Method and System for Transmission of Identification via Metadata for Repeating Relays using Spread-Spectrum Technology

• US 20120002701A1
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comtech EF Data (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comtech EF Data (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Morris, Frederick, Beeler, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,755,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/130
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7097 Interference-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/165 employing angle modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays

Abstract

A communication method for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal comprising encoding meta-data using an encoder, the meta-data comprising information that identifies a repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted, encoded using an encoder, modulating, using a modulator and spreading, using a spreader, the encoded meta-data such that the spread meta-carrier signal results, and transmitting, by a transmitting device, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay does not process or modify the spread meta-carrier signal, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay.

Claims

1. A communication method for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the method comprising:

encoding meta-data using an encoder, the meta-data comprising information that identifies a repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

modulating, using a modulator, the encoded meta-data signal;

spreading, using a spreader, the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results; and

transmitting, by a transmitting device, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay does not process or modify the spread meta-carrier signal, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of the bandwidth of the repeating relay.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the spread meta-carrier signal by a receiving device;

despreading, using a despreader, the spread meta-carrier signal;

demodulating, using a demodulator, the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

decoding, using a decoder, the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modulating uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the spreading uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the meta-data further comprises information that identifies or describes the repeating relay or one or more transponders to which the spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted.

9. A communication method for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the method comprising:

encoding meta-data using an encoder, the meta-data comprising information that identifies a repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

modulating, using a modulator, the encoded meta-data signal;

spreading, using a spreader, the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results; and

transmitting, by a transmitting device, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay reroutes the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the spread meta-carrier signal by a receiving device;

despreading, using a despreader, the spread meta-carrier signal;

demodulating, using a demodulator, the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

decoding, using a decoder, the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

extracting, by a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay, the spread meta-carrier signal;

routing, by the beacon extraction device, the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device; and

embedding, by the beacon injection device, the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

routing, by the beacon extraction device, the meta-carrier signal to a beacon processor; and

processing, by the beacon processor, the meta-carrier signal to form a processed meta-carrier signal.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing, by a storage device, meta-data received by the repeating relay.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the modulating uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the spreading uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the meta-data further comprises information that identifies one or more transponders to which the spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the processing creates a unique meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the processing creates a substantially identical meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

retaining, by the beacon processor, the processed meta-carrier signal; and

loading, by the beacon processor, the processed meta-carrier signal when the repeating relay is created.

23. A communication method for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the method comprising:

spreading, by a spreading device, a meta-carrier signal containing data stored by a repeating relay and meta-data comprising information that identifies the repeating relay; and

transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal to a remote receiver, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the spreading uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the meta-data further comprises information that identifies or describes the repeating relay or one or more transponders to which a carrier signal is to be transmitted.

29. A communication system for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the system comprising:

an encoder that encodes meta-data, the meta-data comprising information that identifies a repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

a modulator that modulates the encoded meta-data signal;

a spreader that spreads the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results; and

a transmitting device that transmits the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay does not process or modify the spread meta-carrier signal, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a receiving device that receives the spread meta-carrier signal;

a despreader that despreads the spread meta-carrier signal;

a demodulator that demodulates the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

a decoder that decodes, the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the modulator uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the spreader uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the meta-data further comprises information that identifies a modulator that modulates the spread meta-carrier signal;

and

one or more transponders to which the spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted.

37. A communication system for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the system comprising:

an encoder that encodes meta-data, the meta-data comprising information that identifies a repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

a modulator that modulates the encoded meta-data signal using a modulator;

a spreader that spreads the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results; and

a transmitting device that transmits, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay reroutes the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a receiving device that receives the spread meta-carrier signal;

a despreader that despreads the spread meta-carrier signal;

a demodulator that demodulates the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

a decoder that decodes the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

41. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay that extracts the spread meta-carrier signal and routes the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device that embeds the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

a beacon processor that receives the meta-carrier signal from the beacon extraction device and processes the meta-carrier signal to form a processed meta-carrier signal.

43. The system of claim 42, further comprising a storage device that stores meta-data received by the repeating relay.

44. The system of claim 37, wherein the modulator uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein the spreader uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

46. The system of claim 37, wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

47. The system of claim 37, wherein the meta-data further comprises information that identifies one or more transponders to which the spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor creates a unique meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

49. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor creates a substantially identical meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

50. The system of claim 42, wherein the beacon processor retains the processed meta-carrier signal and loads the processed meta-carrier signal when the repeating relay is created.

51. A communication system for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the system comprising:

a spreader that spreads a meta-carrier signal containing data stored by a repeating relay and meta-data comprising information that identifies the repeating relay; and

a transmitting device that transmits the spread meta-carrier signal to a remote receiver, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the spreader uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein the meta-data further comprises information that identifies one or more transponders to which a carrier signal is to be transmitted.

57. The system of claim 51, wherein the meta-data is stored in a memory device that is programmed before the repeating relay is placed into service.

58. The system of claim 51, where in the meta-data is transmitted to the repeating relay using a method of electromagnetic or optical transmission.