Ronald Hugh Barker

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Dr Ronald Hugh Barker

Ronald Hugh Barker FIEE (1915 – 7 October 2015) was an Irish physicist and inventor of Barker code for digital synchronisation. He was a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) for 70 years. Born in Dublin, Ireland to English parents, Barker excelled in mathematics, becoming keen on electronics. He is best known for his ground-breaking work on synchronising digital communication systems and framing of received data, using digital codes (see frame slip). These digital codes are known as Barker code. The method was initially researched at SRDE Royal Signals Research Establishment, just after World War II for use in radar, rocket telemetry and digital speech. In 1952, Barker found 7 Barker sequences up to a length of 13 useful for correlation. These sequences are widely used in most data transmissions today. Examples of applications are radar, mobile phone technology, telemetry, digital speech, ultrasound imaging and testing, GPS and Wi-Fi, etc.

Early career

Barker is recognised for his invention of Barker code or Barker sequence, a means of checking the synchronisation and framing of received data. This is used in most forms of data transmissions within (and out of) our world today. By using a prearranged pattern of bits (Barker code) the receiver can correctly synchronise the data with a very low probability of error. Quote "A sequence of binary digits has very little meaning unless the significance of the individual digits is known".[1]

In 1941, Barker joined Standard Telephones and Cables (STC) North Woolwich, England in their thermionic valve department, designing dental X-Ray tubes and equipment. After a bombing raid over Woolwich, Roy cycled back to Heath and Reach where he met his wife to be, Wendy Emily Hunt (1917–1998). Barker resigned from STC, as he felt his work on X-ray tubes was unrelated to the war effort.

He took up a new post as a temporary experimental officer at the Signals Experimental Establishment (SEE), initially on Woolwich Common, but soon moved to Warnham Court (see photo), Horsham, England[2]}} There, he assisted with the electronics design of for Wireless Set No. 19 a standard wireless set used in many types of armoured vehicles and tanks in World War II. From there, Barker went on to design portable two way radio sets for jungle use.

The S.E.E was subsequently renamed Signals Research and Development Establishment (SRDE) and brought within the Ministry of Supply. Staff were moved to Christchurch, Dorset, England, in the summer of 1943. The UK guided weapons program came into being in 1944. The first experimental system was named LOPGAP, acronym of Liquid Oxygen Propelled Guided Anti-aircraft Projectile. This photo shows an aerial at the front of the missile which is all important for telecommunications. Aerial design was of interest to Barker who wrote an article published in the Wireless Engineer in November 1948 p361[3]

File:Fleet Air Arm Anson with first British LOPGAP guided missile 29 May 1945.jpg
Fleet Air Arm Anson with first British LOPGAP guided missile taken at Somerford Airfield, Christchurch on 29 May 1945

Barker was given responsibility for the telemetry research and equipment. This project had top priority so it was easy to make rapid progress. Initial firings were at Ynyslas in Wales (see[4] prior to construction of special guided weapons range at the Royal Aerospace Establishment RAE Aberporth, Wales.[5] In 1946 R H Barker read a paper describing his system at an international conference on telemetry at Princeton University, US.

Post-war career

Warnham Court, Horsham c. 1942
Dr R H Barker and Peter Cutler in the telemetry van during tests

At the end of the war, Barker was appointed as a senior scientific officer when he took over speech cryptography. The technique for the encryption of speech was to first encode digitally the speech waveform (in much the same way as was used later for digital recording of music) and to then scramble the stream of binary digits by multiplying it (bit by bit) by a second stream produced synchronously in a pseudorandom number generator. The latter was a special purpose digital computer programmed to produce a pseudorandom sequence. This work brought Barker into contact with a lot of early work associated with computers[6]

and digital transmission (see US Patent 27000696)[7] Still at SRDE Barker had a team of 12 scientists as the work on applications of digital electronics had been extended to include gunfire control,[8] servo systems and communication by pulse-code modulation[9](digital speech).

Telemetry trials at Ynyslas, Wales, 1945

Information about SRDE is held locally at The Red House Museum and Gardens, Christchurch, England. In 1976 the Signals Research and Development Establishment involved in communications research, joined Royal Radar Establishment to form the Royal Signals and Radar Establishment (RSRE). The National Archives (United Kingdom) now hold archives from SRDE Christchurch. (They may not have been digitised).

Two aspects of his work became well known:

The Oxford Dictionary of Computer Science defines a Barker sequence as:

a sequence of symbols (binary or *q-ary) that, when embedded in a string of randomly chosen symbols (from the same alphabet), has zero autocorrelation except in the coincidence position. Barker sequences are used to check, and if necessary to correct, the synchronization and framing of received data....[16]

In April 1954 Barker gained his PhD by the London University and subsequently was promoted to Senior Principal Scientific Officer, this was the end of his personal research and the beginnings of an administrative career. The new job was Assistant Director to Ministry of Supply headquarters, New Oxford Street, London. The headquarters work was tedious and in 1957 Barker returned to SRDE Christchurch, Dorset, as Superintendent of Research in charge of the site.

In 1959 Barker took a job as Deputy Director of the Central Electricity Research Laboratories (CERL) Leatherhead, Surrey, responsible for day-to-day running of the Laboratories and recruitment needed to increase the scientists from 250 to 600. It was during this period that Barker became more active in the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE). He joined as a corporate member in 1945 and was elected Fellow in 1966, serving on various committees of the Power Division and the Control and Automation Division, becoming divisional chairman.[17] in 1971.[18] Barker became a member of the council and served on the important Membership Committee for many years. On 6 March 1962 Barker elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He served for a time on the Automatic Control committee of the latter.

Barker accepted a Directorship on the main board with the Pullin Group of companies in 1962. One of his first tasks was to assemble a team of scientists for research.[19] The company was involved with sonar equipment for the Royal Navy under detailed supervision of the Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment however the company did not have the financial resources for research and innovation on the scale that had been promised. Barker wrote an article regarding a Ball bearing motor[20] as at the time there was conjecture as to how it worked. Perhaps this was something being researched or just for a bit of fun. After the company was taken over by the Rank Organisation in 1964 he became unhappy with the changes made to the way the company was run. He had no say in this and it soon became apparent that the opportunities for any interesting research were not going to be forthcoming and the future looked uninviting.

In 1965, Barker made his last career move to become Deputy Director of the Royal Armament Research Establishment RARDE at Fort Halstead, Kent, at chief experimental officer CEO level. Here, Barker having had line management experience in industry now had a much greater level of responsibility. In 1965, there were 2,500 staff at RARDE and Barker was responsible for half the scientific branches and staff. The research work being undertaken was assessment of non-nuclear weapons systems. Barker retired in May 1979.

Over the years digital technology has advanced significantly but Barker codes remain at the core of digital transmissions. Many scientific papers have been published that have found the use of Barker Code to be one of the best and most efficient means to transmit digital data. Since his original paper was published, no other Barker codes greater than 13 have been found.[21] It has also been proven that no other odd-length Barker codes exist. If there is another code, its length would be too long to be of any use. Examples of applications are radar,[22] mobile phone.[23] telemetry,[24] ultrasound imaging and testing,[25] [26] GPS,[27] Wi-Fi[28] Many of these technologies use DSSS. This technique incorporates Barker code to improve the received signal quality and improve security.[29] It is also used in Radio Frequency IDentification RFID. Applications of this are huge, some examples are: pet and livestock tracking, bar code scanners, inventory management, vehicle, parcel, asset and equipment tracking, inventory control, cargo and supply chain logistics. [30] It is also used extensively for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) i.e. for vehicle guidance[31]

Personal details

File:Cedars School, Leighton Buzzard England Rugby 1st XV 1932.jpg
R H Barker is 2nd player in back row from the left excluding the linesman

Born in Dublin to English parents his early education years were disrupted by his father's frequent periods of unemployment and moves between Dublin and England to find work as a stained glass window artist often staying in grim lodgings. For much of the time, Roy (as he was known) lived with his mother, a school teacher in Thomas Street, Heath and Reach. At age 13 Barker was interviewed by the headmaster, Mr F Fairbrother, of a new school, The Cedars (now Cedars Upper School), Leighton Buzzard. After an entrance examination he was duly admitted to the school where he stayed until 1934. In the VIth form his main subjects were chemistry, physics and mathematics. It was whilst at The Cedars that Barker took an interest in things electrical and radio, building three valve radios with home made components such as coils and loudspeakers. Barker excelled at mathematics and won a scholarship to University College Hull. In 1938 he gained a 1st Class Honours degree in physics awarded by University of London.

In 1943, Barker married Wendy Hunt at St Augustine's church[32] in South Croydon and had two sons. In retirement Roy belonged to three bridge clubs, playing duplicate bridge at county level and was still playing at his local bridge club in Verwood until his 99th birthday. Barker passed away on 7 October 2015.

References

  1. ^ Published in Communication Theory, edited by W Jackson, London, UK, Butterworths 1953 pp. 273–287.
  2. ^ "Records of Signals Experimental Establishment and Signals Research and Development Establishment". -The National Archives, catalogue, AVIA records. Discovery. 1919–1976. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. ^ Barker, RH (November 1948). "Rhombic Aerial Design Chart" (PDF). World Radio History. Wireless Engineer, Vol XXV. p. 361-369. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  4. ^ "People's Collection Wales, The Collection, Rocket Test Track Bases, Ynulas, Wales". Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  5. ^ "RAF Aberporth". A History of RAF Aberporth. 1940–1948. p. 6. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  6. ^ Conference on Data Processing and Automatic Computing Machines, (1957 : Salisbury S.A.) (1957). Data processing and automatic computing machines / held at Weapons Research Establishment, Salisbury, S.A., June 3rd–8th, 1957. Weapons Research Establishment. pp. 212–238. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  7. ^ Barker, R.H. (January 1965). "List of Patentees". The Official Journal of The United States Patent Office. Vol. 690. The United States Patent Office. p. 116 and 597. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  8. ^ Barker, RH (1956). "A transducer for digital data-transmission systems". Proceedings of the IEE - Part B: Radio and Electronic Engineering. 103 (7): 42–51. doi:10.1049/pi-b-1.1956.0117. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  9. ^ Barker, R.H. (1956). "A Servo System for Digital Data Transmissions". Proceedings of the IEE - Part B: Radio and Electronic Engineering. 103 (7): 52–64. doi:10.1049/pi-b-1.1956.0118. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. ^ Barker, R.H. (1952). "The pulse transfer function and its application to sampling servo systems". Proceedings of the IEE - Part IV: Institution Monographs. 99 (4): 302–317. doi:10.1049/pi-4.1952.0032. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  11. ^ Barker, RH (1953). Group Synchronisation of Binary Digital Systems. Communication Theory: Butterworth. pp. 273–287.
  12. ^ Lyndon B Johnson Space Center. "Skylab Programme Earth Resources Experiment Package, ref MSC-05546" (PDF). ntrs.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  13. ^ Bendix Aerospace Systems Division, Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston (1 May 1969). "Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package" (PDF). p. 5178.7.58, 3270.2.7 and 3270.5.38. Retrieved 22 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ The Bendix Corporation (1971). "Lunar Surface Exploration" (PDF). Bendix Technical Journal. 4 (2): 23. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  15. ^ Dale R Lumb and Larry B Hoffman (1967). "An Efficient Coding System for deep space probes with Specific Applications to Pioneer Missions" (PDF). nasa. p. 23. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  16. ^ Barker, RH (2016). Oxford Dictionary of Computer Science (7th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191768125. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  17. ^ Barker, RH (1972). "IEE Control & Automation Division: Chairman's address. Communications in control". Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. 119: 77. doi:10.1049/piee.1972.0014.
  18. ^ "IEE Division Chairmen 1971–72". Electronics and Power. 17 (10): 392. 1971. doi:10.1049/ep.1971.0271. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  19. ^ Barker, RH (6 December 1962). "Pullin Advertisement". The New Scientist (316): 591. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  20. ^ Barker, RH (January 1965). "Ball Race Motor". Electronics and Power. 11 (1): 38. doi:10.1049/ep.1965.0023. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  21. ^ Jonathan Jedweb (2007). "What can be used instead of Barker Sequences" (PDF). Department of Mathemetics, Simon Fraser University. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  22. ^ Soba, Jumail; Munir, Achmad; Suksmono, Andriyan (October 2013). "Barker code radar simulation for target range detection using software defined radio". 2013 International Conference on Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ICITEE). pp. 27–276. doi:10.1109/ICITEED.2013.6676251. ISBN 978-1-4799-0425-9. S2CID 42501007. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  23. ^ Alamgir, Hossain; Islam, Shariful; Ali, Sadek (2012). "Performance Analysis of Barker Code Based on their Correlation Property in Multiuser Environment". International Journal of Information Sciences and Techniques. 2: 27–39. doi:10.5121/ijist.2012.2103. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  24. ^ Irv D. Siegel (1971). "Development of a set of optimum synchronization codes for a unique decoder mechanization". Missouri Science and Technology Library of Learning resources. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  25. ^ Zhao, Heng; l. Mo, Larry; Gao, Shangkai (2007). "Barker-coded ultrasound color flow imaging: Theoretical and practical design considerations". IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control. 54 (2): 319–331. doi:10.1109/tuffc.2007.246. PMID 17328329. S2CID 19527352.
  26. ^ Fan, Zeng; Rudlin, Ohn; Asfis, Giorgos; Meng, Hongying (2019). "Convolution of Barker and Golay Codes for Low Voltage Ultrasonic Testing". Technologies. 7 (4): 72. doi:10.3390/technologies7040072.
  27. ^ Matsuyuki, Shota; Tsuneda, Akio (2018). "A Study on Aperiodic Auto-Correlation Properties of Concatenated Codes by Barker Sequences and NFSR Sequences". 2018 International Conference on Information and Communication Technology Convergence (ICTC). pp. 664–666. doi:10.1109/ICTC.2018.8539367. ISBN 978-1-5386-5041-7. S2CID 53713772.
  28. ^ Mikulka, Jan; Hanus, Stanislav (2007). 2007 17th International Conference Radioelektronikachapter = CCK and Barker Coding Implementation in IEEE 802.11b Standard. pp. 1–4. doi:10.1109/RADIOELEK.2007.371484. S2CID 34865532.
  29. ^ Latif, Shahid; Kamran, Muhammad; Masoud, Fahad; Sohaib, Muhammad (2012). "Improving DSSS transmission security using Barker code along binary compliments (CBC12-DSSS)". 2012 International Conference on Emerging Technologies. pp. 1–5. doi:10.1109/ICET.2012.6375426. ISBN 978-1-4673-4451-7. S2CID 2901603.
  30. ^ Syedul Amin,Mamun Bin Ibne Reaz and Jubayer Jalil (2012). "Digital Modulator and Demodulator IC for RFID Tag Employing DSSS and Barker Code". Journal of Applied Research and Technology. 10 (6): 819–825. doi:10.22201/ICAT.16656423.2012.10.6.341. S2CID 16796254. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  31. ^ Muge Bekar, Chris J. Baker, Fellow, IEEE, Edward G. Hoare, Senior Member, IEEE, and Marina Gashinova (2021). "Joint MIMO Radar and Communication System Using a PSK-LFM Waveform With TDM and CDM Approaches". IEEE Sensors Journal. 21 (5): 6115–6124. Bibcode:2021ISenJ..21.6115B. doi:10.1109/JSEN.2020.3043085. S2CID 231852192. Retrieved 28 March 2022.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  32. ^ St Augustine's Church. "St Augustine's Church". Historic England. Retrieved 15 February 2022.

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