Direct sequence spread spectrum access to local area networks

The Electronics Research Groups of Aberdeen and Surrey Universities have for several years been involved in the development of local area networks (LANs) specifically oriented towards the military communications environment. [1, 2, 3, 4]. In particular they have been responsible for development of the ASWE Serials Highway, a token passing bus local area network currently employed in the Command and Control System and the Weapon Systems Highway of the new Type 23 frigates. More recently they have undertaken resarch into the use of code-division, multiple-access techniques in military communication networks and has developed a high-speed (100 Mbits) local area network, specifically aimed at the naval environment. This paper discusses the application of a direct sequence access strategy to the spread spectrum local area network.