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The analysis used to generate the theoretical models showing the performance of the frame synchronizer is described for various frame lengths and marker lengths at various signal to noise ratios and bit error tolerances.
An experimental radio frequency link has been demonstrated to provide two-way communication between a remote user ground terminal and a ground-based Ka-band transponder. Bit-error-rate performance and radio frequency characteristics of the communication link were investigated.
The effect of finite interleaver size on bit error rate (BER) performance of coded 8-DPSK is determined by means of computer simulations. The losses evaluated in this way include the SNR degradation due to the timing and frequency errors of the symbol synchronizer and the automatic frequency control (AFC) of the receiver. BER measurements are presented using a conventional 2/3 rate convolutional 8-state trellis-code for typical Rayleigh and Rician fading channels. It is shown that for a Rician channel with a Rician parameter of 7 dB, a Doppler spread of 100 Hz and a data rate of 2400 bps, an interleaver with size 16 x 16 symbols performs nearly as well as a very large interleaver. It is also shown that for very fast Rayleigh channels, the BER-curves flatten out at large SNR.
A specific Direct-Sequence/Pseudo-Noise (DS/PN) Code-Division Multiple-Access (CDMA) mobile satellite system (MSAT) architecture is discussed. The performance of this system is evaluated in terms of the maximum number of active MSAT subscribers that can be supported at a given uncoded bit-error probability. The evaluation decouples the analysis of the multiple-access capability (i.e., the number of instantaneous user signals) from the analysis of the multiple-access mutliplier effect allowed by the use of CDMA with burst-modem operation. We combine the results of these two analyses and present numerical results for scenarios of interest to the mobile satellite system community.
Over the past six to eight years, an extensive research effort was conducted to investigate advanced coding techniques which promised to yield more coding gain than is available with current NASA standard codes. The delay in Galileo's launch due to the temporary suspension of the shuttle program provided the Galileo project with an opportunity to evaluate the possibility of including some version of the advanced codes as a mission enhancement option. A study was initiated last summer to determine if substantial coding gain was feasible for Galileo and, is so, to recommend a suitable experimental code for use as a switchable alternative to the current NASA-standard code. The Galileo experimental code study resulted in the selection of a code with constant length 15 and rate 1/4. The code parameters were chosen to optimize performance within cost and risk constraints consistent with retrofitting the new code into the existing Galileo system design and launch schedule. The particular code was recommended after a very limited search among good codes with the chosen parameters. It will theoretically yield about 1.5 dB enhancement under idealizing assumptions relative to the current NASA-standard code at Galileo's desired bit error rates. This ideal predicted gain includes enough cushion to meet the project's target of at least 1 dB enhancement under real, non-ideal conditions.
The simultaneous data demodulation and phase tracking of an MSK signal using the Viterbi algorithm is described and two variations of MSK modulation are studied. The MSK with overlay is a dual rate modulation technique where low-and high-rate data are superimposed on an MSK signal. Here the demodulator uses the Viterbi algorithm to estimate both the low-and high-rate data simultaneously. The MSK with pseudorandom sequence spreading combats intentional or unintentional jamming. A simplified receiver for these spread spectrum MSK signals is found, which takes into consideration the effect of random phase perturbations. The performance of these demodulators is evaluated using transfer function bounds for the bit error probability. It is shown that with a reasonable short overlay period, at a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (13 dB), there is a small (0.7 dB) loss of performance. For demodulation of the spread spectrum MSK signal, a simplified receiver is derived, and its performance in the presence of continuous jamming is evaluated.
Two spread-spectrum multiple access systems which use wideband M-ary frequency shift keying (FSK) (MFSK) as the primary modulation are presented. A bit error rate performance analysis is presented and system throughput is calculated for sample C band and Ku band satellite systems. Sample link analyses are included to illustrate power and adjacent satellite interference considerations in practical multiple access systems.
A proof-of-concept demodulator for TDMA applications requiring high total data rates composed of many low data rate users is proposed. High-spectrum efficiency is obtained via a bandwidth efficient combined modulation and coding system, and low TDMA overhead is obtained via a fast acquiring digital phase lock loop. The system employs a data rate of 200 Mb/s with a bit error rate of better than 5 x 10 to the -7th in the presence of adjacent channel interference 20 dB above the weakest user. The 8-PSK modulation combined with the rate 5/6 forward error correction coding results in a bandwidth efficiency of better than 2 bits/second per Hz.
The communications performances of laser intersatellite links for a future NASA data-relay system are analyzed, and block diagrams of necessary optical terminals are generated based on technology projected to be available by 1992. Direct-detection optical communications subsystems are selected to interconnect two geosynchronous (GEO) satellites separated by 160 deg along the GEO arc and to interconnect a low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite and either of the GEO satellites. The terminal designs are based on power budget calculations performed for the various links with and without an optical background in either the receiver or transmitter fields of view (FOVs). Optical antennas with 18-cm and 30-cm primary mirror diameters on the LEO and GEO satellites can achieve a 0.000001 average bit error rate during normal operations in each of the forward and return optical links with beginning-of-life (BOL) power margins of approximately 7 dB. With an optical background in the receiver FOV, communications in the GEO-GEO return link are interrupted, the LEO-GEO return link is undegraded, and the GEO-GEO and LEO-GEO forward links remain functional with reduced BOL power margins. With an optical background in the transmitter FOV, the GEO-GEO forward and return links are noticeably degraded, the LEO-GEO return link is only slightly degraded, and the LEO-GEO forward link remains undegraded.
Satellite system relays communication between aircraft and stations on ground. System offers better coverage with direct communication between air and ground, costs less and makes possible new communication services. Carries both voice and data. Because many data exchanged between aircraft and ground contain safety-related information, probability of bit errors essential.
Detector of multiple differential phase-shift-keyed (MDPSK) signals designed to effect combination of open-loop estimation of frequency and differential detection of digital modulation. Improved design expected to decrease probability of bit errors in situations in which carrier frequency uncertain and signals transmitted in bursts too short to allow closed-loop tracking of carrier frequency - for example, in transmission of digitally-coded voice signals in land-mobile/satellite communications at ultra-high frequencies.
The concept of node synchronization using state metrics is investigated. The branch metrics are integrated over a fixed time interval and the results are compared to the detection threshold. If the threshold is exceeded, the out-of-sync hypothesis is accepted; otherwise, the in-sync hypothesis is accepted. It is shown that the detection threshold can be chosen independent of any particular convolutional code with fixed code rate and constant length if the code has reasonably good bit error rate performance. Three node synchronization schemes are compared: (1) a scheme using the syndrome; (2) a scheme using the frame-sync patterns; and (3) a scheme using the state metrics. At very low signal to noise ratios (SNR), scheme 2 can be faster than scheme 1. For Voyager's rate 1/2 and constraint length 7 convolutional code, this happens for SNRs of less than 0.7 dB. This result is obtained by assuming that the code frame-sync pattern has good aperiodic autocorrelation properties. For a fixed false alarm probability, the sequential detection scheme based on the syndrome is faster than scheme 3 with fixed integration time. A sequential detection technique is needed to improve the speed of scheme 3.
The Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope is being instrumented at 8.4 GHz to receive telemetry from Voyager 2 during its encounter with Neptune in 1989. The procedure in which the 27 antennas have their phases adjusted in near real time so that the signals from the individual elements of the array can be added coherently is examined. Calculations of the expected signal to noise ratio, tests of the autophasing process at the VLA, and off-line simulations of that process are all presented. Various possible procedures for adjusting the phases are considered. It is shown that the signal to noise ratio at the VLA is adequate for summing the signals from the individual antennas with less than 0.1 dB of loss caused by imperfect coherence among the antennas. Tropospheric variations during the summer of 1989 could cause enough loss of coherence to make the losses higher than 0.1 dB. Experiments show that the losses caused by the troposphere can probably be kept below 0.2 dB if the time delay inherent in the phase adjustment process is no longer than approx. 5 secs. This relatively small combining loss meets the goal estabished to minimize the bit error rate in the Voyager telemetry and implies adequate autophasing of the VLA.
We describe and analyze a novel approach to implementing an Optical Backplane Interconnect Technology (OBIT) that is capable of optically connecting any row of a 32x32 backplane array to any row of a second 32x32 array. Each backplane array is formed monolithically on a wafer. The technology is based on the use of Grating Surface Emitting (GSE) waveguides formed on a wafer containing quantum-well and separate confinement waveguide layers. These layers are used for transverse guiding, gain, modulation, detection, and for the formation of wavelength tunable distributed-Bragg reflector lasers. The required surface structures are formed photolithographically. The GSE waveguides act as efficient antennae that radiate light at angles selected by tuning the wavelength of the lasers. The same waveguides may be used as the receiving antennae when the array is used in the receiving mode. Thus, wavelength tuning is used to direct each row of the transmitting array to the desired row of the receiving array. In summary: The optical backplane array will have the following characteristics: Any row of a 32x32 GSE array may be optically connected to any row of a second 32x32 array. Only one switch decision is required to switch 32 parallel connections to any one of 32 positions. Each monolithic array can be used as both transmitter and receiver by switching the bias on the quantum-well switch-detectors. Separate transmitting and receiving structures could be provided for duplex operation. For a bit error rate of 10 sup 9 at 100-MHz data rate, a required laser power of 12 mW is calculated based on an estimated total optical loss of 40 dB.
The use of interleaving after convolutional coding and deinterleaving before Viterbi decoding is proposed. This effectively reduces radio loss at low-loop Signal to Noise Ratios (SNRs) by several decibels and at high-loop SNRs by a few tenths of a decibel. Performance of the coded system can further be enhanced if the modulation index is optimized for this system. This will correspond to a reduction of bit SNR at a certain bit error rate for the overall system. The introduction of interleaving/deinterleaving into communication systems designed for future deep space missions does not substantially complicate their hardware design or increase their system cost.
The Galileo spacecraft employs concatenated coding schemes with Reed-Solomon interleaving depth 2. The bit error rate (BER) performance of Galileo's concatenated codes, assuming different interleaving depths (including infinite interleaving depth) are compared. It is observed that Galileo's depth 2 interleaving, when used with the experimental (15, 1/4) code, requires about 0.4 to 0.5 dB additional signal-to-noise ratio to achieve the same BER performance as the concatenated code with ideal interleaving. When used with the standard (7, 1/2) code, depth 2 interleaving requires about 0.2 dB more signal-to-noise ratio than ideal interleaving.
Theoretical and experimental performance limits of a free-space direct detection optical communication system were studied using a semiconductor laser diode as the optical transmitter and a silicon avalanche photodiode (APD) as the receiver photodetector. Optical systems using these components are under consideration as replacements for microwave satellite communication links. Optical pulse position modulation (PPM) was chosen as the signal format. An experimental system was constructed that used an aluminum gallium arsenide semiconductor laser diode as the transmitter and a silicon avalanche photodiode photodetector. The system used Q=4 PPM signaling at a source data rate of 25 megabits per second. The PPM signal format requires regeneration of PPM slot clock and word clock waveforms in the receiver. A nearly exact computational procedure was developed to compute receiver bit error rate without using the Gaussion approximation. A transition detector slot clock recovery system using a phase lock loop was developed and implemented. A novel word clock recovery system was also developed. It was found that the results of the nearly exact computational procedure agreed well with actual measurements of receiver performance. The receiver sensitivity achieved was the closest to the quantum limit yet reported for an optical communication system of this type.
The Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (OMV) and concepts of teleoperation and video data compression as applied to OMV design and operation are described. The OMV provides spacecraft delivery, retrieval, reboost, deboost and viewing services, with ground-control or Space Station operation, through autonomous navigation and pilot controlled maneuvers. Communications systems are comprised of S-band RF command, telemetry, and compressed video data links through the TDRSS and GSTDN networks. The control console video monitors display a monochrome image at an update rate of five frames per second. Depending upon the mode of operation selected by the pilot, the video resolution is either 255 x 244 pixels, or 510 x 244 pixels. Since practically all video image redundancy is removed by the compression process, the video reconstruction is particularly sensitive to data transmission bit errors. Concatenated Reed-Solomon and convolution coding are used with helical data interleaving for error detection and correction, and an error-containment process minimizes the propagation of error effects throughout the video image. Video sub-frame replacement is used, in the case of a non-correctable error or error burst, to minimize the visual impact to the pilot.