Adaptive control of multiple beam communication transponders

• US 6,055,431 A
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aerospace Corporation
• Inventors: Dybdal, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): APPIAH, CHARLES NANA
• Application Number:
  US08/993,923
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.4, 455/427, 455/446, 455/62, 455/453, 455/509, 455/450, 370/318, 370/319
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

An adaptive method controls the operation of multiple beam antenna systems used in communication satellite transponders. This method adaptively controls the coverage area assignments, frequency assignments, transmitted power level assignments, and component allocation assignments of these multiple beam antenna transponders in response to the existing and time varying demands for satellite resources. The method adaptively controls and manages the operation of the satellite transponders to optimize the overall capacity of the communication satellite.

Claims

1. An adaptive communication method for reconfiguring a transponder comprising an uplink antenna and a downlink antenna communicating over frequency subbands communicating communication signals through frequency assignments within the frequency subbands, the method comprising the steps of,

assigning the frequency subbands as assigned subbands and dedicated subbands, the assigned subbands and dedicated subbands are isolated from each other,

the monitoring current communication signals on the assigned subbands,

receiving requests for the communication of additional communications signals,

determining when the sum of the additional communication signals and the current communication signals would exceed the capacity of any one of the assigned frequency subbands, and

reconfiguring the transponder to add the dedicated frequency subbands to increase the capacity over the assigned frequency subbands to respectively communicate both the additional and current communication signals.

2. The adaptive communication method of claim 1, wherein the assigned subbands have a power assignment for communicating the current communication signals using a respective assigned transmitter, the method further comprising the steps of,

configuring the transponder to assign the assigned subbands to the respective operational transmitter for communicating the current communication signals, and

reconfiguring the power assignment to add an additional dedicated transmitter for respectively communicating the additional communication signals.