Abstract:
Apparatus for synchronizing clocks within a cooperative collision avoidance network wherein an aircraft after operating in an isolated environment for a predetermined time sets its clock in a standby position and listens for start of epoch signals. Upon hearing a start of epoch signal the aircraft immediately starts its clock and begins counting epochs and the time slots contained therein. During own time slot, as determined by its clock, the aircraft transmits a clock synchronization request. If no synchronization responses are received the aircraft will automatically advance its clock by a predetermined amount and once again transmit a synchronization request during its next time slot. If a synchronization response is now received the aircraft will synchronize its clock taking into account the amount of time by which its clock had to be advanced in order to receive the synchronization response. If no response is received the aircraft automatically returns its clock to the standby condition.
Abstract:
In a time frequency collision avoidance system wherein time is divided into epochs and each epoch is further divided into a predetermined number of time slots, the time of arrival of a range signal after a predetermined time in a time slot is a measure of the range between a local station and a remote station operating in the time slot. The range is measured by strobing a counter, which is set to zero at the beginning of each time slot, by a stable frequency source. Range rate is calculated by memorizing the counter contents and by comparing the memorized contents against counter contents resulting from a range signal received from the same remote station.
Abstract:
Each pulse in a pulse train resets a counter to a predetermined initial state. A frequency generator generates a plurality of timing signals each of which comprises a different predetermined frequency. A gating means controlled by the state of the counter selects one of the timing signals to count down the counter. The state of the counter at the time of counter reset is thus related to the pulse repetition frequency of the pulses. Scaling of the system parameters permits the system to generate a sequence of straight line segments which approximate a desired function. In particular, proper scaling of the system parameters permits the system to operate as a digital altitude rate generator if the pulses represent fixed values of altitude change.
Abstract:
A means of synchronizing clocks without addressing within a cooperative collision avoidance system which utilizes the time slot of the aircraft requesting synchronization. During its time slot, an aircraft transmitting a collision avoidance message automatically requests clock synchronization. All other aircraft within the collision avoidance network which receive the synchronization request will respond in a random manner with a probability inversely proportional to the number of potential responding aircraft within the collision avoidance network. To accomplish this each cooperating aircraft is equipped to monitor the number of occupied time slots so as to determine the number of potential responding aircraft, determines the probability of its response with respect thereto and determines in accordance with the probability thus derived whether it should respond to this particular synchronization request.