Hitless ultra small aperture terminal satellite communication network

• US 6,122,261 A
• Filed: 08/22/1997
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southern California Edison Company (Edison International)
• Original Assignee: Southern California Edison Company (Edison International)
• Inventors: Krabbe, Kurt P., Ellis, Haynes Jr., Fernandes, Roosevelt A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US08/916,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 370/316, 370/318, 370/320, 370/321, 370/332, 370/335, 370/337, 370/342, 370/346, 370/347, 342/352, 342/353, 342/354, 342/368, 342/376, 343/810, 343/812, 343/814, 343/700 MS, 375/130, 375/131, 375/140, 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/13.4
• US Class Current: 370/320
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0075 Stripline fed arrays H01Q21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/14 for varying the relative position of primary active element and a refracting or diffracting device
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18528 Satellite systems for providing two-way communications service to a network of fixed stations, i.e. fixed satellite service or very small aperture terminal [VSAT] system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18578 Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations for selecting H04W; provisions for broadband connection, H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/216 Code division or spread-spectrum multiple access [CDMA, SSMA]

Abstract

A communication network includes multiple mini-hub terminals for transmitting and receiving information from multiple remote terminals. Some of the multiple mini-hub terminals, and some of the multiple remote terminals are capable of wireless communication respectively with each other through satellite communication means. A co-located terminal is hard wire connected with at least some of the mini-hub terminals. At least some of the terminals includes a flat antenna comprising a ground plane and a substrate forming at least one in flat array antenna mounted relative to the ground plane. The flat array antenna has multiple spaced dipoles formed on the substrate to constitute the array, and a transmission line formed on the substrate connecting the spaced dipoles. The transmission line is for connection with a link to a terminal with which communication is to be affected by signals through the antenna. A mobile antenna has beam steering lenses for forcing the signal. Also provided are sensors located on power transmission lines, the sensor being capable of measuring travelling waves on the lines, and communicating via an array antennal through a satellite at KU, KA-band or L-band frequencies, characteristics of the travelling wave thereby to facilitate fault location on the transmission lines.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

(a) a hub terminal;

(b) multiple remote terminals;

(c) means for communication between the hub and remote terminals, including at least one satellite repeater, wherein the hub terminal communicates with the remote terminal through satellite repeater;

(d) means for polling the remote terminals to initiate responses from the terminals in a particular polling sequence;

(e) means for transmission of notifications, independent of the polling sequence;

means for monitoring a signal-to-noise ratio of a signal transmitted from the hub terminal to the remote terminal; and

means for limiting a change in the signal-to-noise ratio by activating additional multiplexing at the transmission means.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a power source, the power source being selected from a group comprising a solar array panel and induction coil interaction with power supply lines.

3. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising means, coupled to the hub terminal, for decoding signals from the multiple remote terminals substantially simultaneously.

4. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a power source, the power source being selected from a group comprising a solar array panel and induction coil interaction with power supply lines.

5. A communications system, comprising:

(a) a hub terminal;

(b) multiple remote terminals;

(c) means for communication between the hub and remote terminals, including at least one satellite repeater, wherein the hub terminal communicates with the remote terminal through satellite repeater;

(d) means for polling the remote terminals to initiate responses from the terminals in a particular polling sequence;

(e) means for transmission of notifications, independent of the polling sequence; and

means for activating additional multiplexing within the transmission means through block addressing control of periodic transmissions from the hub terminal to the remote terminal.

6. The communication system of claim 5, further comprising means, coupled to the hub terminal, for decoding signals from the multiple remote terminals substantially simultaneously.