Abstract:
A method for reducing call dropping rates in a multi-beam communication system. The multi-beam communication system includes a user terminal, a gateway, and a plurality of beam sources, where each beam source projects a plurality of beams, and where a communication link between the user terminal and the gateway is established on one or more beams. The method according to the present invention relies on a messaging protocol between the gateway and the user terminal. Based on messages sent from the user terminal to the gateway, preferably on a preselected periodic basis, the gateway can determine the more desirable beam(s) for transmitting data or information to the user terminal. The messages sent from the user terminal to the gateway contain values representing beam strengths as measured at the user terminal. The gateway uses the user terminal measured beam strengths to select the beams that should be used for transmitting data or information to the user terminal. The beams that should be used are the beams that if used will decrease the call dropping rates and provide a desired level of beam source diversity.
Abstract:
A method and system for determining the position of an object using a fixed station and a plurality of earth orbit satellites whose positions are known. Separate periodic signals are transmitted from the fixed station via first and second satellites to the object whose postion is to be determined. The phase offset in periodic characteristics of the periodic signals as received from the first and second satellites is measured at the object. The phase offset corresponds to a relative time difference in propagation of the signals traveling two different paths to the object. The object transmits via the first satellite a return signal indicative of the measured relative time difference. This return signal is activated some time in the future according to the object local time, which is slaved to receipt of the periodic signal sent through the first satellite. This future time is the start of the particular time period as decided by the fixed station's schedule. At the fixed station, an instantaneous round trip delay, determined by the time offset of the current transmission clock time relative to the receive clock time of reception of the return signal, along with the measured relative time difference sent back on the return signal, is used to calculate the distances between the first and second satellites to the object. From these distances the position of the object is calculated.
Abstract:
A method and system for determining the position of an object using a fixed station and a plurality of earth orbit satellites whose positions are known. Separate periodic signals are transmitted from the fixed station via first and second satellites to the object whose postion is to be determined. The phase offset in periodic characteristics of the periodic signals as received from the first and second satellites is measured at the object. The phase offset corresponds to a relative time difference in propagation of the signals traveling two different paths to the object. The object transmits via the first satellite a return signal indicative of the measured relative time difference. This return signal is activated some time in the future according to the object local time, which is slaved to receipt of the periodic signal sent through the first satellite. This future time is the start of the particular time period as decided by the fixed station's schedule. At the fixed station, an instantaneous round trip delay, determined by the time offset of the current transmission clock time relative to the receive clock time of reception of the return signal, along with the measured relative time difference sent back on the return signal, is used to calculate the distances between the first and second satellites to the object. From these distances the position of the object is calculated.
Abstract:
A method and system for determining the position of an object using a fixed station and a plurality of earth orbit satellites whose positions are known. Separate periodic signals are transmitted from the fixed station via first and second satellites to the object whose postion is to be determined. The phase offset in periodic characteristics of the periodic signals as received from the first and second satellites is measured at the object. The phase offset corresponds to a relative time difference in propagation of the signals traveling two different paths to the object. The object transmits via the first satellite a return signal indicative of the measured relative time difference. This return signal is activated some time in the future according to the object local time, which is slaved to receipt of the periodic signal sent through the first satellite. This future time is the start of the particular time period as decided by the fixed station's schedule. At the fixed station, an instantaneous round trip delay, determined by the time offset of the current transmission clock time relative to the receive clock time of reception of the return signal, along with the measured relative time difference sent back on the return signal, is used to calculate the distances between the first and second satellites to the object. From these distances the position of the object is calculated.
Abstract:
A ground station antenna including a torus shaped reflector having multiple feed points along a focal arc in front of the reflector. The ground station antenna includes transceiver feeds having their electrical phase centers located on the focal arc and supported by a rotating feed platform. The transceiver feeds are configured to simultaneously track rising and falling satellites when the platform rotates. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless power receiver coupled to the transceiver feeds to power the transceiver feeds. The ground station antenna further includes a wireless signal interface coupled to the transceiver feeds to communicate signals with a base unit to perform subsequent processing.
Abstract:
The information signals are transferred to end users, customers, or service subscribers (116, 118) using at least two signal sources, generally satellites (104, 106), and polarized radiation. Two polarization modes are employed, with the preferred modes being left-hand and right-hand circularly polarized radiation, although other polarization modes may be employed. The total number of channels can be divided among the polarization modes and transferred to end users either through the use of polarization switching in the receivers (522) to selectively switch between the satellites, or by switching elements in the satellites (sources) to switch between polarization modes used for transmission.
Abstract:
An air to ground communication system provides internet access to aircraft from ground based stations. The air to ground system shares spectrum with uplink portions of a satellite communication spectrum. Interference mitigation techniques are employed to avoid interference between the ground based communications and satellite communications. Fade mitigation techniques are employed to provide communication to aircraft at low angles of elevation in the presence of rain.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for a wireless communication system in which a forward/uplink portion and a return/uplink portion are assigned within an available frequency bandwidth is disclosed. More particularly, a service area is divided into multiple regions. The assignment of the forward/uplink portion of the return/uplink portion is shuffled in the multiple regions. The apparatus and method may be implemented in a multi-beam wireless communication system.