Digital Serial Interface

Abstract: A digital serial interface system is provided for communicating digital signals including digitized audio between microprocessor-based Control and Transceiver Units of two-way radio communications equipment. The system of the invention essentially comprises three subsystems: (1) an interface in the microprocessor-based Control Unit, (2) an interface in the microprocessor-based Transceiver Unit and (3) a two-way medium for linking the two units. Various signals and audio in the Control Unit interact with a software-driven microprocessor of the Control Unit and are digitized and then translated into a serial format, organized in channel groups through a TDM (Time Division Multiplex)/PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) process and transmitted in frames through a two-way medium to the Transceiver Unit which is also microprocessor-based and incorporates a similar interface. The digital data communicated to the Transceiver Unit then undergoes a reverse process. The Interface System is duplex (bidirectional). A preferred embodiment of the digital serial interface system for two-way radio equipment includes a three channel TDM/PCM bus structure scheme, operated in a synchronous full duplex mode using the Manchester II (Biphase-L) format. Various further embodiments include: an optical fiber link medium between a Control Unit and its Transceiver Unit(s), the addition of remote takeover of programming and controls, audio enhancement of receivers during scanning, encryption/decryption systems, cloning of programs between multiple units, control of multiple transceivers through one Control Unit and other added enhancements.

Abstract: A Computerized Mobile Two-Way Radio System is provided having microprocessor enhanced capabilities and versatility for wide area/multiple region two-way radio networks with multiple categories of users and adaptability to multiple international standards and mobile radio equipment configurations. The main elements of the system consist of (1) a microprocessor-based Control Unit, (2) a Digital Serial Interface/Link and (3) a microprocessor-based Convertible Transceiver Unit. The Control Unit provides many facilities and capabilities for the operator and the system in compact form. The Interface/Link provides a two-way path for serial data consisting of digitized audio and digital command and status signals. The Transceiver Unit is designed for operation and control over the Digital Serial Interface/Link. The system allows the addition of many options, capabilities and peripheral/extenal devices including builtin front panel or remote programmability, built-in autodiagnostics, remote takeover of controls, remote memory-dump, remote diagnostics, program cloning capability, voting on all channels, 512 channel (expandable) programmability within 16 groups (expandable), triple levels of priority within each group (expandable), supreme over-ride channel, RS232C Interface Ports for data applications, phone patch for voice and for world-wide telephone linkable devices and other capabilities.

Abstract: A portable interface unit incorporates a modem for connecting a personal computer through a bidirectional communication link to enclosed process control equipment by passing radiation, preferably infra-red radiation, through a casing enclosing the unit. The computer has a bidirectional digital serial interface specified in accordance with an industry standard, and the modem has a complementary bidirectional digital serial interface, an optical modulator and an optical demodulator, and a power supply. The power supply can be a circuit to derive power from the serial interface of the personal computer, or from a battery. The portable interface unit provides a versatile bidirectional communications link which is particularly suitable for use in hazardous environments and with electronic equipment designed to be environmentally sealed or tamperproof, and permits general purpose computers to be used to program, diagnose, configure or interrogate such equipment.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a packer-unpacker (PUP) for a digital serial interface which allows a plurality of processors to access time slot registers of a serial data stream relating to the digital serial interface. A configuration register is maintained either by one of the plurality of processors or by each of the processors to arbitrate access to the individual time slot registers. Another aspect of the invention allows one or more processors to efficiently access and/or write more bits to a resource such as a time slot register than the width of the processor's respective data bus allows. Extra bits registers are maintained for at least one of the read and write direction data busses. The extra bits correspond to the least significant bits conventionally ignored in changing from a data bus of one width to a data bus of a narrower width. The extra bits in the write direction are accessed, e.g., by a write to a write direction extra bits register addressable through a specific input/output (I/O) location. The extra bits are tacked on to a subsequent write cycle in the digital serial interface, e.g., in the AC '97 link, to write an excess length data word. In the read direction, each read cycle places excess bits in a read direction extra bits register for reading in a subsequent read cycle. Another aspect of the invention provides an automatic status register which provides, e.g., automatic creation of a TAG Phase in time slot 0 of an AC '97 link using, e.g., a write enable signal to various resources in the digital serial interface, e.g., write enable signals to time slot registers.