Hybrid satellite and fiber communications system

• US 20020004391A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 01/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Austin, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• 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

Abstract

A communication system employing optical fibers and a high data rate satellite is utilized to provide high-speed Internet access to various geographic regions. In one aspect, a first teleport station is located geographically separated from a first user. The first teleport station is connected through a network access point to the Internet. The second user communicates through a satellite to the first teleport station to access the Internet. The teleport station and the network access point use a long haul optical fiber.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

a first teleport station;

a first user;

a satellite coupling the first teleport station to the first user; and

a network access point coupled to the Internet and the first teleport station, said network access point coupled to the first teleport station through an optical fiber.

2. A communications system as recited in claim 1, wherein said satellite comprises a satellite in the Ka band.

3. A communications system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second teleport station coupled to the first teleport station through said satellite.

4. A communications system comprising:

a satellite;

a first teleport station;

a second teleport station coupled to the second teleport station through said optical fiber network and said satellite;

an optical fiber network providing a primary communication link until an irregularity is detected in said optical fiber, whereupon the sensing of the irregularity, routing the communication from said first teleport station to said second teleport station through said satellite.

5. A method of communicating between a first user and a first geographic region served by a first satellite and a second user in a second geographic region served by a second satellite comprises the steps of:

directing a communication from a first user to the first satellite;

routing the communication from the first satellite to a first teleport station;

routing the communication from the first teleport station to a second teleport station in the second geographic region by way of an optical fiber network;

routing the communication from the second teleport station to a user in the second geographic region.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of routing communication from the second teleport station comprises directing the communication from the second teleport station to the second user by way of an optical fiber.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the step of routing communication from the second teleport station comprises directing the communication from the second teleport station to the second user by way of the second satellite.

8. A method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of coupling the first teleport station to the Internet.

9. A method of operating a communications system comprising the steps of:

generating a plurality of spot beams directed to a respective plurality of teleport stations from a satellite;

interconnecting the plurality of teleport stations with an optical communication network;

in normal operating conditions, directing a communication from a first said plurality of teleport stations through satellite to a first user;

when the second teleport station is encumbered, directing the communication through an optical link.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising the step of connecting the optical communication network to the Internet.