Paired-beam transponder satellite communication
First Claim
1. A method for satellite communications, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a satellite transponder of a satellite, a first combined uplink signal in an uplink frequency band during a first time, the first combined uplink signal having a first ratio of forward-channel traffic to return-channel traffic according to a flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band;
transmitting a first combined downlink signal during the first time, the first combined downlink signal corresponding to the first combined uplink signal translated to a downlink frequency band via a frequency translator of the satellite transponder;
receiving, via the satellite transponder, a second combined uplink signal in the uplink frequency band during a second time, the second combined uplink signal having a second ratio of the forward-channel traffic to the return-channel traffic according to the flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band, wherein the second ratio is different than the first ratio;
transmitting a second combined downlink signal during the second time, the second combined downlink signal corresponding to the second combined uplink signal translated to the downlink frequency band via the frequency translator of the satellite transponder;
operating one or more switching components of the satellite in a normal mode during the first and second times; and
operating the one or more switching components of the satellite in a utility mode during a third time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for paired-beam satellite communications in a flexible satellite architecture. Embodiments include one or more “bent pipe” satellites having multiple transponders for servicing a number of spot beams. Implementations include novel types of paired-beam transponders that communicatively couple gateway terminals and user terminals in different spot beams. Some implementations also include loopback transponders that communicatively couple gateway terminals and user terminals in the same spot beam. The transponders can use similar components, can provide for flexible forward-link and return-link spectrum allocation, and/or can provide other features. Certain embodiments further include support for utility gateway terminal service and/or redundancy (e.g., active spares) for one or more active components.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for satellite communications, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a satellite transponder of a satellite, a first combined uplink signal in an uplink frequency band during a first time, the first combined uplink signal having a first ratio of forward-channel traffic to return-channel traffic according to a flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band; transmitting a first combined downlink signal during the first time, the first combined downlink signal corresponding to the first combined uplink signal translated to a downlink frequency band via a frequency translator of the satellite transponder; receiving, via the satellite transponder, a second combined uplink signal in the uplink frequency band during a second time, the second combined uplink signal having a second ratio of the forward-channel traffic to the return-channel traffic according to the flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band, wherein the second ratio is different than the first ratio; transmitting a second combined downlink signal during the second time, the second combined downlink signal corresponding to the second combined uplink signal translated to the downlink frequency band via the frequency translator of the satellite transponder; operating one or more switching components of the satellite in a normal mode during the first and second times; and operating the one or more switching components of the satellite in a utility mode during a third time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for satellite communications, the method comprising:
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receiving, via a satellite transponder of a satellite, a first combined uplink signal in an uplink frequency band during a first time, the first combined uplink signal having a first ratio of forward-channel traffic to return-channel traffic according to a flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band, wherein the receiving the first combined uplink signal during the first time comprises; receiving, via one or more feeds of the satellite, a first gateway uplink signal in the uplink frequency band from a gateway terminal; concurrently with receiving the first gateway uplink signal, receiving, via the one or more feeds of the satellite, a first user uplink signal in the uplink frequency band from a plurality of user terminals; and combining the first gateway uplink signal and the first user uplink signal to generate the first combined uplink signal, wherein; the one or more feeds includes a first feed having a first spot beam coverage area and a second feed having a second spot beam coverage area; the gateway terminal is located in the first spot beam coverage area of the first feed; the plurality of user terminals are located in the second spot beam coverage area of the second feed of the satellite; the receiving the first gateway uplink signal is via the first feed, and the receiving the first user uplink signal is via the second feed; the combining is via an input subsystem of the satellite transponder coupled to the first and second feeds to generate the first combined uplink signal; transmitting a first combined downlink signal during the first time, the first combined downlink signal corresponding to the first combined uplink signal translated to a downlink frequency band via a frequency translator of the satellite transponder, wherein the transmitting the first combined downlink signal during the first time comprises; transmitting, via the one or more feeds of the satellite, the first combined downlink signal to the gateway terminal and to the plurality of user terminals, wherein the transmitting the first combined downlink signal to the gateway terminal is via the first feed and the transmitting the first combined downlink signal to the plurality of user terminals is via the second feed; receiving, via the satellite transponder, a second combined uplink signal in the uplink frequency band during a second time, the second combined uplink signal having a second ratio of the forward-channel traffic to the return-channel traffic according to the flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band, wherein the second ratio is different than the first ratio; and transmitting a second combined downlink signal during the second time, the second combined downlink signal corresponding to the second combined uplink signal translated to the downlink frequency band via the frequency translator of the satellite transponder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification