Methods and systems providing adaptive feeder links for ground based beam forming and related systems and satellites

• US 20060211419A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

A method of operating a communications system including a satellite may include providing communications feeder links between the satellite and a plurality of satellite gateways, and providing a communications service link between the satellite and at least one radioterminal using a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements. During a first time period, signals of first and second service link antenna feed elements of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements may be coupled between a first one of the plurality of satellite gateways and the first and second service link antenna feed elements. During a second time period, a signal of the first service link antenna feed element may be coupled between the first satellite gateway and the first service link antenna feed element, and a signal of the second service link antenna feed element may be coupled between a second one of the plurality of satellite gateways and the second service link antenna feed element. Related communications systems and satellites are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communications system including a satellite, the method comprising:

providing communications service links between the satellite and radioterminals using a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements;

during a first time period, coupling signals of first and second service link antenna feed elements of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between a first satellite gateway and the first and second service link antenna feed elements; and

during a second time period, coupling a signal of the first service link antenna feed element between the first satellite gateway and the first service link antenna feed element and coupling a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between a second satellite gateway and the second service link antenna feed element.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received over a feeder link frequency band and transmitted from the first and second service link antenna feed elements over a service link frequency band.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received at the first and second service link antenna feed elements over a service link frequency band and over at least two different polarization orientations and transmitted over a feeder link frequency band.

5. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

during a third time period, coupling a signal of the first service link antenna feed element between the first satellite gateway and the first service link antenna feed element and coupling a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between a third satellite gateway and the second service link antenna feed element.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing communications service links comprises:

providing a first service link between the satellite and a first radioterminal located in a first coverage area; and

providing a second service link between the satellite and a second radioterminal located in a second coverage area.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the first and second service links reuse at least one frequency.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein during the first time period, the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are translated between a service link and a feeder link frequency band such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band;

and

during a third time period, translating a signal of the first service link antenna feed element and a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signal of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

10. A method of operating a communications system including a satellite, the method comprising:

providing a communications feeder link between the satellite and at least one satellite gateway over a feeder link frequency band;

providing a communications service link between the satellite and at least one radioterminal with the communications service link being provided over a service link frequency band using a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements, with signals for the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements being translated between the service link and feeder link frequency bands;

during a first time period, translating a signal of a first service link antenna feed element and a signal of a second service link antenna feed element of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band; and

during a second time period, translating a signal of the first service link antenna feed element and a signal of the second service link antenna feed element of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signal of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received over the feeder link frequency band and transmitted from the first and second service link antenna feed elements over the service link frequency band.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received at the first and second service link antenna feed elements over the service link frequency band and over at least two different polarization orientations and transmitted over the feeder link frequency band.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein during the first time period, the signals of first and second service link antenna feed elements are coupled between a first satellite gateway and the first and second service link antenna feed elements, the method further comprising:

during a third time period, coupling a signal of the first service link antenna feed element between the first satellite gateway and the first service link antenna feed element and coupling a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between a second satellite gateway and the second service link antenna feed element.

15. A method according to claim 10 wherein providing a communications service link comprises:

providing a first service link between the satellite and a first radioterminal located in a first coverage area; and

providing a second communications service link between the satellite and a second radioterminal located in a second coverage area.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the first and second service links reuse at least one frequency.

17. A method according to claim 10 further comprising:

during a third time period, translating a signal of the first service link antenna feed element and a signal of the second service link antenna feed element of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signal of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a third frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band wherein the first, second, and third frequency offsets are all different.

18. A method according to claim 10 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

19. A method of operating a communications system including a satellite having a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements, the method comprising:

during a first time period, providing a first feeder link between a first gateway and the satellite and communicating signals for first and second feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link; and

during a second time period, providing the first feeder link between the first gateway and the satellite, providing a second feeder link between a second gateway and the satellite, communicating signals for the first feed element between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link, and communicating signals for the second feed element between the second gateway and the satellite over the second feeder link.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements are received from the satellite over a feeder link frequency band and over at least two different polarizations.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising:

receiving communications for transmission from the satellite to a radioterminal; and

applying first and second weights to the communications to generate respective signal components for the first and second service link antenna feed elements.

23. A method according to claim 19 wherein signals of the first and second feed elements are transmitted to the satellite over the feeder link frequency band.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising:

combining components of the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements to establish communications with at least one radioterminal.

25. A method according to claim 19, the method further comprising:

during a third time period, providing the first feeder link between the first gateway and the satellite, providing a third feeder link between a third gateway and the satellite, communicating signals for the first feed element between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link, and communicating signals for the second feed element between the third gateway and the satellite over the third feeder link.

26. A method according to claim 19 wherein the signals for the first and second feed elements include components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

27. A method according to claim 19 wherein during the first time period, the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are communicated between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link wherein the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band;

and

during a third time period, communicating signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link wherein the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

28. A method according to claim 19 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

29. A method of operating a communications system including a satellite having a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements, the method comprising:

during a first time period, providing a feeder link between a gateway and the satellite and communicating signals for first and second feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements between the gateway and the satellite over the feeder link, wherein the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band; and

during a second time period, providing the feeder link between the gateway and the satellite and communicating signals for first and second feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements between the gateway and the satellite over the feeder link, wherein the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band, wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are transmitted over the feeder link frequency band over at least two different polarization orientations.

32. A method according to claim 31 further comprising:

receiving communications for transmission from the satellite to a radioterminal; and

applying first and second weights to the communications to generate respective signal components for the first and second service link antenna feed elements.

33. A method according to claim 29 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received over the feeder link frequency band and over at least two different polarization orientations.

34. A method according to claim 33 further comprising:

combining components of the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements to establish communications with at least one radioterminal.

35. A method according to claim 29 further comprising:

during a third time period, coupling a signal of the first service link antenna feed element between a first gateway and the satellite and coupling a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between a second gateway and the satellite.

36. A method according to claim 29 wherein the signals for the first and second service link antenna feed elements include components of communications for first and second radioterminals.

37. A method according to claim 29, further comprising:

during a third time period, providing the feeder link between the gateway and the satellite and communicating signals for first and second feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements between the gateway and the satellite over the feeder link, wherein the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a third frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band, wherein the first and third frequency offsets are different and wherein the second and third frequency offsets are different.

38. A method according to claim 29 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

39. A satellite for a communications system, the satellite comprising:

at least one antenna including a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements, the at least one antenna providing communications service links between the satellite and radioterminals using the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements; and

a translator configured to couple signals of first and second service link antenna feed elements of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between a first satellite gateway and the first and second service link antenna feed elements during a first time period, and configured to couple a signal of the first service link antenna feed element between the first satellite gateway and the first service link antenna feed element and to couple a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between a second satellite gateway and the second service link antenna feed element during a second time period.

40. A satellite according to claim 39 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

41. A satellite according to claim 40 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received over a feeder link frequency band and transmitted from the first and second service link antenna feed elements over a service link frequency band.

42. A satellite according to claim 41 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received at the first and second service link antenna feed elements over a service link frequency band and over at least two different polarization orientations and transmitted over a feeder link frequency band.

43. A satellite according to claim 39 wherein the signal translator is further configured to couple a signal of the first service link antenna feed element between the first satellite gateway and the first service link antenna feed element and to couple a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between a third satellite gateway and the second service link antenna feed element during a third time period.

44. A satellite according to claim 39 wherein the at least one antenna is configured to provide a first service link between the satellite and a first radioterminal located in a first coverage area, and to provide a second service link between the satellite and a second radioterminal located in a second coverage area.

45. A satellite according to claim 44 wherein the first and second service links reuse at least one frequency.

46. A satellite according to claim 39 wherein during the first time period, the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are translated between a service link and a feeder link frequency band such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band, and wherein the signal translator is further configured to translate a signal of the first service link antenna feed element and a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signal of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band during a third time period, wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

47. A satellite according to claim 39 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

48. A satellite for a communications system, the satellite comprising:

at least one antenna including a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to provide a communications feeder link between the satellite and at least one satellite gateway over a feeder link frequency band and to provide a communications service link between the satellite and at least one radioterminal with the communications service link being provided over a service link frequency band using the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements; and

a signal translator configured to translate a signal of a first service link antenna feed element and a signal of a second service link antenna feed element of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band during a first time period, and configured to translate a signal of the first service link antenna feed element and a signal of the second service link antenna feed element of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signal of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band during a second time period, wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

49. A satellite according to claim 48 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

50. A satellite according to claim 49 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received over the feeder link frequency band and transmitted from the first and second service link antenna feed elements over the service link frequency band.

51. A satellite according to claim 50 wherein signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are received at the first and second service link antenna feed elements over the service link frequency band and over at least two different polarization orientations and transmitted over the feeder link frequency band.

52. A satellite according to claim 48 wherein during the first time period, the signal translator is configured to couple signals of first and second service link antenna feed elements between a first satellite gateway and the first and second service link antenna feed elements, wherein the signal translator is further configured to couple a signal of the first service link antenna feed element between the first satellite gateway and the first service link antenna feed element and to couple a signal of the second service link antenna feed element between a second satellite gateway and the second service link antenna feed element during a third time period.

53. A satellite according to claim 48 wherein the at least one antenna is further configured to provide a first service link between the satellite and a first radioterminal located in a first coverage area, and to provide a second service link between the satellite and a second radioterminal located in a second coverage area.

54. A satellite according to claim 53 wherein the first and second service links reuse at least one frequency.

55. A satellite according to claim 48 wherein the signal translator is further configured during a third time period to translate a signal of the first service link antenna feed element and a signal of the second service link antenna feed element of the plurality of service link antenna feed elements between the service link and feeder link frequency bands such that the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements occupy substantially a same band of frequencies in the service link frequency band and such that the signal of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a third frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band wherein the first, second, and third frequency offsets are all different.

56. A satellite according to claim 48 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

57. A space-based communications system comprising:

a first gateway configured to provide a first feeder link between the first gateway and a satellite including a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements, to communicate signals for first and second feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link during a first time period, and to communicate signals for the first feed element between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link during a second time period; and

a second gateway configured to provide a second feeder link between the second gateway and the satellite, and to communicate signals for the second feed element between the second gateway and the satellite over the second feeder link during the second time period.

58. A communications system according to claim 57 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

59. A communications system according to claim 58 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements are received from the satellite over a feeder link frequency band and over at least two different polarization orientations.

60. A communications system according to claim 59 further comprising:

a beamformer coupled to the first and/or second gateways wherein the beamformer is configured to receive communications for transmission from the satellite to a radioterminal, and to apply first and second weights to the communications to generate respective signal components for the first and second service link antenna feed elements.

61. A communications system according to claim 57 wherein signals of the first and second feed elements are transmitted to the satellite over the feeder link frequency band.

62. A communications system according to claim 61 further comprising:

a beamformer configured to combine signal components of the first and second service link antenna feed elements to establish communications with a radioterminal.

63. A communications system according to claim 57 wherein during a third time period the first gateway is configured to provide the first feeder link between the first gateway and the satellite and to communicate signals for the first feed element between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link, the communications system further comprising:

a third gateway configured to provide a third feeder link between the third gateway and the satellite, and to communicate signals for the second feed element between the third gateway and the satellite over the third feeder link.

64. A communications system according to claim 57 wherein

during the first time period the first gateway is further configured to communicate the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link wherein the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band, and wherein during a third time period, the first gateway is further configured to communicate signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements between the first gateway and the satellite over the first feeder link wherein the signals of the first and second service link antenna feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

65. A communications system according to claim 57 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.

66. A space-based communications system comprising:

a gateway configured to provide a feeder link with a satellite and to communicate signals for first and second feed elements of a plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements at the satellite over the feeder link during a first time period, wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements are separated by a first frequency offset in a feeder link frequency band during the first time period, and to communicate signals for the first and second feed elements over the feeder link during a second time period, wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements are separated by a second frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band during the second time period, wherein the first and second frequency offsets are different.

67. A communications system according to claim 66 wherein at least some feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements are configured to receive information from radioterminals over at least two different polarization orientations.

68. A communications system according to claim 67 wherein signals of the first and second feed elements are transmitted over the feeder link frequency band over at least two different polarization orientations.

69. A communications system according to claim 68, the method further comprising:

receiving communications for transmission from the satellite to a radioterminal; and

applying first and second weights to the communications to generate respective signal components for the first and second feed elements.

70. A communications system according to claim 66 wherein signals of the first and second feed elements are received over the feeder link frequency band.

71. A communications system according to claim 70, the method further comprising:

combining components of the signals of the first and second feed elements to establish communications with at least one radioterminal.

72. A communications system according to claim 66 wherein the gateway is further configured to communicate a signal of the first feed element with the satellite during a third time period, the communications system further comprising:

a second gateway configured to communicate a signal of the second feed element with the satellite during the third time period.

73. A communications system according to claim 66 wherein the signals for the first and second feed elements include components of communications for first and second radioterminals.

74. A communications system according to claim 66 wherein the gateway is further configured to provide the feeder link with the satellite and to communicate signals for first and second feed elements of the plurality of satellite service link antenna feed elements between the gateway and the satellite over the feeder link during a third time period, wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements are separated by a third frequency offset in the feeder link frequency band, wherein the first and third frequency offsets are different and wherein the second and third frequency offsets are different.

75. A communications system according to claim 66 wherein the signals of the first and second feed elements include at least two differently polarized components of communications with at least one radioterminal in communications with the satellite.