Downstream Channel Bonding

• US 20100022186A1
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Walley, Graham
• Application Number:
  US12/411,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A satellite system for broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations is described. The satellite system comprises service spot beams from a satellite. Forward channels may be transported on carriers of the service spot beams. A plurality of forward sub-channels may be passed on the forward channels. A plurality of logical downstreams may correspond one-to-one with the plurality of forward sub-channels. The satellite system may further include a satellite modem with a channel bonding unit that combines a plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group and processes the downstream group to provide information to customer premises equipment.

Claims

1. A satellite system for communication with a plurality of remote locations, the satellite system comprising:

a satellite configured to transmit a service spot beam including a forward channel transported on a carrier of the service spot beam, a plurality of forward sub-channels passing on the forward channel, and a plurality of logical downstreams corresponding one-to-one with the plurality of forward sub-channels; and

a satellite modem configured to receive the forward channel, the satellite modem comprising a processor configured to combine a portion of the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group, to process the downstream group, and to provide information to customer premises equipment.

2. The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to combine the portion of the plurality of logical downstreams before a Medium Access Control (MAC) block.

3. The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to combine the portion of the plurality of logical downstreams within a Medium Access Control (MAC) block.

4. The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to claim 1, wherein three or more logical downstreams are combined to form the downstream group.

5. A method for satellite communication with a plurality of remote locations, the method comprising:

transmitting a forward channel on a carrier of a satellite service spot beam;

passing a plurality of forward sub-channels on the forward channel;

associating a plurality of logical downstreams one-to-one with the plurality of forward sub-channels;

receiving, at a satellite modem, the forward channel;

processing the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group, processing the downstream group in the satellite modem to determine information, and providing the information to customer premises equipment.

6. The method for satellite communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in claim 5, further comprising controlling the plurality of logical downstreams of the downstream group with a single domain.

7. A method performed at a satellite modem, the method comprising:

receiving from a satellite a forward channel comprising a plurality of forward sub-channels, each forward sub-channel corresponding to a logical downstream;

combining a plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group; and

processing the downstream group to determine information and providing the information to customer premises equipment.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising controlling the downstream group with a single domain.

9. A satellite modem comprising:

an input configured to receive a plurality of logical downstreams from a satellite, each logical downstream corresponding to a forward sub-channel;

a first processor communicatively coupled to the input and configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group; and

a second processor communicatively coupled to the first processor and configured to process the downstream group to determine information and to provide the information to customer premises equipment.

10. The satellite modem of claim 9 wherein the first processor is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams before a Medium Access Control (MAC) block.

11. The satellite modem of claim 9 wherein the first processor is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams within a Medium Access Control (MAC) block.

12. The satellite modem of claim 9 wherein the first processor is configured to combine three or more logical downstreams to form the downstream group.

13. A satellite modem comprising:

input means for receiving a plurality of logical downstreams from a satellite, each logical downstream corresponding to a forward sub-channel;

combining means, communicatively coupled to the input means, for combining the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group; and

processing means, communicatively coupled to the combining means, for processing the downstream group to determine information and to provide the information to customer premises equipment.

14. The satellite modem of claim 13 wherein the combining means is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams before a Medium Access Control (MAC) block.

15. The satellite modem of claim 13 wherein the combining means is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams within a Medium Access Control (MAC) block.

16. The satellite modem of claim 13 wherein the combining means is configured to combine three or more logical downstreams to form the downstream group.