Frequency hopping m-sequences

A procedure for obtaining frequency-hopping sequences with good random properties and good autocorrelation properties is presented. Normally, frequency-hopping sequences for spread-spectrum communication systems are obtained by selecting groups of elements of binary m-sequences. The alternative to using groups of binary m-sequence elements that is developed here is to obtain nonbinary m-sequences with the number of desired hopping frequencies equal to the number of symbols in the finite field which the nonbinary m-sequence is over. The grouping of elements of binary m-sequences doesn not necessarily have the m-sequence balance property nor the run property of m-sequences as do the nonbinary m-sequences. In addition, the autocorrelation function of the nonbinary m-sequence has a maximal period whereas the frequency-hopping sequence obtained from the grouping of elements of binary m-sequences may not have a maximal period