RU2786187C1 - Information exchange radio network for the northern sea route - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: radio engineering.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to radio engineering, namely to integrated data exchange networks between ships, between ships and shore, and between coast stations. The effect is achieved by: differentiating the nature of the transmitted information into operational, requiring real time, and non-operational, allowing a delay in transmission to ships located outside the communication zone in the MW range and available for information transmission through the use of meteor communications; integration into a single all-wave network of the backbone network of coast stations that provide backbone exchange of non-operational information via meteor communication channels with relaying along the NSR and radio networks for the operational exchange of information of ships following along the NSR between themselves and with the nearest coast stations of the backbone network via MW-HF-VHF channels ranges.

EFFECT: ensuring the exchange of data between ships and with coastal radio communication nodes throughout the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

1 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to radio engineering, namely, to integrated data exchange networks between ships, between ships and shore, and between coast stations.

One of the priority tasks to be solved within the framework of the development of the Russian Federation is the development of the northern sea territories of the country. Therefore, the development of stable communication and control systems for ships in the northern seas seems to be an important and relevant area.

Long-range communication in the HF range, which is traditionally used to communicate with marine objects at long distances and is provided by ionospheric propagation of radio waves, is practically impossible in the Arctic regions of the Northern Sea Route (hereinafter referred to as the NSR) due to sharp changes in the electron density of the ionized layer of the atmosphere. The range of communication by a surface wave in the MW range, which does not depend on the state of the ionosphere, does not exceed 1000 km, and in the VHF range it is limited by the line-of-sight distance. The possibility of communication via geostationary satellites in the Arctic is excluded due to low elevation angles. And the high cost and low noise immunity (due to possible deliberate spoofing or jamming, leading to loss of control over the movement of the vessel and an accident) of satellite systems available in the northern regions (Iridium, Gonets) are a serious obstacle to their use.

Meteor communication is free from all these shortcomings. First of all, meteor communications are not affected by ionospheric disturbances. The range of meteor communication reaches 2000 km, and the coverage of the entire NSR is possible using 7 - 8 stations, which is much cheaper than satellite communications. And the strict directivity of meteor communication ensures its high noise immunity, since sources of deliberate interference cannot be placed directly at the locations of meteor communication stations. However, meteor communication cannot be used as an operational, for the exchange of information in real time, as it is characterized by discontinuity and random nature of the meteor trail waiting time with a duration sufficient to transmit a message. In addition, the use of this type of communication on ships in constant motion and rolling conditions is not possible due to the directivity, which requires constant adaptation of the relative orientation of the receiving and transmitting antennas of ships and coast stations. On the other hand, radio communication in the VHF range and surface wave in the MW range, which meets the requirements of omnidirectionality and real time, is free from these shortcomings of meteor communication.

Therefore, the combination of short-range operational radio communication in the MW-VHF bands and the main meteor communication will achieve a synergistic effect from the use of both types of communication: to realize the advantages of each type of communication while eliminating their shortcomings. And the use of SDR technology (software-defined radio) [file:///E:/SDR/О%20SDR/Technology%20SDR.htm.] when creating an integrated network will solve the following problems:

- seamless transition (“Handover”) of ships between stations of the meteor communication network;

- redundancy of data transmission routes with provision of retransmission, automatic switching to a backup path and priorities for the use of alternative paths;

- prevention of collisions in the radio network with verification and confirmation of each packet;

- acknowledging the reception of packets, and, if necessary, their repeated transmission for guaranteed delivery and ensuring data integrity even in conditions of significant interference in the radio channel;

- encryption of transmitted data in accordance with the data transmission security standard in public networks;

- scaling and the possibility of upgrading the network without replacing the hardware.

Currently known:

- Network of meteor stations [P. Bartholomé, I. Vogt "COMET - A New Meteor-Burst System Incorporating ARQ and Diversity Reception", IEEE Transactions on Communication Technology, April 1968], located at distances up to 2000 km from each other and designed to transmit data from station to station along networks in any direction at the moment when the conditions for the propagation of a radio signal between them are established as a result of reflection from a meteor trail.

- The method of meteor radio communication and the system for its implementation [EAPO patent No. 002406], aimed at reducing unproductive energy costs through the use of antennas with circular or elliptical polarization.

- A method of data transmission in a packet meteor communication network [RF patent No. 2211533], aimed at improving the noise immunity of communication without reducing the network bandwidth;

- A method for increasing the data transfer rate in a packet meteor communication network [RF patent No. 2461125], aimed at increasing the network throughput by reducing the effect of uneven saturation of the meteor trail.

- Meteor radio communication system [RF patent No. 94027300], aimed at increasing the real throughput of meteor communication systems through the use of antenna systems with a controlled radiation pattern.

- A method for transmitting data in a packet meteor communication network [RF patent No. 2185707], aimed at increasing the throughput of the meteor communication network by counting the number of request signals received over a predetermined time interval and, if the counted number of request signals exceeds a predetermined allowable number, indicating the continuous propagation of radio signals, the introduction at the next predetermined time interval of delay intervals of random duration for the formation and transmission of a data packet.

The common shortcomings of the listed methods, systems and networks of information transmission are the discontinuity and random nature of the meteor trail waiting time with a duration sufficient to transmit a message that does not meet the requirements for ensuring the transmission of operational information in real time.

The closest analogue of the claimed network (prototype) in its technical essence is the "Integrated information system for the safety of navigation of the Northern Sea Route using meteor communication channels" [RF patent No. 2612592], which is characterized by the presence of an integrated station containing:

- standard HF radio station with a set of antenna-feeder devices, equipped with an ionosonde and combined with a MW radio station with equipment for data exchange via MW channels, with a set of antenna-feeder devices;

- base station of meteor communication with a set of antenna-feeder devices;

- VHF radio station with equipment for data exchange via VHF channels and a set of antenna-feeder devices;

- at least two portable meteor communication stations connected via meteor communication channels with the meteor communication base station of the complex station;

- at least two portable VHF stations connected via a VHF channel with a VHF radio station of an integrated station.

At the same time, the integrated station is connected to an automated workstation, which includes means for displaying information and a documentation server for registering incoming and transmitted information.

The disadvantages of the prototype include the inability to transmit data from ships over long distances due to:

- instability of the ionosphere on the Northern Sea Route and the impossibility of using the ionospheric propagation of HF radio waves;

- the strict orientation of meteor communications and the impossibility of using it on ships that are moving objects.

The technical problem being solved is to ensure the exchange of data between ships over long distances along the Northern Sea Route.

Achievable technical result - ensuring the exchange of data between ships and with coastal radio communication nodes throughout the Northern Sea Route.

The essence of the invention is the information exchange radio network (hereinafter referred to as the radio network):

- Differentiation of the nature of the transmitted information into operational, requiring real time, and non-operational, allowing a delay in transmission to ships located outside the communication zone in the MW range and nevertheless available for transmitting / receiving information, thanks to the use of meteor communications, which is provided for the account of introducing into each transceiver path of the ship's radio communication node built using SDR technology, a device for digital processing and generation of radio signals connected between the inputs / outputs of the analog parts of the transceiver paths of the MW and VHF bands and the operator's automated workplace; the automated workstation provides informational interfacing of the transceiver paths of the MW, VHF bands with the ship's data processing system and the formation of a sign of the efficiency of the transmitted information. At the same time, the network of ship radio communication nodes carries out an operational exchange of information with ships and with the shore via MW and VHF communication channels.

- Integration into a single network of the backbone network of coastal radio and meteor communication nodes that provide backbone exchange of non-operational information via meteor communication channels with relaying along the NSR, and radio networks for the operational exchange of information of ships following the NSR between themselves and with the nearest coastal nodes of the backbone network along channels of the MW-VHF bands, which is ensured by introducing into each integrated coastal node of radio and meteor communications (hereinafter - the joint coastal node), built using SDR technology, a device for digital processing and generating radio and meteor communications signals, connected between the inputs / outputs of the analog parts of the transceiver paths of the MW, VHF bands and meteor communications and the operator's automated workstation, which provides information interface of the transceiver paths of the MW, VHF bands and meteor communications with the coastal data processing system that is not part of the integrated coastal node, and the formation of a prize on the efficiency of the transmitted information.

The composition and operation of the claimed radio network are illustrated by the figures presented in figures 1, 2 and 3.

In FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the ship's radio communication node equipment designed for operational (real-time) exchange of ship data between themselves and with the shore via MW-VHF communication channels. The equipment of the ship's radio communication center includes:

1 - automated workstation of the operator (AWP-O), providing informational interface of the equipment with the ship's data processing system and automatic control of the operation of the equipment of the ship's radio communication center;

2 - device for digital processing and generation of radio signals;

3 - analog part of the VHF transceiver path;

4 - analog part of the transceiver path of the MW range;

5 - VHF transceiver antenna;

6 - transceiver antenna MW bands.

In FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the equipment of the integrated coastal radio and meteor communication node, designed for operational (real-time) data exchange with ships via MW-VHF communication channels, as well as for non-real-time data exchange with neighboring coastal nodes backbone network with the possibility of relaying along the entire Northern Sea Route via meteor communication channels.

The equipment of the integrated onshore hub includes:

7 - automated workstation of the operator (AWP-O), which determines the nature of the transmitted information (operational / non-operational), provides informational interface of the equipment of the coastal radio and meteor communication node with the coastal data processing system, which is not part of the integrated coastal node, and automatic control operation of the equipment of the joint onshore hub;

8 - device for digital processing and generation of radio and meteor communications signals;

9 - analog part of the VHF transceiver path;

10 - analog part of the transceiver path of the MW range;

11 - analog part of the transceiver path of meteor communication;

12 - VHF transceiver antenna;

13 - transceiver antenna MW range;

14 - transmitting antenna for meteor communication;

15 - meteor communication receiving antenna.

In FIG. 3 illustrates the scheme of information exchange along the Northern Sea Route using the proposed radio network, on which the red line shows the Northern Sea Route, the circles show the propagation zones of the surface wave of the MW range around the combined coastal radio and meteor communication nodes of the backbone network, the black broken line shows meteor communication lines between the nodes of the reference network, and the yellow lines are meteor trails. Border service posts are marked with red flags.

The operation of the radio network is as follows.

The information to be transmitted between ships following the Northern Sea Route and located in the propagation zone of the VHF (surface wave MW) range comes from the data processing system of the sending ship to AWP-O 1, then to the digital processing and generation of radio signals 2 and , after the formation of a signal containing information and the address of the subscriber with a sign of promptness, to the analog part of the transceiver path of the VHF (SV) range 3 (4), from the output of which - to the VHF (SV) transceiver antenna of the range 5 (6). The emitted signal is received by the transceiver antenna of the VHF (MW) range 5 (6) of the subscriber ship and, through the analog part of the transceiver path of the VHF (MW) range 3 (4), enters the device for digital processing and generation of radio signals 2, from the output of which the received data through AWP-O 1 are transmitted to the data processing system of the subscriber ship.

The transmission of information from a ship to the nearest integrated coastal node of the backbone network, located in the propagation zone of the VHF (surface wave) range, is carried out in the same way as the transmission of information from one ship to another located within the same reach. The emitted signal is received by the transceiver antenna of the VHF (SV) range 12 (13) of the coastal node and, through the analog part of the transceiver path of the VHF (SV) range 9 (10), enters the device for digital processing and signal generation of radio and meteor communication 8, from the output which the received data through AWP-O 7, which assigns the received information the sign "operational", are transmitted to the coastal data processing system. The transmission of information from the integrated coastal node of the backbone network to a ship located in the propagation zone of the VHF (surface wave) range is carried out in the reverse order.

The transfer of information from the ship or from the coastal data processing system, which is not part of the integrated coastal node of the core network, to a remote (not the nearest) integrated coastal node of the core network is carried out through the nearest integrated coastal node of the core network, whose workstation-O 7 assigns this information the attribute "non-operational" and sends it to the device for digital processing and generation of radio and meteor communication signals 8, which generates a meteor communication signal containing information and the address of the subscriber, and transmits it to the analog part of the meteor communication transceiver path 11 and then to the meteor communication transmitting antenna 14. The emitted signal is received by the receiving antenna of meteor communication 14 of the neighboring joint coastal node, enters the analog part of the transceiver path of meteor communication 11, then to the device for digital processing and signal generation of radio and meteor communication 8. The device 8 performs signal processing if it is addressed to the combined to the integrated coastal node that received the signal and sends the data obtained as a result of signal processing to AWP-O 7, which transmits them to the coastal data processing system that is not part of the integrated coastal node, or again sends it through the analog part of the transceiver path of the meteor communication 11, to the transmitting antenna meteor communication 14 for retransmission, if it is addressed to another joint coastal node of the core network.

The transmission of information from a vessel or from a data processing system of a coastal node to a vessel located outside the propagation zone of the VHF (SW surface wave) range is carried out through a remote integrated coastal node of the backbone network, in the propagation zone of the VHF (SW surface wave) range of the radio wave the destination vessel and VHF (MW) radio communication equipment of this node.

The possibility of practical implementation of the proposed invention and the operability of the radio network are confirmed by the results of experimental tests of radio communication equipment for MW - VHF bands and meteor communication equipment built using SDR technology.

Claims (1)

Information exchange radio network for the Northern Sea Route, consisting of a network of ship and coastal radio communication nodes, each of which contains transceiver antenna devices with analog parts of the transceiver paths of the MW and VHF bands and an operator's workstation, and a backbone network of coastal meteor communication nodes, each of which integrated with the coastal radio communication node and contains the receiving and transmitting meteor communication antennas with the analog part of the transceiver path, characterized in that the transceiver paths of the ship radio communication nodes and the combined coastal radio communication nodes and meteor communication are built using SDR technology, each transceiver path of the ship radio communication node is a device for digital processing and generation of radio communications signals, connected between the inputs / outputs of the analog parts of the transceiver paths of the MW and VHF bands and the automated workplace of the operator of the ship's radio communication center, providing information th interfacing of the transceiver paths of the MW and VHF bands with the ship's data processing system and the formation of a sign of the efficiency of the transmitted information, each integrated coastal radio and meteor communication node includes a device for digital processing and generation of radio and meteor communication signals, included between the inputs / outputs of the analog parts of the transceivers paths of MW, VHF bands and meteor communications and an automated workstation of the operator of the joint coastal node, providing informational interface of transceiver paths of MW, VHF bands and meteor communications with the coastal data processing system that is not part of the joint coastal node, and the formation of a sign of the efficiency of the transmitted information, the network of ship radio communication nodes and the joint coastal radio communication and meteor communication nodes carries out the operational exchange of information between ships and with the shore via MW, VHF bands, and the backbone network of the combined shore New radio communication and meteor communication nodes exchange information that does not require real time between neighboring integrated coastal nodes with the possibility of relaying along the entire Northern Sea Route via meteor communication channels.

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