METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONFIGURING SATELLITE ANTENNA CELL PATTERNS IN RESPONSE TO TERRESTRIAL USE OF SATELLITE FREQUENCIES

• US 20080032690A1
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,801,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18543 for adaptation of transmission parameters, e.g. power control for detecting or preventing errors in the information received H04L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/216 Code division or spread-spectrum multiple access [CDMA, SSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning

Abstract

Space-based wireless radiotelephone communications are provided in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The satellite footprint is divided into satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused. At least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is assigned to a given satellite cell in the satellite footprint is terrestrially reused outside the given satellite cell. A radiation pattern of at least the given satellite cell is modified to reduce interference with the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is terrestrially reused outside the given satellite cell.

Claims

1. A method of providing wireless communications, the method comprising:

providing space-based communications using a space-based component comprising an antenna having a radiation pattern, the radiation pattern comprising a spatial distribution of gain; and

configuring the spatial distribution of gain responsive to terrestrial communications to reduce a level of interference.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the configuring is performed once or a plurality of times.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein providing space-based communications comprises using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and providing terrestrial communications also comprises using a FDD air interface.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein providing space-based communications comprises using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and providing terrestrial communications comprises using a Time Division Duplex (TDD) air interface.

5. A method according to claim 2 further comprising:

providing the terrestrial communications.

6. A method of providing wireless communications, the method comprising:

providing space-based communications using a space-based component comprising an antenna having a radiation pattern, the radiation pattern comprising a spatial distribution of gain;

estimating a level of interference; and

configuring the spatial distribution of gain responsive to the estimating to reduce the level of interference.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the configuring is performed once or a plurality of times.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein providing space-based communications comprises using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and wherein the method also comprises providing terrestrial communications using a FDD air interface.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein providing space-based communications comprises using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and wherein the method also comprises providing terrestrial communications using a Time Division Duplex (TDD) air interface.

10. A system comprising:

a space-based component comprising an antenna having a radiation pattern, the radiation pattern comprising a spatial distribution of gain; and

a controller configured to adjust the spatial distribution of gain responsive to a terrestrial communications network to reduce a level of interference.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the spatial distribution of gain once or a plurality of times.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the space-based component is configured to provide communications using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and wherein the terrestrial communications network is configured to provide communications by also using a FDD air interface.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the space-based component is configured to provide communications using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and wherein the terrestrial communications network is configured to provide communications using a Time Division Duplex (TDD) air interface.

14. A system according to claim 10 further comprising the terrestrial communications network.

15. A system comprising:

a space-based component comprising an antenna having a radiation pattern;

the radiation pattern comprising a spatial distribution of gain;

an interference estimator that is configured to estimate a level of interference; and

a controller configured to adjust the spatial distribution of gain responsive to the estimated level of interference.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the spatial distribution of gain once or a plurality of times.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the space-based component is configured to provide communications using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and wherein a terrestrial network that is causing the level of interference is configured to provide communications by also using a FDD air interface.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein the space-based component is configured to provide communications using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) air interface and wherein a terrestrial network that is causing the level of interference is configured to provide communications using a Time Division Duplex (TDD) air interface.