the smaller frequency hop set, more FH nets are being required to share the same frequency hop set, further increasing the mutual interference.

[0008] Accordingly, a method for minimizing interference in a frequency hopping network whereby a single frequency may be selected for data communications, which is within a predetermined tolerance level and which has low interference energy to permit data transmission on that frequency, is highly desired.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide in a frequency hopping (FH) communication system comprising a plurality of radios operable in a first FH mode for transceiving information over a plurality of frequency channels corresponding to frequencies defining a frequency hop set, a method for adaptively selecting a single frequency channel within said hop set and transceiving said information over only said single frequency channel, said method comprising the steps of determining the quality of frequency hopping transmissions received at a receiving radio terminal in the first FH mode and providing a control signal when said quality is unacceptable; and operating the radio in a single frequency mode in response to the control signal when the FH transmission quality is unacceptable by transmitting the information over only a single frequency channel within the frequency hopping set which has an interfering energy level below a threshold value indicative of acceptable transmission quality.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a radio communication frequency hopping network comprising a plurality of radios in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a radio transceiver module according to the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting the steps involved in determining the mode of operation of a transmitting radio;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the steps for selecting a frequency for single frequency transmission;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting the steps for determining signal quality within a frequency hopping communication system;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of the transmission of message channel numbers of the selected message channel number for single frequency transmission which is sent on a plurality of hopping frequencies according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting the transmission sequence and receiver sequence for transceiving a data communication in single frequency mode according to embodiment A of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting the transmission sequence and receiver sequence for transceiving a data communication in single frequency mode according to an alternative embodiment B of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a manual initiation of single frequency mode of operation according to the present invention.

[0019] Before embarking on a detailed discussion, the following should be understood. A frequency hop radio receiver is operable to listen on any frequency within a group or set of frequencies for synchronization. In situations where the number of frequencies without significant noise or interference is below a certain percent, network data throughput is increased if the radio adaptively and intelligently selects one frequency for data communications which has low interference energy, and transmits all data on that frequency rather than hopping over the frequency set.

[0020] The apparatus and method according to the present invention allows the message originating radio to examine the energy on a set of candidate frequencies, select the frequency with minimal energy, (or energy below a predetermined threshold) and transmit the data on this frequency. This invention is compatible with other frequency hop radios by allowing the receiving radio to synchronize either to a frequency hop transmission or to the new adaptive single frequency transmission without operator intervention. The architecture and functionality of such a radio is detailed in co-pending commonly assigned patent application Ser. No. 08/857,990 entitled “Radio Architecture for an Advanced Digital Radio in a Digital Communication System”, filed on May 16, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference. The invention also provides for passing Time-Of-Day (TOD) from the transmitter to the receiver during adaptive single frequency transmission mode. The frequencies in the frequency set can change based on a Time-Of-Day (TOD) clock. The transmitter sends adaptive single frequency transmission information on all synchronization frequencies in the FH set.

[0021] As previously mentioned, a frequency hop radio receiver is operable to listen on any frequency within a group or set of frequencies for synchronization. This allows the receiver to select a frequency having a minimum interfering energy.

[0022] For the method described herein, the message originator radio transmits adaptive single frequency information on the same frequencies as used for a Frequency Hop (FH) synchronization so that only a single channel receiver is required. The transmitted pattern for adaptive single frequency transmission is distinct from the FH pattern, thereby allowing the receiver to distinguish between normal FH transmission and the novel adaptive frequency transmissions.

[0023] One method of sending the distinctive patterns is to transmit one combination of synchronization patterns for FH and another pattern having a disjoint set of patterns for adaptive single frequency transmissions. In the single frequency mode, several patterns are transmitted. Each pattern is biphase modulated by one information bit. With frequency modulation signaling, the sign of the modulation is preserved while phase modulation signaling normally requires transmitting a reference phase bit for demodulation, as is well known in the art.

[0024] The radio communications system according to the present invention will now be described with reference made to the following figures, wherein like parts are indicated by like reference numerals.

[0025] A radio communication network 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The network 10 is a frequency hopping communication network wherein each of radios 20A, 20B . . . 20N transceive data with one another in a frequency hopping communication mode. Each radio includes a transmit/receiver (T/R) module 22 (22A,B, . . . ,N) for for transmitting data communications and for receiving data communications from another radio. In a frequency hopping mode of operation, a transmitting radio transmits information over a series of frequencies or frequency channels defining a frequency hop set. These frequencies may be a fixed set, or may change according to a time of day function, as is well known in the art. A receiver at a receiving radio is adapted to listen on those frequencies within a hop set and maintain synchronization with a transmitting radio for receiving the data communication transmitted over the hopping set of frequencies, so as to follow the frequency pattern in order to “demodulate” the data communication or information transmitted. In the present invention, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, a receiver portion 24 of T/R module 22 for each radio 20 comprises a pair of correlators 30, 32 coupled to RF antenna 40 for receiving signals transmitted from the transmitting radio and performing a pattern match of the incoming signal 42 to determine whether the signal is indicative of a frequency hopping mode (module 30) or a single frequency mode (module 32) of operation. That is, correlator 30 is configured to sense a first synchronization pattern in a signal transmission 42 from a transmitting radio indicative of a frequency hopping transmission of information. In contrast, correlator 32 is configured to sense a second synchronization pattern in the signal transmission which indicates that a single frequency transmission is forthcoming. Processor 50 is coupled to each of the correlators for receiving a signal output from the respective modules indicating the nature of the received transmission. Processor 50 includes hardware and software functionality for adaptively performing frequency selection and determining the mode (i.e. FH or single frequency mode) of operation of the radio. Processor 50 further includes an estimator circuit of a conventional type for measureing the SNR of the channel and estimatimating the interference energy associated with the particular frequency channel. Memory module 80, such as a RAM, is operable for storing frequency hopping data parameters, including the number of frequencies/frequency channels estimated or listened to by the receiver over a particular time interval t, as well as threshold parameters indicative of the quality of the frequency channels. Comparator circuit 60 is coupled to estimator 55 for comparing the estimated interference energy on each particular frequency channel on which the receiver is tuned to with a receiver threshold value R1 stored in memory 70. If the estimated energy level exceeds the R1 threshold value, that channel is deemed “noisy”, and a parameter representing the number of perceived “noisy” frequency channels is updated and stored in memory 70. The comparator then compares the number of frequencies in the hop set exceeding the R1 value with a second threshold value R2 in order to assess the overall quality of the FH communication network. If the number of “noisy” channels exceeds the predetermined R2 threshold, then the comparator provides a control signal 29 to control unit 80 which indicates that the overall receiver channel quality is unacceptable for frequency hopping transmission. Control unit 80, in response to the control signal operates to change the mode of operation of the radio from FH to single frequency mode. In this manner, the processor operates to maintain and update statistical parameters associated with interference on each frequency in which the receiver is tuned to, in order to determine the overall interference associated with the channels in the frequency hopping system. When the processor determines that the level of interference is sufficiently great (i.e. exceeds a predetermined percentage of the frequency channels within the hop set) the processor is operable to cause the radio to switch to a single frequency mode. A flow chart depicting the above described operation is provided in FIG. 5. In this manner, when the transmitter associated with this radio performs a signal transmission, such transmission will occur in a single frequency mode of operation. Note that while a specific decision making scheme has been shown for determining the quality of frequency hopping transmissions, numerous other statistical analyses are capable of implementation within processor 50. For example, such statistical analysis may include sampling of the last N frequencies within a given time interval in order to determine the overall acceptability of FH communications, or may also require accumulation of information on at least N frequency channels within the hop set before making a determination regarding the acceptability of the FH communication mode.

[0026] In any event, when a radio 22 is in single frequency mode, and a request to transmit a message is made by radio 22, processor 50 initiates a search of the set of hopping frequencies stored in memory 70 for one with minimal energy. A flow chart illustrating the general sequence of the transmitting radio processor 50 is provided in FIG. 3. As shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 3-4, after a request to transmit 110 has been made by a transmitting radio, and the radio determines that it is operative in Single Frequency (SF) mode (modules 130, 150), the frequency selection requires finding the first frequency in the set with energy below a threshold value. If none is found, the frequency with minimum energy is selected (module 230). In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the frequency selection proceeds as follows. Processor 50 causes the transmitting radio to tune to a randomly selected frequency in the hop set (module 160) and estimate the interference energy on the tuned frequency during a short (4 ms) time dwell (module 170). If the energy is below a predetermined threshold (module 180), the frequency is then confirmed with a long (10 ms) dwell time test (module 190). That is, an interference energy level is “re-estimated” for a second time interval, then compared with the threshold value (module 200). If this check passes, the tuned frequency is selected as the single channel frequency (module 210). If the check fails, the radio moves on to the next frequency (module 240) and repeats the short and long tests until a frequency is found that passes both tests, or until all frequencies have been tested (module 220). Note that Processor 50 includes a tuner 57 operable to randomly select the first frequency to be checked. The random selection of available frequencies assures uniform channel usage by users. This also minimizes interference at receiving radios when they are within range of two or more transmitting radios.

[0027] Note further that this set of frequencies consists of the frequency hopping frequencies allocated for FH operation over the particular network in use by the radio. In one preferred embodiment, the single frequency set contains 16 frequencies. Note that frequency set sizes are normally powers of 2. Furthermore, the number of frequencies (e.g. 16) may be in one embodiment, a fixed set of single frequency channels. In an alternate embodiment, there may exist a changing set of single frequency channels changing based on a Time-of-Day algorithm. FIG. 7 provides a flow chart of the steps involved at the transmitting and receiving radios associated with the fixed frequency set embodiment, while FIG. 8 illustrates the actions required at the transmitting and receiving radios for the changing set of frequency channels based on time-of-day using a Time-Of-Day based algorithm. Thus, if the system maintains the same Time-Of-Day at the receiver and the transmitter, the frequency set is the same at both locations.

[0028] For the 16 frequency set, the selected frequency number which is associated with the particular hopping frequency ranges from 0 to 15. This requires 4 bits to convey the information. Since each additional bit increases the frequency set size by a power of 2, the maximum frequencies can be addressed with the fewest bits if the set size is a power of 2. The selected frequency number is transmitted on the same frequencies as used for FH synchronization. FIG. 6 provides an illustration of a message channel number sent on multiple frequencies.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a flow chart 250 depicting the single frequency transmission sequence which occurs at a transmitter terminal upon selection of a frequency for Single Frequency (SF) mode. In the case of a fixed set of frequencies, transmitting radio 20A first finds an “open” channel (i.e. a frequency having interference levels meeting the requirements for single frequency transmission) in the frequency channel set (module 258) as illustrated in FIG. 4 and transmits a first message (module 260) which has a synchronization portion comprising a data pattern which is indicative of the single frequency operational mode and a second data portion coded with a frequency channel number indicative of the frequency selected. This message is transmitted on a plurality of, and may be transmitted on all, FH synchronization frequencies to permit all receiver radios within range to receive the message and to tune to the selected frequency. FIG. 7 also depicts the receiver 20B which receives the first message including the synchronization pattern and the selected frequency channel number (module 360) and performs a pattern match of the synchronization pattern with a known pattern to determine what mode of signal is being received. If the pattern match (module 370) is indicative of single frequency mode of operation (module 380), the processor at the receiving radio operates to tune to that selected frequency (module 390) for receiving a second message containing a data communication of interest and time-of-day correction (module 400).

[0030] The transmitting radio, upon sending of the first synchronization message with the selected frequency channel number (module 260) then tunes to the single frequency channel (module 265) and sends a second message containing the data communication of interest and including a time-of-day correction portion over only the selected frequency channel (module 270). In this manner, a data communication is transmitted over a frequency channel which has low interference energy and thus, transceives the data communication in a more reliable manner and with less probability of error or interference, than in a noisy frequency hopping communication mode.

[0031] An alternative embodiment is depicted in FIG. 8 where a changing set of single frequency channels based on time-of-day is used as the transmission set. As shown in FIG. 8, the transmitting radio 20A, when requested to send a message in single frequency mode, first determines the set of frequencies over which to select transmission by caculating a time-of-day offset value and using the calculated value to obtain the frequency set (module 257). The transmitter then finds an “open” channel (i.e. a frequency having interference levels meeting the requirements for single frequency transmission) in the frequency channel set (module 259) as illustrated in FIG. 4. However, rather than sending the channel number on a plurality of frequencies, the transmitter operates to send a frequency hopping (FH) synchronization message including a Time-Of-Day correction data portion via a pseudo random algorithm over a plurality of frequencies (module 261). The transmitter then sends a repeated message over N additional FH hops containing the single frequency channel number (module 262).

[0032] In the receiving radio 20B, a receiver receives the first message (module 361) and performs a pattern match to determine the operating mode (module 362,363) and receives a Time-Of-Day correction. The receiving radio then listens over the next N number of frequency hops for the single channel frequency number (module 364). The transmitter then tunes to the selected frequency (module 263) and sends a message over the selected frequency channel which contains the data communication of interest (module 264) which is received by the receiving radio which has tuned to the selected frequency (modules 365,366). In this embodiment, where the frequencies in the frequency hop set are not fixed, but are rather a rolling set of frequencies, the synchronization process including time of day correction, operates to permit the transmitter to appropriately transmit and the receiver to properly receive and demodulate the transmitted communication. Further in this embodiment, the preferred number of N additional hops over which the single channel number to be repeatedly transmitted is 4, thereby allowing good probability of success with a large percentage of frequencies with high interference. (i.e. good probability of receiver detection over one of those repeated hops).

[0033] FIG. 9 provides a schematic illustration of a manual means for placing a radio in either signle frequency or FH mode. Referring now to FIG. 9, the mode of operation of a particular radio may be updated upon depression of a key on a front panel of the radio to generate a signal indicative of either the frequency hopping mode or single frequency mode of operation. For example, in manual single frequency mode, a user would depress single frequency key 10 on front panel display 20 to cause a signal from front panel controller 30 to digital controller 80 in order to change the mode of operation to single frequency. As one can ascertain, a similar process would occur for a manual selection of frequency hopping mode. Upon updating of a particular operational mode, operation of the transmitter and receiver radios and the processing step associated with transmission in a single frequency mode, as well as selection of the single frequency occurs in the same fashion as previously described.

[0034] The above-described apparatus and method may be applied to Combat Net Radios using the Frequency Hop mode of communication. It should be understood that a person may make many variations and modifications to the embodiments utilizing functionally equivalent elements to those described herein. Any and all such modifications as well as others which may become apparent to those skilled in the art, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.