Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for conveying frame timing, data timing, and data

US5581390A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 1, 1995
Grant dateDec 3, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 1, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04B7/1856
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A space-based communications network (10) includes satellites (12) placed in low-earth orbits (14). Satellites (12) engage in bulk communications with central switching offices (CSOs 22) and round control stations (GCSs 24). CSOs (22) and GCSs (24) include a network gateway (30) and any number-of remotely located earth terminals (32). Network gateway may provide telemetry, tracking and control functions for the constellation of satellites. Data are conveyed between the gateway (30) and earth terminals (32) over fiber optic cables (42) which convey a variety of different signals. Opposing unidirectional primary and secondary data communication channels each include signal sets having a gapped clock signal (76) and a data signal (86). The gapped clock signal (76) oscillates in synchronism with the data signal (86) and conveys both data timing and frame timing cable bundles (42) additionally convey LAN signals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.