System and method for satellite communication with a hybrid payload and DAMA support

• US 20050009467A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Nuber, Raymond Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/618,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009467A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18595 Arrangements for adapting broadband applications to satellite systems

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for satellite communication with a hybrid payload. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a data communication satellite with a hybrid (transponding and processing) payload. The satellite includes a hybrid communication payload providing signal transmission and minimal processing of the signal, an antenna for at least one of transmitting and receiving the signal, and a processor for intercepting a communication request. The processor generates a response to the communication request. The communication request may be generated by a user terminal. The processor may assign the communication request to a communication channel based on criteria. The criteria include available bandwidth and/or number of connection requests, for example. In an embodiment, the payload provides minimal processing of the signal. The payload may facilitate communication between a user terminal and a content provider or ground processing controller.

Claims

1. An improved satellite communication system, said system comprising:

a user terminal transmitting a request for communication with a content provider;

a content provider providing at least one of data and service; and

a satellite for relaying transmissions between the user terminal and the content provider, wherein the satellite intercepts the request from the user terminal, wherein the satellite communicates a status to the user terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data includes computer-related data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the service includes at least one of cellular phone service and audiovisual multicasting service.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite comprises a hybrid payload satellite using a demand assigned multiple access resource arbitration protocol.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the satellite includes an acknowledgement processor for intercepting a connection request from the user terminal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the acknowledgement processor assigns the user terminal to a communication channel based on criteria.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of available bandwidth and number of connection requests.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of user terminals.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of user terminals arbitrate collisions of communication requests.

10. A method for facilitating data transmission in a satellite network, said method comprising:

transmitting a communication request for communicating with a content provider;

intercepting the communication request at a satellite; and

returning a status message in response to the communication request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the status message comprises an acknowledgement or denial message.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the status message comprises at least one of satellite and content provider status.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting data to the satellite for relay to the content provider.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting a response to the satellite for relay to a user terminal.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising arbitrating a collision between multiple communication requests.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising assigning the communication request to a communication channel based on criteria.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the criteria includes at least one of available bandwidth and number of connection requests.

18. A data communication satellite with a hybrid payload, said satellite comprising:

a hybrid communication payload providing signal transmission and minimal processing of the signal;

an antenna for at least one of transmitting and receiving the signal; and

a processor for intercepting a communication request, wherein the processor generates a response to the communication request.

19. The satellite of claim 18, wherein the payload provides minimal processing of the signal.

20. The satellite of claim 18, wherein the communication request is generated by a user terminal.

21. The satellite of claim 18, wherein the payload facilitates communication between a user terminal and a content provider.

22. The satellite of claim 18, wherein the payload uses a demand assigned multiple access resource arbitration protocol.

23. The satellite of claim 18, wherein the processor assigns the communication request to a communication channel based on criteria.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of available bandwidth and number of connection requests.