System interfaces in a two-way satellite system

• US 20010048669A1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Published: 12/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Kelly, Frank, Dillon, Doug
• Application Number:
  US09/782,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20010048669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18528 Satellite systems for providing two-way communications service to a network of fixed stations, i.e. fixed satellite service or very small aperture terminal [VSAT] system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18578 Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations for selecting H04W; provisions for broadband connection, H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18597 Arrangements for system physical machines management, i.e. for construction, operations control, administration, maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2125 Synchronisation

Abstract

A two-way satellite communication system that includes a terminal having a receiver unit and a transmitter unit is disclosed. The terminal is configured to transmit and receive signals to and from a hub via a satellite. A terminal interface is configured to permit exchange of data between the receiver unit and the transmitter unit, wherein the receiver unit is configured to translate data received from a host to a data frame that conforms to a predetermined protocol format that is supported by the hub. A demodulator interface is coupled to an antenna associated with the terminal and is configured to permit exchange of the data frame between the terminal and the satellite. The data frame conforms with a return channel frame format. A satellite-to-hub interface is configured to permit receipt of the data frame at the hub from the satellite. The hub is configured to modify the data frame for transmission to an external packet switched network. A hub-to-terminal interface is configured to support the exchange of data from the hub to the terminal using a multi-layer protocol.

Claims

1. A two-way satellite communication system including a terminal having a receiver unit and a transmitter unit, the terminal being configured to transmit and receive signals to and from a hub via a satellite, the system comprising:

a terminal interface configured to permit exchange of data between the receiver unit and the transmitter unit, wherein the receiver unit is configured to translate data received from a host to a data frame that conforms to a predetermined protocol format that is supported by the hub;

a demodulator interface coupled to an antenna associated with the terminal and configured to permit exchange of the data frame between the terminal and the satellite, the data frame conforming with a return channel frame format;

a satellite-to-hub interface configured to permit receipt of the data frame at the hub from the satellite, the hub being configured to modify the data frame for transmission to an external packet switched network; and

a hub-to-terminal interface configured to support the exchange of data from the hub to the terminal using a multi-layer protocol.

2. The system according to

claim 1

, further comprising:

a host interface configured to support transmission of data bursts from the terminal to the host, the data bursts conforming with a bus standard of the host.

3. The system according to

claim 2

, wherein the bus standard is Universal Serial Bus (USB).

4. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein the multi-layer protocol supports a digital video broadcast (DVB) stream.

5. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein the data that is exchanged by the terminal interface conforms with an Internet Protocol (IP) protocol

6. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein the return channel format exhibits at least one of a little endian orientation and a big endian orientation.

7. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein the hub transmits inroute group definition (IGD) packets to the terminal, each of the IGD packets specifying return channels and traffic loading information.

8. The system according to

claim 1

, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

9. A method for supporting two-way communication over a satellite system that includes a terminal having a receiver unit and a transmitter unit, the terminal being configured to transmit and receive signals to and from a hub via a satellite, the method comprising:

interfacing the receiver unit with the transmitter unit to permit exchange of data, wherein the receiver unit is configured to translate data received from a host to a data frame that conforms to a predetermined protocol format that is supported by the hub;

interfacing the terminal with the satellite to permit exchange of the data frame, the data frame conforming with a return channel frame format;

interfacing the satellite with the hub to transmit the data frame to the hub from the satellite, the hub being configured to modify the data frame for transmission to an external packet switched network; and

interfacing the hub to the terminal to support the exchange of data from the hub to the terminal using a multi-layer protocol.

10. The method according to

claim 9

, further comprising:

interfacing the terminal with the host to support transmission of data bursts from the terminal to the host, the data bursts conforming with a bus standard of the host.

11. The method according to

claim 10

, wherein the bus standard in the step of interfacing the terminal with the host is Universal Serial Bus (USB).

12. The method according to

claim 9

, wherein the multi-layer protocol in the step of interfacing the hub to the terminal supports a digital video broadcast (DVB) stream.

13. The method according to

claim 9

, wherein the data in the step of interfacing the receiver unit with the transmitter unit conforms with an Internet Protocol (IP) protocol.

14. The method according to

claim 9

, wherein the return channel format in the step of interfacing the terminal with the satellite exhibits at least one of a little endian orientation and a big endian orientation.

15. The method according to

claim 9

, further comprising:

transmitting inroute group definition (IGD) packets by the hub to the terminal, each of the IGD packets specifying return channels and traffic loading information.

16. The method according to

claim 9

, wherein the packet switched network in the step of interfacing the satellite with the hub is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

17. A two-way satellite communication system including a terminal having a receiver unit and a transmitter unit, the terminal being configured to transmit and receive signals to and from a hub via a satellite, comprising:

means for interfacing the receiver unit with the transmitter unit to permit exchange of data, wherein the receiver unit is configured to translate data received from a host to a data frame that conforms to a predetermined protocol format that is supported by the hub;

means for interfacing the terminal with the satellite to permit exchange of the data frame, the data frame conforming with a return channel frame format,

means for interfacing the satellite with the hub to transmit the data frame to the hub from the satellite, the hub being configured to modify the data frame for transmission to an external packet switched network; and

means for interfacing the hub to the terminal to support the exchange of data from the hub to the terminal using a multi-layer protocol.

18. The system according to

claim 17

, further comprising:

means for interfacing the terminal with the host to support transmission of data bursts from the terminal to the host, the data bursts conforming with a bus standard of the host.

19. The system according to

claim 18

, wherein the bus standard is Universal Serial Bus (USB).

20. The system according to

claim 17

, wherein the multi-layer protocol supports a digital video broadcast (DVB) stream.

21. The system according to

claim 17

, wherein the data conforms with an Internet Protocol (IP) protocol.

22. The system according to

claim 17

, wherein the return channel format exhibits at least one of a little endian orientation and a big endian orientation.

23. The system according to

claim 17

, further comprising:

means for transmitting inroute group definition (IGD) packets by the hub to the terminal, each of the IGD packets specifying return channels and traffic loading information

24. The system according to

claim 17

, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

25. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions for supporting two-way communication over a satellite system that includes a terminal having a receiver unit and a transmitter unit, the terminal being configured to transmit and receive signals to and from a hub via a satellite, the one or more sequences of one or more instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

interfacing the receiver unit with the transmitter unit to permit exchange of data, wherein the receiver unit is configured to translate data received from a host to a data frame that conforms to a predetermined protocol format that is supported by the hub,

interfacing the terminal with the satellite to permit exchange of the data frame, the data frame conforming with a return channel frame format;

interfacing the satellite with the hub to transmit the data frame to the hub from the satellite, the hub being configured to modify the data frame for transmission to an external packet switched network; and

interfacing the hub to the terminal to support the exchange of data from the hub to the terminal using a multi-layer protocol.

26. The computer readable-medium according to

claim 25

, wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of:

interfacing the terminal with the host to support transmission of data bursts from the terminal to the host, the data bursts conforming with a bus standard of the host.

27. The computer readable-medium according to

claim 26

, wherein the bus standard in the step of interfacing the terminal with the host is Universal Serial Bus (USB)

28. The computer readable-medium according to

claim 25

, wherein the multi-layer protocol in the step of interfacing the hub to the terminal supports a digital video broadcast (DVB) stream.

29. The computer readable-medium according to

claim 25

, wherein the data in the step of interfacing the receiver unit with the transmitter unit conforms with an Internet Protocol (IP) protocol.

30. The computer readable-medium according to

claim 25

, wherein the return channel format in the step of interfacing the terminal with the satellite exhibits at least one of a little endian orientation and a big endian orientation

31. The computer readable-medium according to

claim 25

, wherein the one or more processors further perform the step of transmitting inroute group definition (IGD) packets by the hub to the terminal, each of the IGD packets specifying return channels and traffic loading information.

32. The computer readable-medium according to

claim 25

, wherein the packet switched network in the step of interfacing the satellite with the hub is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.