Network-Access Satellite Communication System

• US 20080055153A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Hudson, Erwin C., Martin, Remberto L.
• Application Number:
  US11/847,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20080055153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a system for monitoring the performance of satellite communications includes first and second receivers, first and second splitters, a first transmitter, and one or more switches. The first receiver is configured to receive microwave communications signals from a first gateway antenna system. The first splitter is coupled to the first receiver and is configured to collect a copy of microwave communications signals from the first receiver. The second receiver is configured to receive microwave communications signals from a second gateway antenna. The second splitter is coupled to the second receiver and is configured to collect a copy of microwave communications signals from the second receiver. The first transmitter is configured to transmit microwave communications signals to a third gateway antenna system. The one or more switches are collectively configured to selectively couple the first transmitter to a selected one of the first and second splitters.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the performance of satellite communications, comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive microwave communications signals from a first earth-based gateway antenna system;

a first splitter coupled to the first receiver and configured to create a copy of microwave communications signals from the first receiver;

a second receiver configured to receive microwave communications signals from a second earth-based gateway antenna system;

a second splitter coupled to the second receiver and configured to create a copy of microwave communications signals from the second receiver;

a first transmitter configured to transmit microwave communications signals to a third earth-based gateway antenna system; and

one or more switches collectively configured to selectively couple the first transmitter to a selected one of the first and second splitters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second splitters comprise a directional coupler.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more switches comprise a single switch configured to selectively couple the first transmitter to a selected one of the first and second splitters.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second transmitter configured to transmit microwave communications signals to the first earth-based gateway antenna system;

a third splitter coupled to the second transmitter and configured to create a copy of the microwave communications signals transmitted to the first earth-based gateway antenna system;

a third transmitter configured to transmit microwave communications signals to the second earth-based gateway antenna system;

a fourth splitter coupled to the third transmitter and configured to create a copy of the microwave communications signals transmitted to the second earth-based gateway antenna system; and

one or more switches collectively configured to selectively couple the first transmitter to a selected one of the third and fourth splitters.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more switches comprise:

a first switch configured to select between the first and second splitters;

a second switch configured to select between the third and fourth splitters; and

a third switch configured to select between the first and second switches.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second transmitter configured to transmit microwave communications signals to the first earth-based gateway antenna system;

a third transmitter configured to transmit microwave communications signals to the second earth-based gateway antenna system;

a third receiver configured to receive microwave communications signals from the third earth-based gateway antenna system; and

a switch configured to selectively couple the third receiver to a selected one of the second and third transmitters.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the switch selectively couples the third receiver to the selected one of the second and third transmitters through one of first and second combiners.

8. A method for use in monitoring satellite communication performance, comprising:

receiving downstream microwave communications signals from a plurality of earth-based gateway antenna systems, such that a different set of one or more downstream microwave communications signals is received from each of the plurality of earth-based gateway antennas; and

transmitting a duplicate set of one or more downstream communications signals received from a selected one of the plurality of earth-based gateway antennas.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected one of the plurality of earth-based gateway antennas is selected using one or more switches.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the duplicate set of one or more downstream communications signals is transmitted to an additional earth-based gateway antenna system not included in the plurality of earth-based gateway antenna systems.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the duplicate set of one or more downstream communications signals is generated using a splitter.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the splitter comprises a directional coupler.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting upstream microwave communications signals from the satellite to the plurality of gateway antenna systems such that each gateway antenna system receives a different set of one or more upstream microwave communications signals;

transmitting a duplicate set of the one or more upstream microwave communications signals transmitted to a selected one of the plurality of gateway antenna systems.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the duplicate set of one or more upstream communications signals is transmitted to an additional earth-based gateway antenna system not included in the plurality of earth-based gateway antenna systems.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the duplicate set of one or more upstream communications signals is generated using a splitter.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the splitter comprises a directional coupler.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving upstream microwave communications signals from an additional earth-based gateway antenna system not included in the plurality of earth-based antenna systems; and

transmitting the upstream microwave communications signals received from the additional earth-based gateway antenna to the selected one of the plurality of earth-based gateway antenna systems.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the selected one of the plurality of earth-base gateway antenna systems is selected using a first switch for the upstream microwave communications signals and a second switch for the downstream communications signals.

19. A method for use in monitoring satellite communication performance, comprising:

receiving, at a satellite, a first microwave communication signal from a gateway antenna system;

processing at the satellite, the first microwave communication signal to generate a plurality of channels;

transmitting a plurality of microwave communication signals from the satellite in a plurality of spot-beams to a first plurality of receivers, each of the plurality of microwave signals comprising one of the plurality of channels, each of the first plurality of receivers being associated with a particular spot-beam and a particular one of the plurality of channels;

transmitting a duplicate microwave communication signal from the satellite in a spot-beam to a second plurality of receivers, each of the second plurality of receivers being associated with a particular one of the plurality of channels, the duplicate signal corresponding to the microwave communication signal transmitted in a selected one of the plurality of spot-beams; and

analyzing the duplicate signal to monitor satellite communication performance.