Synchronous Waveform Clock Synchronization Without a System Controller

A Frequency-Hopped Spread Spectrum (FHSS) satellite communication network operating over a transponder satellite channel employs a hub capability to provide a reference time and network control. This hub capability is referred to as a System Controller (SC). The SC, along with other functions, provides the reference time that allows the Satellite Communication (SATCOM) terminals to synchronize their modem's transmit and receive signaling. A novel method is proposed in this paper which enables the synchronization of various terminals in a SATCOM network without requiring a SC and an external reference time, such as from the Global Positioning System (GPS). In this method, terminal modems self-organize by establishing a master virtual reference time that others terminals can use. This capability allows modems to establish mesh networks over any non-processing satellite. The benefits of this method are that the network can be set-up and maintained solely by participating modems without requiring a SC and supports operation in GPS-denied environments. Since any terminal within the network can establish a reference time, the resulting system is also resilient against attacks or terminal failures.