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Feeder link spatial multiplexing in a satellite communication system

  • US 6,317,420 B1
  • Filed: 06/25/1999
  • Issued: 11/13/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for use in a satellite communication system including a plurality of gateways, a satellite, and a plurality of user terminals, comprising:

  • a beamforming feeder link antenna that forms a plurality of feeder beams from signals received from the gateways, each feeder beam illuminating one of the gateways and including a plurality of frequency division multiple access (FDMA) channels;

    a plurality of demultiplexers that separate each of said feeder beams into said FDMA channels;

    means, including first and second frequency converters to frequency-convert corresponding first and second ones of said plurality of demultiplexed FDMA channels to corresponding first and second frequency-converted FDMA channels, for combining said first frequency-c converted FDMA channel with said second frequency-converted FDMA channel, said first and second frequency-converted FDMA channels comprising signals corresponding to user terminals illuminated by a specific user beam, to produce a user beam signal; and

    a beamforming user link antenna that forms said specific user beam using said user beam signal.

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