Multiple Return Link

• US 20100284324A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jay Brosius, Rich Battista, Uday Shankar
• Original Assignee: Jay Brosius, Rich Battista, Uday Shankar
• Inventors: Brosius, Jay, Battista, Rich, Shankar, Uday
• Granted Patent: US 8,428,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/321
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18539 Arrangements for managing radio, resources, i.e. for establishing or releasing a connection
• 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 7/18545 Arrangements for managing station mobility, i.e. for station registration or localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18554 using the position provided by an existing geolocalisation system

Abstract

A system and method for improving efficiency of satellite communications is described. In one embodiment, multiple return links are associated with a single forward link to reduce communications costs.

Claims

1. A satellite communications method, comprising:

a. transmitting a message to a plurality of mobile terminals via one of a plurality of slots on a single forward satellite link, said transmitted message communicating an inquiry to each of said plurality of mobile terminals; and

b. receiving a response from each of said plurality of mobile terminals, each of said plurality of responses including information generated in response to said inquiry, each of said plurality of responses being carried on a specified slot on a corresponding one of a plurality of separate return satellite links and, wherein each said specified slot on said corresponding plurality of separate return satellite links is offset by the same amount from said one of said plurality of slots on said single forward satellite link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said slots are time division multiple access slots.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said response includes positioning information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said response includes code phase information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said response includes sensor information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each forward link and return link is on a different frequency.

7. A satellite communications system, comprising:

a. a transmitter that transmits a message to a plurality of mobile terminals via one of a plurality of slots on a single forward satellite link, said transmitted message communicating an inquiry to each of said plurality of mobile terminals; and

b. a receiver that receives a response from each of said plurality of mobile terminals, each of said plurality of responses including information generated in response to said inquiry, each of said plurality of responses being carried on a specified slot on a corresponding one of a plurality of separate return satellite links, wherein each said specified slot on said corresponding plurality of separate return satellite links is offset by the same amount from said one of said plurality of slots on said single forward satellite link.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said slots are time division multiple access slots.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said response includes positioning information.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said response includes code phase information.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said response includes sensor information.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein each forward link and return link is on a different frequency.

13. A satellite communications method that reduces communications cost, comprising:

a. transmitting a single message to a plurality of mobile terminals in a first direction on a satellite link having a higher communication cost; and

b. receiving, in response to said single message, a plurality of communications from said plurality of mobile terminals in a second direction having a lower communication cost, wherein said plurality of communications in said second direction are on a plurality of different frequencies.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of communications in said second direction occur after a fixed delay after a single communication in said first direction.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of communications in said second direction include positioning information.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of communications in said second direction include code phase information.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said plurality of communications in said second direction include sensor information.