Tactical radio satellite communications timing
A method of communicating using a tactical radio in a space vehicle environment. The method includes identifying a relationship between a space vehicle and an area of responsibility. Based on the relationship between the space vehicle and the area of responsibility, the method further includes determining a clock offset. The method further includes applying the clock offset to a system clock. The method further includes using the clock offset applied to the system clock to perform communications between the space vehicle and an entity in the area of responsibility.
1 . A method of communicating using a tactical radio in a space vehicle environment, the method comprising:
identifying a relationship between a space vehicle and an area of responsibility;
based on the relationship between the space vehicle and the area of responsibility, determining a clock offset;
applying the clock offset to a system clock; and
using the clock offset applied to the system clock to perform communications between the space vehicle and an entity in the area of responsibility.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the relationship comprises a propagation delay from the space vehicle to the area of responsibility.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the relationship comprises a rate of change of propagation delay from the space vehicle to the area of responsibility.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the space vehicle is functioning as a receiver, and wherein using the clock offset applied to the system clock comprises subtracting the clock offset from the system clock.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the space vehicle is functioning as a transmitter, and wherein using the clock offset applied to the system clock comprises adding the clock offset to the system clock.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tactical radio comprises a Link 16 radio.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the clock offset applied to the system clock to perform communications between the space vehicle and an entity in the area of responsibility comprises selecting a spreader code based on the clock offset applied to the system clock.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the clock offset applied to the system clock to perform communications between the space vehicle and an entity in the area of responsibility comprises selecting a carrier frequency modulation based on the clock offset applied to the system clock.
9 . A tactical radio terminal comprising:
a system clock configured to keep track of network time for a tactical network;
relationship computation hardware configured to:
identify a relationship between a space vehicle and an area of responsibility; and
based on the relationship between the space vehicle and the area of responsibility, determine a clock offset;
a transmit clock or receive clock comprising the clock offset applied to a value of the system clock; and
a signal message processor configured to use the transmit clock or the receive clock to perform communications between the tactical radio terminal and an entity in the area of responsibility.
10 . The tactical radio terminal of claim 9 , wherein the relationship comprises a propagation delay from the space vehicle to the area of responsibility.
11 . The tactical radio terminal of claim 9 , wherein the relationship comprises a rate of change of propagation delay from the space vehicle to the area of responsibility.
12 . The tactical radio terminal of claim 9 , wherein the receive clock comprises the clock offset applied to the system clock by subtracting the clock offset from the system clock.
13 . The tactical radio terminal of claim 9 , wherein the transmit clock comprises the clock offset applied to the system clock by adding the clock offset to the system clock.
14 . The tactical radio terminal of claim 9 , wherein the tactical radio terminal comprises a Link 16 radio terminal.
15 . The tactical radio terminal of claim 9 , further comprising wireless communication hardware configured to use a spreader code based on the transmit clock or the receive clock.
16 . The tactical radio terminal of claim 9 , further comprising wireless communication hardware configured to use a frequency modulation based on the transmit clock or the receive clock.
17 . A computer system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to configure the computer system to communication using a tactical radio in a space vehicle, including instructions that are executable to configure the computer system to perform at least the following:
identify a relationship between a space vehicle and an area of responsibility;
based on the relationship between the space vehicle and the area of responsibility, determine a clock offset;
apply the clock offset to a system clock; and
use the clock offset applied to the system clock to perform communications between the space vehicle and an entity in the area of responsibility.
18 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the relationship comprises a propagation delay from the space vehicle to the area of responsibility.
19 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the relationship comprises a rate of change of propagation delay from the space vehicle to the area of responsibility.
20 . The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the space vehicle is functioning as a receiver, and wherein using the clock offset applied to the system clock comprises subtracting the clock offset from the system clock.