Satellite based data transfer and delivery system

• US 6,591,084 B1
• Filed: 04/27/1998
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics C4 Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Beaudry, Bennett, Bergstrom, Chad Scott, Tarver, Byron, Chuprun, Jeffery Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Application Number:
  US09/066,794
• Time in Patent Office: 1,898 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/426, 455/466, 455/412, 455/560, 455/561, 455/562, 455/519
• US Class Current: 455/3.05
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/0825 the ejection arrangement being of the push-push kind
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1858 Arrangements for data transmission on the physical system, i.e. for data bit transmission between network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00

Abstract

A high speed data transfer system includes a WAU (201) which is utilized to provide high speed data access to satellite transferred data. The system is configured such that a plurality of data utilization devices (205) may access the high speed data via wireless links to the WAU (201). Advantageously, high speed data services may be provided to users without the users requiring individual satellite antennas.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of data utilization devices distributed within a first data service area, each of said data utilization devices being coupled to a device transceiver for providing wireless communication with an exterior environment; and

a wireless access unit (WAU), located within said first service area, including;

a wireless communication transceiver subsystem having a wireless transceiver coupled to an antenna for communicating with an external communications platform via a first wireless channel, wherein said external communications platform is capable of providing a plurality of communications services with a data rates of at least 400 kbps to said WAU; and

a WAU transceiver subsystem for communicating directly, via a separate single wireless bi-directional channel, with a selected data utilization device in said plurality of data utilization devices;

wherein said WAU transceiver subsystem is coupled to said wireless communication transceiver subsystem for enabling communication between said WAU transceiver subsystem and said wireless communication transceiver subsystem.

2. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications platform is mobile.

3. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications platform is located on an aircraft.

4. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications platform is mounted to a structure within said first service area.

5. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications platform includes a cellular telephone system.

6. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein communication from said external platform through said WAU and to said selected data utilization device is low delay.

7. The communications system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein communication between said external platform, said WAU and said plurality of data utilization devices is full duplex.

8. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAU comprises a software programmable radio.

9. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAU transceiver subsystem includes means for performing spread spectrum communications.

10. The communications system, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for performing spread spectrum communications includes means for performing hybrid spread spectrum modulation.

11. The communications system, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for performing hybrid spread spectrum modulation includes means for performing both frequency hopping and direct sequence spread spectrum modulation on a signal.

12. The communications system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for performing hybrid spread spectrum modulation includes means for adjusting frequency hopping processing gain.

13. The communications system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for performing hybrid spread spectrum modulation includes means for adjusting direct sequence spread spectrum processing gain.

14. The communications system, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said means for performing hybrid spread spectrum modulation includes means for adjusting both frequency hopping processing gain and direct sequence spread spectrum processing gain.

15. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a processor, coupled to said WAU transceiver subsystem, for use in identifying unused radio frequency spectrum in said second wireless channel and for selecting at least one operational frequency for said WAU transceiver subsystem in accordance therewith.

16. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAU includes an internet protocol gateway.

17. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of data utilization devices includes at least one peer-to-peer link between data utilization devices.

18. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAU includes a peer-to-peer antenna for use in communicating with at least one other WAU.

19. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAU includes an encryption processor for use in encrypting/decrypting communications signals transferred between said WAU and said selected data utilization device.

20. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAU includes a spectrum scanning processor for use in monitoring a spectral environment in said second wireless channel.

21. The communications system, as claimed in claim 20, wherein said WAU includes means for generating a transmit signal based on said spectral environment in said second wireless channel.

22. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said WAU includes means for suppressing interference components in signals received from said second wireless channel.

23. The communications system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communications system operates as an overlay on at least one other communications system having an overlapping operational frequency range.