Satellite telephone interference avoidance system
First Claim
1. A method for operating a first satellite communications system, comprising the steps of:
- during the operation of the first satellite communications system, measuring at a plurality of locations within a coverage area of the first system an amount of interference resulting at least in part from at least one second satellite communications system, the amount of interference being measured over a band of frequencies allocated to the first system;
transmitting an indication of the measured interference from each location to a central site; and
in accordance with the transmitted indications, removing an effect of self-interference from the measured interference and, based at least in part on a result of removing the effect of self-interference, assigning at least one user terminal to a sub-band of frequencies within the band of frequencies so as to reduce an amount of interference experienced by the user terminal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for operating a first satellite communications system of a type that operates co-frequency with at least one second transmission system, such as a second satellite communications system. The method includes steps, executed during the operation of the first satellite communications system, of measuring at a plurality of locations within a coverage area of the first system an amount of interference resulting at least in part from the at least one second transmission system, the amount of interference being measured over a band of frequencies allocated to the first system; (b) transmitting an indication of the measured interference from each location to a central site; and (c) in accordance with the transmitted indications, assigning at least one user terminal to a sub-band of frequencies within the band of frequencies so as to reduce an amount of interference experienced by the user terminal.
92 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for operating a first satellite communications system, comprising the steps of:
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during the operation of the first satellite communications system, measuring at a plurality of locations within a coverage area of the first system an amount of interference resulting at least in part from at least one second satellite communications system, the amount of interference being measured over a band of frequencies allocated to the first system; transmitting an indication of the measured interference from each location to a central site; and in accordance with the transmitted indications, removing an effect of self-interference from the measured interference and, based at least in part on a result of removing the effect of self-interference, assigning at least one user terminal to a sub-band of frequencies within the band of frequencies so as to reduce an amount of interference experienced by the user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A satellite communications system that operates co-frequency with at least one second satellite communications system within a band of frequencies that is channelized into a plurality of frequency channels, said satellite communications system having a terrestrial coverage area and comprising:
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at least one satellite having a beam with an associated terrestrial coverage area; at least one user terminal located within the beam; a ground station for communicating with said at least one user terminal via said at least one satellite; and a plurality of measurement terminals located within said terrestrial coverage area, each of said measurement terminals being bidirectionally coupled to said ground station and comprising a receiver and a measurement unit for measuring an amount of interference due to self-interference and interference from said second satellite communications system, each of said measurement terminals further comprising a transmitter for transmitting an indication of the measured interference to said ground station;
whereinsaid ground station is responsive to a measured amount of interference due at least to said interference from said second satellite communications system for assigning or reassigning said at least one user terminal to a frequency channel selected for reducing an amount of power required to provide a desired quality of service to said at least one user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for operating a satellite communications system, comprising the steps of:
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generating a database that is indicative of a variation in interference in both time and frequency within a coverage area of the satellite communications system, the step of generating using measurements made by a plurality of measurement terminals that are spatially distributed within the coverage area; and assigning or reassigning a user terminal that is located within the coverage area to a frequency channel in accordance with the generated database.
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29. A method for operating a satellite communications system, comprising the steps of:
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measuring interference in both time and frequency within a coverage area of the satellite communications system, the measured interference being due at least in part to user terminal frequency channel assignments made by a second satellite communications system that operates co-frequency with the satellite communications system, the step of measuring using measurements made by a plurality of measurement terminals that are spatially distributed within the coverage area; and assigning or reassigning a user terminal of the first system that is located within the coverage area to a frequency channel so as to reduce an amount of satellite power required to provide a desired level of service quality to the user terminal.
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30. A method for operating a satellite communications system, comprising the steps of:
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measuring interference in both time and frequency within a coverage area of the satellite communications system, the measured interference being due at least in part to frequency channel assignments made by a second satellite communications system that operates co-frequency with the satellite communications system, the step of measuring using measurements made by a plurality of measurement terminals that are spatially distributed within the coverage area; storing the measured interference; and predictively allocating frequency channels to at least one gateway that serves the coverage area in accordance with the stored measured interference so as to reduce an amount of satellite power required to provide a desired level of service quality to user terminals serviced by the at least one gateway.
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31. A method for operating a satellite communications system, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring, at a gateway, return links from a plurality of user terminals to determine an amount of interference experienced by the user terminals, the user terminals being assigned to different frequency channels and communicating with the gateway via at least one satellite; and in accordance with the determined amount of interference, assigning or reassigning at least one of the user terminals to a different frequency channel so as to reduce an amount of satellite power required to provide a desired level of service quality to the user terminal.
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32. A method for operating a communications system, comprising the steps of:
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during the operation of the communications system, measuring at a plurality of locations within a coverage area of the communications system an amount of interference resulting from a terrestrially-based or a space-based interference source, the amount of interference being measured over a band of frequencies allocated to the communications system; transmitting an indication of the measured interference from each location to a central site; and in accordance with the transmitted indications, removing an effect of self-interference from the measured interference and, based at least in part on a result of removing the effect of self-interference, assigning at least one user terminal of the communications system to a sub-band of frequencies within the band of frequencies so as to reduce an amount of interference experienced by the user terminal.
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Specification