Dual channel two-way satellite communication

• US 20030060196A1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Original Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Inventors: Levinberg, Amiram
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/428
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system, device and method for two-way satellite communication using a dual channel communication configuration to make better use of limited bandwidth. The two channels include a dedicated Unicast channel for each remote VSAT terminal and a dedicated Multicast channel that is a shared resource for all the VSAT terminals in the network. Each VSAT terminal is provided with two separate tuners, one for Unicast information and one for Multicast information. The system thus provides Unicast information through the Unicast channel to the Unicast receiver in the VSAT terminal to individual destination VSAT terminals, and sends Multicast information to all VSAT terminals via the Unicast channel and the Unicast receivers in each VSAT terminal.

Claims

1. A two-way VSAT satellite communication system comprising:

a satellite having at least one Multicast transponder and at least one Unicast transponder;

a plurality of VSAT terminals, each comprising at least one Unicast receiver and at least one Multicast receiver;

at least one Unicast channel for transmission from said at least one Unicast transponder to said at least one Unicast receiver in said plurality of VSAT terminals; and

at least one Multicast channel for transmission from said at least one Multicast transponder to said at least one Multicast receiver in all of said plurality of VSAT terminals.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of VSAT terminals each comprises one Unicast receiver.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of VSAT terminals each comprises one Multicast receiver.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said plurality of VSAT terminals each comprises one Multicast receiver.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one Unicast channel transmits information to one of said plurality of VSAT terminals.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one Unicast channel transmits information to a plurality of said plurality of VSAT terminals

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said at least one Unicast channel transmits information to two of said plurality of VSAT terminals.

8. A VSAT terminal for use in a two-way VSAT satellite communication system comprising:

at least one Unicast receiver and at least one Multicast receiver;

wherein said at least one Unicast receiver receives Unicast transmissions through at least one Unicast channel; and

wherein said at least one Multicast receiver receives Multicast transmissions through at least one Multicast channel.

9. A VSAT terminal as recited in claim 8, wherein said Unicast receiver receives Unicast transmissions intended for receipt by only said VSAT terminal.

10. A VSAT terminal as recited in claim 8, wherein said Multicast receiver receives Multicast transmissions intended for receipt by all VSAT terminal in a network to which said VSAT terminal is in.

11. A VSAT terminal as recited in claim 9, wherein said Multicast receiver receives Multicast transmissions intended for receipt by all VSAT terminal in a network to which said VSAT terminal is in.

12. A method of two-way VSAT satellite communication comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of VSAT terminals;

providing each of said plurality of VSAT terminals with at least one Unicast receiver and at least one Multicast receiver;

transmitting Unicast information to individual ones of said plurality of VSAT terminals through at least one Unicast channel; and

transmitting Multicast information to all of said plurality of VSAT terminals through at least one Multicast channel.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, comprising the further step of providing a satellite having at least one Multicast transponder and at least one Unicast transponder.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, comprising the further step of receiving said Unicast information transmitted to said individual ones of said plurality of VSAT terminals through said, at least one Unicast channel by said at least one Unicast receiver.

15. A method as recited in claim 12, comprising the further step of receiving said Multicast information transmitted to all of said plurality of VSAT terminals through said at least one Multicast channel by said at least one Multicast receiver.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said Multicast transmission is sent from said at least one Multicast transponder to all of said plurality of VSAT terminals.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said Unicast transmission is sent from said at least one Unicast transponder to said individual one of said plurality of VSAT terminals.

18. A method as recited in claim 12, comprising the further step of assigning multiple ones of said plurality of VSAT terminals to a single one of said at least one Unicast channel.

19. A method as recited in claim 12, comprising the further step of assigning all of said plurality of VSAT terminals to all of said at least one Multicast channels.

20. A method of two-way VSAT satellite communication comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of VSAT terminals;

providing each of said plurality of VSAT terminals with at least one Unicast receiver and at least one Multicast receiver;

providing a Unicast connection to individual ones of said plurality of VSAT terminals through at least one Unicast channel; and

providing a Multicast connection to all of said plurality of VSAT terminals through at least one Multicast channel.

21. A method as recited in claim 20, comprising the further step of providing a satellite having at least one Multicast transponder and at least one Unicast transponder.

22. A method as recited in claim 20, comprising the further step of receiving said Unicast information through said connection to said individual ones of said plurality of VSAT terminals through said at least one Unicast receiver.

23. A method as recited in claim 20, comprising the further step of receiving said Multicast information through said Multicast connection to all of said plurality of VSAT terminals through said at least one Multicast channel by said at least one Multicast receiver.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said Multicast connection is made from said at least one Multicast transponder to all of said plurality of VSAT terminals.

25. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein said unicast connection is made from said at least one unicast transponder to said individual one of said plurality of VSAT terminals.

26. A method as recited in claim 20, comprising the further step of assigning multiple ones of said plurality of VSAT terminals to a single one of said at least one Unicast channel.

27. A method as recited in claim 20, comprising the further step of assigning all of said plurality of VSAT terminals to all of said at least one Multicast channels.