Multiple Input Receiver In Satellite Communication System

• US 20080311844A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Eidenschink, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/050,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311844A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2125 Synchronisation

Abstract

Satellite communication systems and methods are disclosed that provide local and regional data to a subscriber terminal utilizing a single receiver. Regional data may be transmitted over a wide beam and the local data may be transmitted over one of a plurality of localized spot beams such as, for example, a four color spot pattern. Moreover, the data may be multiplexed using TDMA, FDMA, and/or OFDMA techniques. In one embodiment, the regional data is transmitted in a first time slot over a first frequency band and the local data is transmitted in a second timeslot. Each set of localized data may be transmitted over a sub-band of the first frequency band.

Claims

1. A method for receiving both regional data and local data from one or more satellites and terrestrial repeaters at a satellite subscriber terminal using a single receiver, the method comprising:

receiving the regional data during a first time slot; and

receiving the local data during a second time slot, wherein the local data is multiplexed in one of a plurality of frequency bands.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising demultiplexing the local data.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local data is transmitted as a localized spot beam.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of frequency bands include local data for a specific locality and the local data is transmitted within a spot beam covering the specific locality.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the regional data is received within a first frequency band and the plurality of frequency bands are frequency sub-bands within the first frequency band.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local data is multiplexed using frequency division multiple access techniques.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the local data is multiplexed in one of multiple frequency reuse bands.

8. A satellite subscriber terminal configured to receive both regional data and local data from one or more satellites or terrestrial repeaters, the subscriber terminal comprising:

a receiver configured to receive regional data within a first time slot and local data within a second time slot, wherein the local data is multiplexed within one of a plurality of frequency bands; and

a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the local data from the plurality of frequency bands.

9. The satellite subscriber terminal according to claim 8, wherein the demultiplexer comprises a processor configured to perform a demultiplexing function.

10. The satellite subscriber terminal according to claim 8, wherein the regional data is transmitted within a first frequency band and the plurality of frequency bands are frequency sub-bands within the first frequency band.

11. The satellite subscriber terminal according to claim 8, wherein the local data is multiplexed using frequency division multiple access techniques.

12. A satellite subscriber terminal configured to receive both regional data and local data from one or more satellites and/or terrestrial repeaters, the subscriber terminal comprising:

means for receiving regional data from a first satellite within a first time slot and local data from a second satellite within a second time slot, wherein the local data is multiplexed within one of a plurality of frequency bands; and

means for demultiplexing the local data from the plurality of frequency bands.

13. The satellite subscriber terminal according to claim 12, wherein the first and second satellite are the same satellite.

14. The satellite subscriber terminal according to claim 12, wherein the local data is multiplexed using frequency division multiple access techniques.

15. A method for transmitting both regional data and local data to a plurality of subscriber terminals, the method comprising:

receiving regional data from a first gateway;

receiving a plurality of local data from a second gateway;

multiplexing the plurality of local data, wherein each of the plurality of local data is multiplexed into a sub-frequency band within a first frequency band;

transmitting at least a portion of the regional data in a first time slot over the first frequency band; and

transmitting at least a portion of the multiplexed local data in a second time slot over the first frequency band.

16. The satellite according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of local data is transmitted in a localized spot beam.

17. The satellite according to claim 15, wherein the first gateway and the second gateway comprise a single gateway.

18. The satellite according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of local data is multiplexed using frequency division multiple access techniques.

19. A satellite configured to transmit data to a plurality of subscriber terminals over a single wide beam and a plurality of narrow beams, the satellite comprising:

a first antenna configured to transmit regional data to each of the plurality of subscriber terminals over a single wide beam;

a second antenna configured to transmit a plurality of sets of local data to the plurality of subscriber terminals over a plurality of narrow beams, wherein each narrow beam transmits the sets of local data to a subset of the plurality of subscriber terminals.

20. The satellite according to claim 19, wherein the regional data is transmitted over the first antenna in a first time slot and the plurality of sets of local data is transmitted over the second antenna in a second time slot.

21. The satellite according to claim 19, wherein the satellite is configured to transmit each set of local data over a separate narrow beams.

22. The satellite according to claim 19, wherein plurality of narrow beams produce a multi color beam reuse pattern.

23. The satellite according to claim 19, wherein the regional data is transmitted within a first frequency band and each set of local data is transmitted within a sub frequency band that is a subset of the first frequency band.

24. The satellite according to claim 19, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna comprise a single antenna.