Digital audio satellite transmission system

• US 4,567,591 A
• Filed: 08/01/1983
• Issued: 01/28/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta Incorporated (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schreiner, Peter G. III, McBride, Alan L., Chamberlin, James W., Gray, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scutch, III, Frank M.
• Application Number:
  US06/519,268
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 370/109, 370/104, 375/122, 371/43, 371/44, 371/45
• US Class Current: 370/326
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/05 using block codes, i.e. a predetermined number of check bits joined to a predetermined number of information bits H03M13/2906 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18523 Satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e. broadcast satellite service arrangements specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving H04H40/90; picture transmission via satellite H04N1/00103; television transmission via satellite H04N7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/51 specially adapted for satellite broadcast systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving

Abstract

A digital audio satellite transmission system involving analog-to-digital conversion of audio signals, processing of such signals and transmission to and reception from a satellite transponder link. The digitized audio signal is digitally compressed to reduce the data rate. Several such signals are then time division multiplexed together. Differential encoding, bit interleaving and forward error correction coding is utilized to maintain high signal quality, together with binary phase shift key carrier modulation. Matched filter reception of the BPSK signal transmitted over a conventional satellite transponder link is provided together with BPSK demodulation, TDM demultiplexing, differential decoding, bit deinterleaving and threshold FEC decoding. The compressed digital signal is then expanded and converted to an analog audio signal.

Claims

1. A system for processing analog audio and digital data signals and modulating an intermediate frequency carrier for subsequent conversion to a transmission frequency, amplification and transmission comprising:

(1) a source encoder for converting the analog audio portions of said signals to digital form;

(2) a digital compressor for compressing the digitized analog audio signals to reduce their data rates;

(3) a multiplexer for combining into a single data stream the compressed signals output by the compressor;

(4) a forward error correction encoder for encoding the data stream output by the multiplexer utilizing a convolutional self orthogonal code;

(5) a bit interleaver for interleaving the bits contained in the data stream output by the forward error correction encoder;

(6) a differential encoder for differentially encoding the data stream output by the bit interleaver; and

(7) a binary phase shift key modulator for modulating the data stream output by the differential encoder at an intermediate frequency.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source encoder generates parallel, 15-bit, offset binary, digital words and said digital compressor compresses the 15-bit words to an 11-bit code with inverted, folded binary structure in accordance with the following code mapping:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">__________________________________________________________________________15-Bit Linear Code 11-Bit Compressed Code Sign Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 __________________________________________________________________________1 1 a b c d e f g x x x x x x Cord 7 1 0 0 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 1 a b c d e f g x x x x x 6 1 0 0 1 -ba -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x x x x 5 1 0 1 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x x x 4 1 0 1 1 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x x 3 1 1 0 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x 2 1 1 0 1 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g 1 1 1 1 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a b c d e f g 0 1 1 1 1 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g __________________________________________________________________________

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the data rate output by said multiplexer is 7.68 megabits per second and the data rate output said forward error correction encoder is 8.777 megabits per second.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said forward error correction encoder utilizes a rate 7/8, J=6, d_min =7 convolutional self orthogonal code with the following general polynominal code:

0, 3, 19, 52, 78, 146

0, 2, 8, 32, 88, 142

0, 11, 12, 62, 85, 131

0, 21, 25, 39, 82, 126

0, 5, 20, 47, 84, 144

0, 58, 96, 106, 113, 141

0, 41, 77, 108, 117, 130.

13. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a scrambler following the multiplexer for scrambling the data stream output by the multiplexer.

2. A system for demodulating and processing a modulated intermediate frequency signal containing coded, combined digital audio and digital data signals comprising:

(1) a binary phase shift key demodulator for demodulating the intermediate frequency signal into a data stream;

(2) a differential decoder for differentially decoding the data stream output by the demodulator;

(3) a bit deinterleaver for deinterleaving bits contained in the data stream output by the differential decoder;

(4) a forward error correction decoder for decoding the data stream output by the bit deinterleaver to identify transmission errors utilizing the convolutional self orthogonal code utilized in coding the signal;

(5) a demultiplexer for dividing into separate data streams the single data stream output by the forward error correction decoder;

(6) a digital expander for expanding the digitized audio signals output by the demultiplexer; and

(7) a source decoder for converting the digitized analog audio portions of the signals output by the digital expander to analog form.

8. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the data rate output by said demodulator is 8.777 megabits per second and the data rate output by said forward error correction decoder is 7.68 megabits per second.

11. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said forward error correction decoder utilizes a rate 7/8, J=6, d_min =7 convolutional self orthogonal code with the following general polynomial code:

0, 3, 19, 52, 78, 146

0, 2, 8, 32, 88, 142

0, 11, 12, 62, 85, 131

0, 21, 25, 39, 82, 126

0, 5, 20, 47, 84, 144

0, 58, 96, 106, 113, 141

0, 41, 77, 108, 117, 130.

14. A system in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a descrambler preceeding the demultiplexer for descrambling the data stream input to the demultiplexer.

3. A system for transmission and reception of analog audio and digital data signals comprising:

(a) a signal processing and modulation subsystem comprising;

(1) a source encoder for converting the analog audio portions of said signals to digital form;

(2) a digital compressor for compressing the digitized analog audio signals to reduce their data rates;

(3) a multiplexer for combining into a single data stream the compressed signals output by the compressor;

(4) a differential encoder for diferentially encoding the data stream output by the multiplexer;

(5) a bit interleaver for interleaving the bits contained in the data stream output by the differential encoder;

(6) a forward error correction encoder for encoding the data stream output by the bit interleaver utilizing a convolutional self orthogonal code; and

(7) a binary phase shift key modulator for modulating the data stream output by the forward error correction encoder at an intermediate frequency;

(b) a frequency conversion, amplification and transmission subsystem comprising;

(1) an up-converter for converting the modulated intermediate frequency signal output by the modulator to an earth-to-satellite transmission frequency;

(2) an amplifier for amplifying the signal output by the up-converter; and

(3) an antenna for transmitting the amplified signal output by the up-converter;

(c) a geosynchronous communication satellite with transponder for receiving the signal transmitted by the transmission antenna, converting it to a satellite-to-earth transmission frequency and transmitting it to earth;

(d) a reception, amplification and frequency conversion subsystem comprising;

(1) a receiving antenna for receiving the signal from the communication satellite;

(2) a low noise amplifier for amplifying the received signal; and

(3) a down-converter for converting the signal output by the low noise amplifier to the intermediate frequency; and

(4) a forward error correction decoder for decoding the data stream output by the bit deinterleaver to identify transmission errors utilizing the convolutional self orthogonal code utilized in the forward error correction encoder;

(5) a demultiplexer for dividing into separate data streams the single data stream output by the forward error correction decoder;

(6) a digital expander for expanding the digitized audio signals output by the demultiplexer; and

(7) a source decoder for converting the digitized analog audio portions of the signals output by the digital expander to analog form.

5. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said source encoder generates parallel, 15-bit, offset binary, digital words and said digital compressor compresses the 15-bit words to an 11-bit code with inverted, folded binary structure in accordance with the following code mapping:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">__________________________________________________________________________15-Bit Linear Code 11-Bit Compressed Code Sign Sign 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 __________________________________________________________________________1 1 a b c d e f g x x x x x x Cord 7 1 0 0 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 1 a b c d e f g x x x x x 6 1 0 0 1 -ba -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x x x x 5 1 0 1 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x x x 4 1 0 1 1 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x x 3 1 1 0 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g x 2 1 1 0 1 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 a b c d e f g 1 1 1 1 0 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a b c d e f g 0 1 1 1 1 -a -b -c -d -e -f -g __________________________________________________________________________

7. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein the data rate output by said multiplexer is 7.68 megabits per second and the data rate output by said forward error correction encoder is 8.777 megabits per second.

10. A system in accordance with claim 3 wherein said forward error correction encoder utilizes a rate 7/8, J=6, d_min =7 convolutional self orthogonal code with the following general polynominal code:

0, 3, 19, 52, 78, 146

0, 2, 8, 32, 88, 142

0, 11, 12, 62, 85, 131

0, 21, 25, 39, 82, 126

0, 5, 20, 47, 84, 144

0, 58, 96, 106, 113, 141

0, 41, 77, 108, 117, 130.

12. A system in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a scrambler following said multiplexer for scrambling the data stream output by the multiplexer and a descrambler preceeding said demultiplexer for descrambling the data stream input to the demultiplexer.

15. An improved method for transmission and reception of analog audio signals comprising the steps of:

(a) converting said analog audio signals to digital form;

(b) compressing the digital signals to reduce their data rates;

(c) combining the compressed signals into a single data stream;

(d) scrambling the data stream;

(e) forward error correction encoding the scrambled data stream utilizing a convolutional self orthogonal code;

(f) interleaving the bits contained in the forward error correction encoded data stream;

(g) differentially encoding the bit interleaved data stream;

(h) binary phase shift key modulating an intermediate frequency carrier with the differentially encoded data stream;

(i) converting the modulated intermediate frequency signal to an earth-to-satellite transmission frequency;

(j) amplifying the transmission frequency signal;

(k) transmitting the amplified signal to a geosynchronous communication satellite with transponder;

(l) converting the signal received by the satellite to a satellite-to-earth transmission frequency and transmitting it to earth;

(m) receiving the signal transmitted from the satellite and amplifying it;

(n) converting the amplified received signal to the intermediate frequency;

(o) demodulating the received intermediate frequency signal into a received data stream;

(p) differentially decoding the received data stream;

(q) bit deinterleaving the differentially decoded data stream;

(r) forward error correction decoding the bit deinterleaved data stream utilizing the convolutional self orthogonal code utilized in encoding utilized in the forward error correction encoding step;

(s) descrambling the forward error correction decoded data stream;

(t) demultiplexing the descrambled data stream into separate data streams;

(u) digitally expanding the demultiplexed data streams; and

(v) converting the expanded digital data streams into analog audio signals.