Onboard initial entry processor for facilitating a satellite communication
First Claim
1. An initial entry processor for use in a processing satellite in a satellite based communications system, said initial entry processor comprising:
- a buffer operable to store an initial entry burst transmitted from at least one of a plurality of a terrestrial terminals to said processing satellite;
a detection and timing circuit operable to detect said initial entry burst and determine a time of arrival of said initial entry burst relative to an initial entry burst slot, where the detection and timing circuit determines a coarse timing error and a fine timing error of said initial entry burst relative to said initial entry burst slot; and
an identity circuit operable to determine an identity of said terrestrial terminal that transmitted said initial entry burst, wherein said time of arrival is used by said identified terrestrial terminal during subsequent communications with said processing satellite.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An initial entry processor (40) for use in a processing satellite (12) in a satellite based communications system (10) is provided having a buffer (62), a detection and timing circuit (64) and an identity circuit (66). The buffer (62) stores an initial entry burst (54) transmitted from at least one terrestrial terminal (14) to the processing satellite (12). The detection and timing circuit (64) detects the initial entry burst (54) and determines a time of arrival of the initial entry burst (54) relative to an initial entry burst slot (52). The identity circuit (66) determines an identity of the terrestrial terminal (14) that transmitted the initial entry burst (54) such that the time of arrival is used by the identified terrestrial terminal (14) during subsequent communications with the processing satellite (12).
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An initial entry processor for use in a processing satellite in a satellite based communications system, said initial entry processor comprising:
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a buffer operable to store an initial entry burst transmitted from at least one of a plurality of a terrestrial terminals to said processing satellite;
a detection and timing circuit operable to detect said initial entry burst and determine a time of arrival of said initial entry burst relative to an initial entry burst slot, where the detection and timing circuit determines a coarse timing error and a fine timing error of said initial entry burst relative to said initial entry burst slot; and
an identity circuit operable to determine an identity of said terrestrial terminal that transmitted said initial entry burst, wherein said time of arrival is used by said identified terrestrial terminal during subsequent communications with said processing satellite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An initial entry processor for use in a processing satellite in a satellite based communications system, said initial entry processor comprising:
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buffer means for storing an initial entry burst transmitted from one of a plurality of terrestrial terminals to said processing satellite;
detection and timing means for detecting said initial entry burst stored in said buffer means and for determining a time of arrival of said initial entry burst relative to an initial entry burst slot; and
identity means for determining an identity of said terrestrial terminal that transmitted said initial entry burst, wherein said time of arrival is used by said identified terrestrial terminal to re-enter communications with said processing satellite so as to have a reduced timing error between said terrestrial terminal and said processing satellite, wherein said initial entry burst includes an L symbol preamble and a D symbol data field, said L symbol preamble used by said detection and timing means to detect and determine said time of arrival of said initial entry burst and said D symbol data field used by said identity means to identify said terrestrial terminal that transmitted said initial entry burst. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of performing initial entry of communications between a plurality of terrestrial terminals and a processing satellite, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an initial entry burst from one of the plurality of terrestrial terminals during an initial entry burst slot;
receiving the initial entry burst in an initial entry processor in the processing satellite;
detecting the initial entry burst and determining a time of arrival of the initial entry burst relative to the initial entry burst slot with the initial entry processor, including determining a coarse timing error and determining a fine timing error;
identifying the terrestrial terminal that transmitted the initial entry burst with the initial entry processor; and
employing the time of arrival by the identified terrestrial terminal during subsequent communication with the processing satellite. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification