Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing communication of information between a truck tractor and trailer via existing truck wiring. At least one transmitter is located in each trailer for generating a unique identification signal representative of trailer identification information corresponding to the trailer in which the transmitter is located, modulating the identification signal, and providing the modulated identification on an existing truck power bus coupling the tractor and trailer. A receiver is located in the tractor for receiving each modulated identification signal on the power bus, demodulating each modulated identification signal and providing each demodulated identification signal to a mobile communications terminal located in the tractor for transmission to a central facility. The system may further include the transmission of trailer status or load status information by the transmitter to the receiver in a similar manner as the identification information.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the position of an airborne object, using a fixed station and a pair of earth orbit satellites whose positions are known. Separate periodic signals are transmitted from the fixed station via the first and second satellites to the object whose position is to be determined. The phase offset in periodic characteristics of the periodic signals as received from the first and second satellites is measured at the object. The phase offset corresponds to a realtive time difference in propagation of the signals traveling two different paths to the object. The object transmits via the first satellite a return signal indicative of the measured relative time difference. This return signal is activated some time in the future according to the object local time, which is slaved to receipt of the periodic signal sent through the first satellite. This future time is the start of the particular time period as decided by the fixed station's schedule.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating information signals using spread spectrum communication techniques. PN sequences are constructed that provide orthogonality between the users so that mutual interference will be reduced, allowing higher capacity and better link performance. With orthogonal PN codes, the cross-correlation is zero over a predetermined time interval, resulting in no interference between the orthogonal codes, provided only that the code time frames are time aligned with each other. In an exemplary embodiment, signals are communicated between a cell-site and mobile units using direct sequence spread spectrum communication signals. In the cell-to-mobile link, pilot, sync, paging and voice channels are defined. Information communicated on the cell-to-mobile link channels are, in general, encoded, interleaved, bi-phase shift key (BPSK) modulated with orthogonal covering of each BPSK symbol along with quadrature phase shift key (QPSK) spreading of the covered symbols.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the position of an object using a fixed station and a plurality of earth orbit satellites whose positions are known. Separate periodic signals are transmitted from the fixed station via first and second satellites to the object whose postion is to be determined. The phase offset in periodic characteristics of the periodic signals as received from the first and second satellites is measured at the object. The phase offset corresponds to a relative time difference in propagation of the signals traveling two different paths to the object. The object transmits via the first satellite a return signal indicative of the measured relative time difference. This return signal is activated some time in the future according to the object local time, which is slaved to receipt of the periodic signal sent through the first satellite. This future time is the start of the particular time period as decided by the fixed station's schedule.

Abstract: A message communication system employing one or more centralized communication stations transferring messages through Earth orbit repeater satellites to or from mobile terminals with at least one central communication station having a first transceiver for transmitting a first communication signal to one or more mobile terminals and at least one mobile terminal having a second transceiver for receiving the first communication signal and demodulating it, and for transmitting at a predetermined duty cycle of the second transceiver, a second communication signal to at least one of the central communication stations. The preferred duty cycle over which the second communication signal is transmitted is about fifty percent of the second transceiver duty cycle. The communication system uses Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) communication signals using a number of channels as designated address channels with the remainder being used for data transfer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating high frequency signals, comprising generating a fundamental frequency signal over a predefined tuning range using a direct digital synthesizer with a digital to analog converter operating at a predetermined sampling frequency and mixing the fundamental frequency with a high frequency reference signal in a mixer connected to the converter and a reference source. The reference frequency signal is provided by the reference source at a high frequency which is a multiple of the digital to analog converter sampling frequency and is the difference between a desired high frequency output and the fundamental frequency. Where desired a low pass filter is disposed between the synthesizer and the mixer and a band pass filter is disposed between the mixer and any output elements. A divide by N element can be connected between the reference source and the digital to analog converter to provide a sampling clock signal for the converter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting phase data into amplitude data. Input phase data is divided into upper and lower phase increments using an input splitter which can also fold in quadrant data. One or more storage elements, such as sine and cosine ROMs, are connected to the input splitter and generate an amplitude, which forms one of a plurality of series terms, and first and second derivatives of the amplitude in response to the upper phase increment. The first derivative and lower phase increment are multiplied together in a digital multiplier to produce a second series term. A third series term comprising a product of the amplitude and lower phase increment squared, is generated by a term generator connected to the splitter and to the storage element. The term generator can comprise elements such as a ROM addressable by the lower phase increment and the amplitude.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing spurious output noise in digital frequency synthesizers employing sine amplitude converters connected to Digital-to-Analog converters to generate analog waveforms from sine amplitude data. Random or pseudorandom numbers having a value equal to or less than plus or minus one-half of a minimum quantization step or value change for the sine amplitude data are generated and added to the sine amplitude data with the resulting sum being transferred to the Digital-to-Analog converter. In one embodiment, a summation circuit is connected between an output of the sine function converter and an input of the Digital-to-Analog converter and also has a second input connected to a pseudorandom number generator which provides Pseudorandom numbers varying in value over a range of .+-.1/2.sup.n+1 times a least significant step value, or bit for base 2, of a corresponding Digital-to-Analog input data value where n is greater than or equal to 1.

Abstract: A multiple access, spread spectrum communication system and method for providing high capacity communications to, from, or between a plurality of system users, using code-division-spread-spectrum communication signals. The communication system uses means for providing marginal isolation between user communication signals. The marginal isolation is provided by generating simultaneous multiple steerable beams; using an omni-directional antenna with polarization enhancement; using power control devices to adjust the output power for user generated communication signals either in response to their input activity level, or in accordance with a minimum allowable power for maintaining a communication link. The communication system can also employ a means for transmitting a predetermined pilot chip sequence contiguous with the code-division-spread-spectrum communication signals.