Satellite-based measurement for uplink power control and time synchronization

• US 6,335,920 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fatpower Inc. (663447 N.B. Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Vollbrecht, Jennifer L., Uyeda, Denise A., Strodtbeck, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/106,649
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331, 370/332, 370/333, 370/335, 370/342, 370/318, 370/252, 370/527, 455/12.1, 455/13.4, 455/69, 455/522, 455/510, 455/517, 455/10, 375/130, 375/211
• US Class Current: 370/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2125 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control

Abstract

A method for uplink power control and time synchronization in a satellite communications system that is achieved using satellite-based measurements of the uplink signal power and signal arrival time. Uplink signals transmitted from an originating terminal are received by a communications satellite which measures the received signal power and arrival time. The satellite transmits a downlink signal to the originating terminal containing information of the measured uplink signal power and arrival time. The originating terminal receives the downlink signal and transmits subsequent uplink signals with an uplink signal power and transmission timing based on the information transmitted by the satellite.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting an uplink signal power of a terminal in a satellite communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an uplink signal from an originating terminal to a satellite, the uplink signal being transmitted with a first transmitted uplink signal power, the uplink signal having a data packet containing information identifying the originating terminal;

receiving the uplink signal at the satellite, the uplink signal received with a received uplink signal power;

demodulating the received uplink signal and measuring the received uplink signal power at the satellite;

creating a downlink data packet for transmission to the originating terminal, the downlink data packet containing the identification information from the uplink data packet and the information of the received uplink signal power;

transmitting information of the received uplink signal power from the satellite to the originating terminal in a downlink signal, the downlink signal having a data packet containing information identifying the originating terminal;

receiving the downlink signal at the originating terminal; and

transmitting subsequent uplink signals with a second transmitted uplink signal power, the second transmitted uplink signal power being determined based on the transmitted information of the received uplink signal power.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the uplink signal contains a measurement request causing the satellite to transmit information of the received uplink power signal to the originating terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the creating step further comprises the step of adding identification information and information of the received uplink signal power to an existing data packet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the downlink data packet further comprises the step of calculating the second transmitted uplink signal power, wherein the information of the received uplink signal comprises the calculated second transmitted uplink signal power.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting information of the received uplink signal power further comprises the step of routing the downlink data packet to a transmitter designated for transmitting downlink signals to the originating terminal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the designated transmitter transmits a spot beam on a geographic area encompassing the originating terminal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of measuring the power level is performed continuously and automatically by the satellite.

8. A method of adjusting a transmission timing of an uplink signal of a terminal in a satellite communications systems comprising the steps of:

transmitting an uplink signal from an originating terminal to a satellite, the uplink signal being transmitted according to a first uplink signal transmission timing pattern, the uplink signal having a data packet containing information identifying the originating terminal;

receiving the uplink signal at the satellite, the uplink signal received at an uplink signal arrival time;

demodulating the received uplink signal and measuring the uplink signal arrival time at the satellite;

creating a downlink data packet for transmission to the originating terminal, the downlink data packet containing the identification information from the uplink data packet and the information of the uplink signal arrival time;

transmitting timing information of the uplink signal arrival time from the satellite to the originating terminal in a downlink signal, the downlink signal having a data packet containing information identifying the originating terminal;

receiving the downlink signal at the originating terminal; and

transmitting subsequent uplink signals according to a second uplink signal transmission timing pattern, the second uplink signal transmission timing pattern being determined based on the transmitted timing information.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the uplink signal contains a measurement request causing the satellite to transmit information of the received uplink power signal to the originating terminal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the creating step further comprises the step of adding identification information and information of the received uplink signal arrival time to an existing data packet.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of creating the downlink data packet further comprises the step of calculating the second uplink signal transmission timing-pattern, wherein the information of the uplink signal arrival time comprises the calculated second uplink signal transmission timing pattern.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of transmitting information of the uplink signal arrival time further comprises the step of routing the downlink data packet to a transmitter designated for transmitting downlink signals to the originating terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the designated transmitter transmits a spot beam on a geographic area encompassing the originating terminal.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of measuring the uplink signal arrival time is performed continuously and automatically by the satellite.

15. A method of adjusting an uplink signal power and a transmission timing of a terminal in a satellite communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an uplink signal from an originating terminal to a satellite, the uplink signal being transmitted with a first transmitted uplink signal power and transmitted according to a first uplink signal transmission timing pattern;

receiving the uplink signal at the satellite, the uplink signal received with a received uplink signal power and received at an uplink signal arrival time;

measuring the received uplink signal power at the satellite;

determining at the satellite the uplink signal arrival time;

transmitting information of the received uplink signal power and the uplink signal arrival time from the satellite to the originating terminal in a downlink signal;

receiving the downlink signal at the originating terminal; and

transmitting subsequent uplink signals with a second transmitted uplink signal power and according to a second uplink signal transmission timing pattern, the second transmitted uplink signal power being determined based on the transmitted information of the received uplink signal power and the second uplink signal transmission timing pattern determined based on the transmitted timing information.