USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Susan G Briest

William H Marn

J Mark Stevenson

Alan Fronk

Jack R Olson

Christopher Lawson Fletcher

Vincent K McDonald

The invention provides an automatic gain control system that is implemented by digital hardware. The digital hardware determines the range of a set of digital data values, and then examines each digital data value in a sequence. An index counter increments a sample count index i each time a new digital data value is examined and determines the absolute value of the i digital data value. The digital hardware also counts both the number j of digital data values that exceed a high percentage value of the range, and the number k of digital data values that are less than a low percentage value of the range as the digital hardware runs through the sequence. If the digital hardware determines that a digital data value is greater than the high percentage value, the ratio j/i exceeds a first threshold value, and the gain level is not set to the lowest gain level, then the gain is decreased. If the digital hardware determines that a digital data value is less than the low percentage value, the ratio k/i exceeds a second threshold value, a predetermined interval of time has elapsed, and the gain level is not set to the highest gain level, then the gain is increased.

Automatic gain control

A communications node includes a controller for 1) initializing a counter and resetting a FIFO buffer; 2) determining if a predetermined number of data packets have been transmitted; 3) transmitting the data packets after the FIFO buffer is partially filled if the number of data packets transmitted is less than the predetermined number, incrementing the counter, and returning to step (2); 4) directing a transceiver to be in a receive mode if the predetermined number of data packets have been transmitted; 5) determining if a command signal has been detected; 6) processing a backlink command if a command signal has been detected, and then directing the transceiver to be in transmit mode, clearing the counter, and returning to step(2); and 7) setting the receiver in a transmit mode if no command signal has been detected, and then clearing the counter and returning to step (2).

Digital data communications system

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Susan G Briest