Satellite for end-to-end beamforming with access node clusters
First Claim
1. A system for providing a communication service to user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area via an end-to-end relay comprising multiple receive/transmit signal paths, comprising:
- means for receiving composite input forward signals, each of the composite input forward signals being a respective superposition of a plurality of forward uplink signals transmitted by a set of access nodes, the set of access nodes comprising access nodes of at least one of a plurality of access node clusters, wherein each of the plurality of access node clusters comprises a plurality of access nodes at geographically distributed locations within a corresponding one of a plurality of access node areas;
means for generating a plurality of forward downlink signals from the composite input forward signals; and
means for transmitting the plurality of forward downlink signals to a plurality of the user terminals.
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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.
133 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for providing a communication service to user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area via an end-to-end relay comprising multiple receive/transmit signal paths, comprising:
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means for receiving composite input forward signals, each of the composite input forward signals being a respective superposition of a plurality of forward uplink signals transmitted by a set of access nodes, the set of access nodes comprising access nodes of at least one of a plurality of access node clusters, wherein each of the plurality of access node clusters comprises a plurality of access nodes at geographically distributed locations within a corresponding one of a plurality of access node areas; means for generating a plurality of forward downlink signals from the composite input forward signals; and means for transmitting the plurality of forward downlink signals to a plurality of the user terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 24)
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14. A system for providing a communication service to user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area via an end-to-end relay comprising multiple receive/transmit signal paths, the system comprising:
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means for receiving return uplink signals from at least some of the plurality of user terminals; means for generating a plurality of return downlink signals from the received return uplink signals; and means for transmitting the plurality of return downlink signals to a set of access nodes, such that each of the plurality of return downlink signals is transmitted to multiple access nodes of at least one of a plurality of access node clusters, wherein each of the plurality of access node clusters comprises a plurality of access nodes at geographically distributed locations within a corresponding one of a plurality of access node areas. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25)
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Specification