Gated power time division downlink for a processing satellite
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method for reducing power consumption in a satellite downlink transmitter (100). The method includes the steps of defining a frame structure for use on a downlink, and further defining a traffic body (218, 220, 222) and an overhead body (212, 214, 216) in the frame structure (202, 204, 206). The method further determines the amount of time required to transmit the traffic body (“the traffic transmit time”) and the amount of time required to transmit the overhead body (“the overhead transmit time”). Subsequently, the method activates a transmitter for the overhead transmit time to transmit the overhead body (212, 214, 216) including the synchronization information. Thus, a ground station may acquire synchronization and lock onto the downlink. The method then, however, selectively deactivates the transmitter for the traffic transmit time. The method thereby transmits the overhead body (212, 214, 216) in every frame (202, 204, 206), but may save power by not transmitting the traffic body (218, 220, 222) of the frame.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1-20. -20 (Canceled)
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21. A method for reducing power consumption in a satellite downlink transmitter, the method comprising:
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defining a frame structure for use on a downlink, and further defining a traffic body and an overhead body in said frame structure;
determining a traffic transmit time, and an overhead transmit time for each frame;
storing synchronization information in said overhead body;
queueing and not immediately transmitting traffic information for transmission on a satellite to produce queued traffic, wherein said queued traffic is immediately transmittable by said satellite;
establishing a latency threshold which determines the maximum time for which any portion of traffic information remains queued on said satellite without transmission;
determining whether said latency threshold has been exceeded; and
continuously transmitting information in a downlink according to the following substeps;
activating a satellite transmitter for said overhead transmit time and transmitting said overhead body including said synchronization information;
immediately transmitting, if said latency time has been exceeded, said traffic body for said traffic time; and
deactivating, if said latency time has not been exceeded, said transmitter for said traffic transmit time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification