Method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals

• US 20030087606A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Dybdal, Robert B., Rolenz, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/309 Measuring or estimating channel quality parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/345 Interference values signal-to-interference ratio [SIR] or carrier-to-interference ratio [CIR] H04B17/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/382 for resource allocation, admission control or handover
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system

Abstract

A method of determining communication link quality includes the steps of: providing communications stations (e.g., UHF communications satellites, base stations of a terrestrial cellular network) with beacon transmitters that are used to transmit two types of signals from each communications station; and providing a communications device that employs the communications stations with beacon receivers and the ability to process the two types of signals to provide a user of the communications device with a real time determination of link impairments and, from this, a determination of the type and quality of service that is available to the user. The first type of signal is a stable continuous wave (CW) tone that provides a reference signal level, and the second type of signal is a coded waveform with distinguishable correlation properties. In an exemplary preferred embodiment, a processor and display are integrated with the user'"'"'s communication device and function to process these two signals and provide a user-friendly interface through which information pertaining to determined levels of link impairments and the type and quality of service available at that given location and time is communicated to the user. In an exemplary preferred embodiment, the user'"'"'s communication device is also provided with a booster system with an alternative high-gain antenna to increase communications opportunities in difficult operating environments.

Claims

1. A method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals, the method comprising the steps of:

equipping a plurality of communications satellites with beacon transmitters that generate beacon signals including a continuous wave (CW) tone and a coded signal that are different for each of the communications satellites; and

providing a communications device, that is capable of establishing UHF communications links with the communications satellites, with means for receiving and processing the beacon signals to determine the quality of the UHF communications links.

2. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 1, wherein for each of the communications satellites:

the coded signal is within a communications bandwidth employed by the communications satellite; and

the CW tone is out of the communications bandwidth.

3. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a transponder.

4. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 1, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile voice and/or data communicator.

5. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving and processing the beacon signals comprises a processor.

6. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving and processing the beacon signals comprises one or more beacon receivers.

7. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 6, wherein the one or more beacon receivers comprise a continuous wave (CW) tone beacon receiver.

8. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 6, wherein the one or more beacon receivers comprise a coded signal beacon receiver.

9. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing the communications device with means for communicating to a user information pertaining to the quality of the UHF communications links.

10. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 9, wherein the means for communicating information provides a real time indication of link quality.

11. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 9, wherein the means for communicating information comprises a display device operably interconnected to the communications device.

12. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 9, wherein the information includes noise information.

13. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 9, wherein the information includes interference information.

14. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 9, wherein the information includes scintillation information.

15. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing the communications device with a means for adjusting a transmission power of the communications device.

16. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 15, wherein the means for adjusting transmission power comprises a booster device that includes an alternative high gain antenna.

17. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 16, wherein the alternative high gain antenna is a log periodic antenna.

18. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 16, wherein the alternative high gain antenna is a Yagi antenna.

19. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 16, wherein the alternative high gain antenna is articulated so that it can be manipulated as desired into an opened operating configuration or a collapsed storage configuration.

20. A method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals, the method comprising the step of:

employing one or more beacon receivers and a processor to receive and process beacon signals from one or more communications stations to determine link quality between the communications device and the communications stations, the beacon signals including a continuous wave (CW) tone and a coded signal that are different for each of the communications stations.

21. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to process data pertaining to measured signal levels of the beacon signals to determine one or more link impairment factors.

22. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 21, wherein the link impairment factors include a propagation loss factor.

23. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 21, wherein the link impairment factors include an interference factor.

24. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 21, wherein the link impairment factors include a noise factor.

25. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to process data pertaining to variations in measured signal levels of the beacon signals to determine one or more link impairment factors.

26. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 25, wherein the link impairment factors include a scintillation factor.

27. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to sequentially determine the link qualities.

28. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 20, wherein the communications stations comprise UHF communications satellites.

29. The method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals of claim 20, wherein the communications stations are part of one or more terrestrial cellular networks.

30. A method of determining communication link quality employing beacon signals , t he method comprising the step of:

providing a mac hine-readable progr am to a processor that, when executed, enables the processor to control a communications device to process beacon signals from one or more communications stations, the beacon signals including a continuous wave (CW) tone and a coded signal that are different for each of the communications stations, to determine link quality between the communications device and the communications stations and to facilitate user selection of an available communications station that is most advantageous for communications.