SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS APPARATUS AND METHODS USING ASYMMETRICAL FORWARD AND RETURN LINK FREQUENCY REUSE
First Claim
1. A method of operating a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
- transmitting information using a plurality of forward link cells each one of which is associated with a service region, wherein the plurality of forward link cells comprises a plurality of forward frequency reuse clusters, each one of which comprises at least one forward link cell of the plurality of forward link cells, and each one of which uses a set of forward link frequencies such that a set of forward link frequencies that is used by a first forward frequency reuse cluster over a first forward service region is also used by a second forward frequency reuse cluster over a second forward service region that does not substantially overlap with the first forward service region; and
receiving information using a plurality of return link cells each one of which is associated with a service region, wherein the plurality of return link cells comprises a plurality of return frequency reuse clusters, each one of which comprises at least one return link cell of the plurality of return link cells, and each one of which uses a set of return link frequencies such that a set of return link frequencies that is used by a first return frequency reuse cluster over a first return service region is also used by a second return frequency reuse cluster to provide communications over a second return service region that does not substantially overlap with the first return service region;
wherein each one of the plurality of return frequency reuse clusters comprises a number of return link cells that is greater than a number of forward link cells that is included in each one of the plurality of forward frequency reuse clusters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Communications are conducted between a space-based component of the wireless communications system and radioterminals using a plurality of forward link cells and a plurality of return link cells, the return link cells having a greater number of cells per frequency reuse cluster than the forward link cells. At least some of the forward and return link cells may use at least some frequencies of a terrestrial wireless communications system having an adjacent and/or overlapping coverage area. Forward links of the at least some of the forward and return link cells may have a greater link bandwidth than return links of the at least some of the forward and return link cells.
143 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
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transmitting information using a plurality of forward link cells each one of which is associated with a service region, wherein the plurality of forward link cells comprises a plurality of forward frequency reuse clusters, each one of which comprises at least one forward link cell of the plurality of forward link cells, and each one of which uses a set of forward link frequencies such that a set of forward link frequencies that is used by a first forward frequency reuse cluster over a first forward service region is also used by a second forward frequency reuse cluster over a second forward service region that does not substantially overlap with the first forward service region; and receiving information using a plurality of return link cells each one of which is associated with a service region, wherein the plurality of return link cells comprises a plurality of return frequency reuse clusters, each one of which comprises at least one return link cell of the plurality of return link cells, and each one of which uses a set of return link frequencies such that a set of return link frequencies that is used by a first return frequency reuse cluster over a first return service region is also used by a second return frequency reuse cluster to provide communications over a second return service region that does not substantially overlap with the first return service region; wherein each one of the plurality of return frequency reuse clusters comprises a number of return link cells that is greater than a number of forward link cells that is included in each one of the plurality of forward frequency reuse clusters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wireless communications system comprising:
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a transmitter that is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a plurality of forward link cells each one of which is associated with a service region of the transmitter, wherein the plurality of forward link cells comprises a plurality of forward frequency reuse clusters, each one of which comprises at least one forward link cell of the plurality of forward link cells, and each one of which uses a set of forward link frequencies such that a set of forward link frequencies that is used by a first forward frequency reuse cluster to provide communications from the transmitter to radioterminals over a first forward service region of the transmitter is also used by a second forward frequency reuse cluster to provide communications from the transmitter to radioterminals over a second forward service region of the transmitter that does not substantially overlap with the first forward service region of the transmitter; and a receiver that is configured to communicate with radioterminals using a plurality of return link cells each one of which is associated with a service region of the receiver, wherein the plurality of return link cells comprises a plurality of return frequency reuse clusters, each one of which comprises at least one return link cell of the plurality of return link cells, and each one of which uses a set of return link frequencies such that a set of return link frequencies that is used by a first return frequency reuse cluster to provide communications from radioterminals to the receiver over a first return service region of the receiver is also used by a second return frequency reuse cluster to provide communications from radioterminals to the receiver over a second return service region of the receiver that does not substantially overlap with the first return service region of the receiver; wherein each one of the plurality of return frequency reuse clusters comprises a number of return link cells that is greater than a number of forward link cells that is included in each one of the plurality of forward frequency reuse clusters. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification