Two-hop collocated satellite communications system
First Claim
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1. A satellite communications system providing for communication among a plurality of ground stations within a region, said system comprising:
- collocated first and second satellite communications means, the first satellite communications means being capable of receiving signals from a first group of said plurality of ground stations, the second satellitte communications means being capable of receiving signals from a second group of said plurality of ground stations; and
processor means for receiving and transforming a first set of signals from said first satellite communications means and relaying the first set of transformed signals to said second satellite communications means, and also for receiving and transforming a second set of signals from said second satellite communications means and relaying the second set of transformed signals to the first satellite communications means, said processor means being remote from said collocated satellite communications means, the second satellite communication means being capable of transmitting the transformed signals to the second group of the plurality of ground stations and the first satellite communications means being capable of transmitting the transformed signals to the first group of the plurality ground stations.
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Abstract
A two-hop communications system utilizing two collocated spacecraft (Se and Sw) and two remote intersatellite exchange (RISE) means (Re and Rw) provides for communications between ground stations located in two or more defined subregions. Each satellite includes wide band transponders for relaying ground station transmissions to the RISEs. The RISEs convert first hop frequency division multiplexed (FDM) signals to time division multiplexed (TDM) for the second hop. Signals are coded by frequency, polarization and direction so as to avoid loss of bandwidth due to the two-hop approach.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A satellite communications system providing for communication among a plurality of ground stations within a region, said system comprising:
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collocated first and second satellite communications means, the first satellite communications means being capable of receiving signals from a first group of said plurality of ground stations, the second satellitte communications means being capable of receiving signals from a second group of said plurality of ground stations; and processor means for receiving and transforming a first set of signals from said first satellite communications means and relaying the first set of transformed signals to said second satellite communications means, and also for receiving and transforming a second set of signals from said second satellite communications means and relaying the second set of transformed signals to the first satellite communications means, said processor means being remote from said collocated satellite communications means, the second satellite communication means being capable of transmitting the transformed signals to the second group of the plurality of ground stations and the first satellite communications means being capable of transmitting the transformed signals to the first group of the plurality ground stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a satellite communications system, a method for providing communications between a first and second ground terminals within a region, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) allocating first and second satellite communications means, (b) transmitting a signal from the first ground terminal to the first satellite communications means; (c) relaying the signal from the first satellite communications means to a processing station;
the processing station being located rmotely from the first and second communication means,(d) transforming the signal at the processing station; (e) relaying the transformed signal to the second satellite communications means; and (f) transmitting the transformed signal to the second ground terminal.
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19. A satellite communications system providing for communications among a plurality of ground terminals within a region, said system comprising:
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collocated first and second satellite communications means, the first satellite communications means being capable of receiving signals from a first group of said group terminals and transmitting signals to a second group of said ground terminals; said collocated first and second satellite communications means defining first and second zones within said region; processor means for receiving and transforming a signal from said first satellite communications means and relaying the transformed signal to said second satellite communications means, said processor means being located remotely from said collocated satellite communications means, the processor means including a first processing station located in said first zone and a second processing station located in said second zone; and the ground terminals being located within said first zone being capable of transmitting signals at a first polarization and the ground terminals located in the second zone being capable of transmitting signals at second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization.
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20. A satellite communications system providing for communicationg among ground terminals within a region, said system comprising:
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collocated first and second satellite communications means, each of the satellite communications means being capable of receiving signals from some of said ground stations and transmitting signals to some of said ground stations; said colocated first and second satellite communications means defining first and second zones within said region; processor means for receiving and transforming a signal from said first satellite communications means and relaying the transformed signals to said second communications means, the processor means being located remotely from said collocated satellite communications means, the processor means including a first processing station located in said first zone and a second processing station located in said second zone; the ground terminals located within said first zone being capable of transmitting at a first polarization and receiving at a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization and the ground terminals located in the second zone being capable of transmitting at the second polarization and receiving at the first polarization.
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21. A system for providing communications among ground terminals within a region, the system comprising;
a first ground terminal, first and second collocated satellite communications means;
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22. means for transmitting a signal from the first ground terminal to the first satellite communications means;
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a processor means for receiving the signal from the first satellite communications means and for transforming the signal, the processing means also for relaying the transformed signal to the second satellite communication means, the processor means being located remotely from the collocated satellite communication means, and a second ground terminal for receiving the transformed signal from the second satellite communications means.
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Specification