COMMUNICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM THAT USES LOW LATENCY/LOW DATA BANDWIDTH AND HIGH LATENCY/HIGH DATA BANDWIDTH PATHWAYS
A communication system uses multiple communications links, preferably links that use different communications media. The multiple communications links may include a high latency/high bandwidth link using a fiber-optic cable configured to carry large volumes of data but having a high latency. The communications links may also include a low latency/low bandwidth link implemented using skywave propagation of radio waves and configured to carry smaller volumes of data with a lower latency across a substantial portion of the earth's surface. The two communications links may be used together to coordinate various activities such as the buying and selling of financial instruments.
1 . A method, comprising:
transmitting command data from a transmission station via a first communication link, wherein the command data defines one or more commands;
transmitting triggering data from the transmission station via a second communication link, wherein the triggering data includes an identifier identifying at least one of the one or more commands;
wherein the second communication link transmits the triggering data using electromagnetic waves transmitted via skywave propagation; and
wherein the first communication link has greater latency than the second communication link.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication link has larger data bandwidth than the second communication link.
3 . A method, comprising:
transmitting command data from a transmission station via a first communication link, wherein the command data defines one or more commands;
transmitting triggering data from the transmission station via a second communication link, wherein the triggering data includes an identifier identifying at least one of the one or more commands; and
wherein the first and second communication links transmit the triggering data using electromagnetic waves transmitted via skywave propagation.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a maximum usable frequency for skywave propagation over the second communication link; and
transmitting the triggering data over the second communication link at a frequency that is less than or equal to the maximum usable frequency.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a minimum usable frequency for skywave propagation over the second communication link; and
transmitting the triggering data over the second communication link at a frequency that is greater than or equal to the minimum usable frequency.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting the triggering data includes transmitting the electromagnetic waves below the critical angle.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the command data at a receiving station remote from the transmission station; and
receiving the triggering data at the receiving station.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
transmitting the command data on both the first communication link and the second communication link.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said receiving the command data includes receiving the command data via the first communication link before receiving the command data via the second communication link.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said receiving the command data includes receiving the command data via the second communication link before receiving the command data via the first communication link.
11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
transmitting the triggering data on both the first communication link and the second communication link.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said receiving the triggering data includes receiving the triggering data via the first communication link before receiving the triggering data via the second communication link.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said receiving the triggering data includes receiving the triggering data via the second communication link before receiving the triggering data via the first communication link.
14 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
executing at least one of the one or more commands identified in the triggering data in response to said receiving the triggering data, the at least one command executed using a processor at the receiving station.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said executing occurs on or after both the command data and triggering data is fully received at the receiving station.
16 . A method, comprising:
receiving command data at a receiving station via a first communication link, wherein the command data defines one or more commands;
receiving triggering data at a receiving station via a second communication link, wherein the triggering data includes an identifier identifying at least one of the one or more commands;
wherein the triggering data passes over the second communication link to the receiving station using electromagnetic waves received via skywave propagation; and
wherein the command data passes over the first communication link to the receiving station without using skywave propagation.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first communication link has larger data bandwidth than the second communication link.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
executing at least one of the one or more commands identified in the triggering data in response to said receiving the triggering data, the at least one command executed using a processor at the receiving station.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the command data is defined by a collection of data with a first size, and the triggering data is defined by a collection of data with a second size, and the first size is greater than or equal to the second size.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more commands include instructions to buy and/or sell one or more financial instruments.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication link includes an optical fiber.
22 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retransmitting the electromagnetic waves via one or more repeaters.
23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second communication link transmits the triggering data using multiple frequencies.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein:
the second communication link transmits on a first frequency for a first period of time, and on a second frequency for the first period of time; and
the first frequency and the second frequency are different frequencies.
25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the skywave propagation includes refracting the electromagnetic waves from the ionosphere.
26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein there is at least one skip zone between the transmitting and receiving stations.
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the transmitting and receiving stations is greater than the radio horizon.
28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication link, and the second communication link are the same communication link.
29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication link, and the second communication link are separate communication links.
30 . A system, comprising:
a processor coupled to a memory;
a first network interface responsive to the processor and coupled to a communication network, wherein the network interface is configured to send command data defining one or more commands using the communication network;
a second network interface responsive to the processor and coupled to a radio-frequency communication interface;
an antenna system coupled to the radio-frequency communications interface;
wherein the radio-frequency communication interface is configured to send triggering data using electromagnetic waves broadcast from the antenna system;
wherein the antenna system and radio-frequency interface are configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves via skywave propagation; and
wherein the triggering data includes an identifier identifying at least one of the one or more commands.