Satellite for end-to-end beamforming
First Claim
1. A method for end-to-end beamforming via an end-to-end relay providing communications between a plurality of access nodes (ANs) and a plurality of user terminals, the method comprising:
- receiving composite input forward signals by a plurality of cooperating feeder-link constituent receive elements, wherein each of the composite input forward signals is received by a corresponding one of the plurality of cooperating feeder-link constituent receive elements as a superposition of a plurality of forward uplink signals from the plurality of ANs geographically distributed over a AN coverage area;
generating a plurality of forward downlink signals from the composite input forward signals; and
transmitting the plurality of forward downlink signals by a plurality of cooperating user-link constituent transmit elements, wherein the forward downlink signals are transmitted to the plurality of user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area at least partially distinct from the AN coverage area.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.
128 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for end-to-end beamforming via an end-to-end relay providing communications between a plurality of access nodes (ANs) and a plurality of user terminals, the method comprising:
-
receiving composite input forward signals by a plurality of cooperating feeder-link constituent receive elements, wherein each of the composite input forward signals is received by a corresponding one of the plurality of cooperating feeder-link constituent receive elements as a superposition of a plurality of forward uplink signals from the plurality of ANs geographically distributed over a AN coverage area; generating a plurality of forward downlink signals from the composite input forward signals; and transmitting the plurality of forward downlink signals by a plurality of cooperating user-link constituent transmit elements, wherein the forward downlink signals are transmitted to the plurality of user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area at least partially distinct from the AN coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification