Satellite-band spectrum utilization for reduced or minimum interference

• US 20060040613A1
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobile Satellite Venture LP
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D., Dutta, Santanu
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00

Abstract

A first and/or a second communications system may provide communications service over a geographic area. A method of operating the first and/or the second communications systems may include generating a measure of aggregate interference reaching a satellite of the second communications system substantially from devices of the first communications system. The measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system may be transmitted to an element of the first communications system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a first and/or a second communications system providing communications service over a geographic area, the method comprising:

generating a measure of aggregate interference reaching a satellite of the second communications system substantially from devices of the first communications system; and

transmitting the measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system to an element of the first communications system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by different entities.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by a same entity.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and/or the second communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the at least one terrestrial component and/or the at least one satellite being configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the first communications system further comprising at least one radioterminal configured to communicate with the at least one satellite and/or with the at least one terrestrial component.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are both configured for communications using L band and/or S band frequencies.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system comprises transmissions between a radioterminal and at least one of a terrestrial component and/or a satellite of the first communications system.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the measure of aggregate interference at the first communications system; and

altering a transmission of an element of the first communications system responsive to the measure of aggregate interference.

9. A method of operating a first and/or a second communications system providing communications service over a geographic area, the method comprising:

receiving a measure of an aggregate interference reaching a satellite of the second communications system at the first communications system; and

altering a transmission of an element of the first communications system responsive to receiving the measure of the aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein altering a transmission of an element of the first communications system comprises altering a transmission power of the element of the first communications system.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein altering a transmission of an element of the first communications system comprise altering a frequency of transmission of the element of the first communications system.

12. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by different entities.

13. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by a same entity.

14. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first and/or the second communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the at least one terrestrial component and/or the at least one satellite being configured to communicate with a radioterminal.

15. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the at least one satellite and/or the at least one terrestrial component being configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

16. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are both configured for communications using L band and/or S band frequencies.

17. A method according to claim 9 wherein a portion of the aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system comprises transmissions between a radioterminal and at least one of a terrestrial component and/or a satellite of the first communications system.

18. A method according to claim 9 further comprising:

before receiving the measure of aggregate interference, generating the measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system; and

before receiving the measure of the aggregate interference, transmitting the measure of aggregate interference from the second communications system to the first communications system.

19. A method of operating a first and/or a second communications system providing communications service over a geographic area, the method comprising:

receiving at the first communications system from the second communications system a measure of interfering signals to the second communications system substantially generated by transmissions of the first communications system; and

reducing an interference received at a satellite of the second communications system responsive to the measure of interfering signals received from the second communications system.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by different entities.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by a same entity.

22. A method according to claim 19 wherein the first communications system and/or the second communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the at least one terrestrial component and/or the at least one satellite being configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

23. A method according to claim 19 wherein the first communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the at least one satellite and/or the at least one terrestrial component being configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

24. A method according to claim 19 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are both configured for communications using L band and/or S band frequencies.

25. A method according to claim 19 wherein a portion of the interfering signals reaching the satellite of the second communications system comprises transmissions between a radioterminal and at least one of a terrestrial component and/or at least one satellite of the first communications system.

26. A method according to claim 19 wherein reducing an interference component received at the satellite of the second communications system comprises altering a transmission from an element of the first communications system responsive to receiving the measure of interfering signals at the first communications system.

27. A method of operating a first and/or a second communications system providing communications service over a geographic area, the method comprising:

generating a measure of aggregate interference reaching a satellite of the second communications system substantially from devices of the first communications system; and

reducing interference received at a satellite of the second communications system responsive to the measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system substantially from devices of the first communications system.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by different entities.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are operated by a same entity.

30. A method according to claim 27 wherein the first and/or the second communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the at least one terrestrial component and/or the at least one satellite being configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

31. A method according to claim 27 wherein the first communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, the at least one satellite and/or the at least one terrestrial component being configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

32. A method according to claim 27 wherein the first communications system and the second communications system are both configured for communications using L band and/or S band frequencies.

33. A method according to claim 27 wherein a portion of the aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the second communications system comprises transmissions between a radioterminal and at least one of a terrestrial component and/or a satellite of the first communications system.

34. A method according to claim 27 wherein generating the measure of aggregate interference comprises generating the measure of aggregate interference at the first communications system, and receiving the measure of aggregate interference at the second communications system from the first communications system.

35. A method according to claim 27 wherein generating the measure of aggregate interference comprises receiving at least portions of transmissions between at least two elements of the first communications system at the second communications system, and generating the measure of aggregate interference responsive to the at least portions of transmissions between the at least two elements of the first communications system received at the second communications system.

36. A method of operating a first and/or a second communications system providing communications service to a plurality of radioterminals over a geographic area, the method comprising:

generating a measure of interference from the first communications system to a radioterminal of the second communications system; and

transmitting the measure of interference to the radioterminal to an element of the second communications system.

37. A method according to claim 36 further comprising:

transmitting the measure of interference from the second communications system to the first communications system.

38. A method according to claim 36 wherein transmitting the measure of interference comprises transmitting the measure of interference to a satellite of the second communications system.

39. A method according to claim 36 wherein the measure of interference comprises a bit error rate.

40. A method according to claim 36 further comprising:

increasing a power of transmission from an element of the second communications system to the radioterminal when the measure of interference exceeds a threshold.

41. A method according to claim 36 further comprising:

changing a frequency for communications between the radioterminal and an element of the second communications system when the measure of interference exceeds a threshold.

42. A method according to claim 36 wherein the first and second communications systems are operated by different entities.

43. A method according to claim 36 wherein the first and second communications systems are operated by a same entity.

44. A method according to claim 36 wherein the second communications system comprises at least one satellite and wherein the radioterminal of the second communications system is configured to communicate with the at least one satellite of the second communications system.

45. A method according to claim 36 wherein the first communications system comprises at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component, wherein the at least one satellite and/or the at least one terrestrial component of the first communications system is/are configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

46. A method according to claim 36 wherein the first and second communications systems are both configured for communication using L band and/or S band frequencies.

47. A radioterminal comprising:

an antenna;

a receiver coupled to the antenna, the receiver comprising a filter configured to attenuate frequencies outside a band of frequencies used for communication with the radioterminal; and

a controller coupled to the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a location of the radioterminal, a level of interference at the radioterminal and/or an input of a user of the radioterminal.

48. A radioterminal according to claim 47 wherein the receiver further includes a low noise amplifier coupled to the filter and wherein the filter is coupled between the antenna and the low noise amplifier.

49. A radioterminal according to claim 47 wherein the controller is further configured to change a characteristic and/or coupling of the filter responsive to a change in location of the radioterminal, a change in an input of a user of the radioterminal and/or a change in interference received at the radioterminal.

50. A radioterminal according to claim 47 wherein the controller is further configured to enable the filter responsive to interference received at the radioterminal exceeding a threshold so that the filter attenuates the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal, and to disable the filter responsive to interference received at the radioterminal being less than a threshold so that the filter does not significantly attenuate the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal.

51. A radioterminal according to claim 47 wherein the controller is further configured to enable the filter responsive to determining that the radioterminal is in a first location so that the filter attenuates the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal, and to disable the filter responsive to determining that the radioterminal is in a second location so that the filter does not significantly attenuate the frequencies outside the band of frequencies used for communications with the radioterminal, wherein the first and second locations are different.

52. A radioterminal according to claim 47 wherein the receiver further includes a low noise amplifier coupled to the filter and wherein a first component of the filter is coupled between the antenna and an input of the low noise amplifier and a second component of the filter is coupled between an output of the low noise amplifier and one other receiver component.

53. A communications system providing communications service over a geographic area, the communications system comprising:

a satellite configured to provide a communications link with at least one radioterminal in the geographic area; and

a controller configured to generate a measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the communications system substantially from devices of another communications system, and to transmit the measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the communications system to an element of the other communications system.

54. A communications system providing communications service over a geographic area, the communications system comprising:

at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component configured to provide a communications link with at least one radioterminal in the geographic region; and

a controller coupled to the at least one satellite, the at least one radioterminal and/or the at least one terrestrial component, the controller being configured to receive a measure of an aggregate interference reaching a satellite of another communications system, and to alter a transmission from the at least one satellite, the at least one radioterminal and/or the at least one terrestrial component responsive to receiving the measure of the aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the other communications system.

55. A communications system providing communications service over a geographic region, the communications system comprising:

at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component configured to provide a communications link with at least one radioterminal in the geographic region; and

a controller coupled to the at least one satellite, the at least one radioterminal and/or the at least one terrestrial component, the controller being configured to receive a measure of interfering signals to another communications system substantially generated by transmissions from/to the at least one satellite, the at least one radioterminal and/or the at least one terrestrial component, and to reduce interference received at a satellite of the other communications system responsive to the measure of interfering signals.

56. A communications system providing communications service over a geographic area, the communications system comprising:

a satellite configured to provide a communications link with at least one radioterminal in the geographic region; and

a controller coupled to the at least one satellite, the controller being configured to generate a measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the communications system substantially from devices of another communications system, and to reduce interference received at the satellite of the communications system responsive to the measure of aggregate interference reaching the satellite of the communications system substantially from devices of the other communications system.

57. A radioterminal providing communications with a communications system providing service over a geographic region, the radioterminal comprising:

a receiver configured to receive communications from an element of the communications system;

a transmitter configured to transmit communications to the element of the communications system; and

a controller coupled to the transmitter and receiver, the controller being configured to generating a measure of interference from another communications system received through the receiver, and to transmit the measure of interference through the transmitter to the element of the communications system.

58. A method of operating a radioterminal configured to provide communications with at least one satellite and/or at least one terrestrial component of a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving communications from the at least one satellite and/or the at least one terrestrial component;

providing filtering of the received communications according to a first filtering characteristic during a first period of time; and

providing filtering of the received communications according to a second filtering characteristic during a second period of time, wherein the first and second filtering characteristics are different.