Transceiver in a two-way satellite system

• US 6,965,581 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Network Systems LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Khai, Harris, Cliff, Gaske, Paul, Kelly, Frank, Dillon, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US09/790,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 370/468, 370/401, 370/330, 370/329, 370/278, 370/315, 370/316, 370/352, 370/432, 370/402, 370/312, 359/145, 455/13.2, 342/359, 709/219
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• 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 7/1858 Arrangements for data transmission on the physical system, i.e. for data bit transmission between network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18582 Arrangements for data linking, i.e. for data framing, for error recovery, for multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18597 Arrangements for system physical machines management, i.e. for construction, operations control, administration, maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2125 Synchronisation

Abstract

An apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals over a two-way satellite communication system is disclosed. A receiving unit receives data from a user terminal. A transmitting unit is coupled to the receiving unit and transmits the data to an antenna. The data is transmitted over a return channel that is established over the satellite to a hub; the hub has connectivity to a packet switched network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals over a two-way satellite communication system, comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive TCP/IP data from a user terminal; and

a transmitting unit coupled to the receiving unit and configured to transmit the data to an antenna, wherein said transmitting unit receives network management instructions from a hub operatively coupled to a packet switched network, and prepares transmission data in accordance with said instructions,

wherein the data is transmitted over a return channel that is established over a satellite to the hub, and wherein said hub manages the return channel bandwidth during transmission.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is dynamically connected to the user terminal via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply configured to provide power to the receiving unit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the receiving unit forwards the data to the transmitting unit via a cable, the cable providing power to the transmitting unit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the cable is a serial data link.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are connected to a low noise block via a common cable, the low noise block being mounted on an elliptical antenna.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit is a peripheral device to the receiving unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the packet switched network is an IP (Internet Protocol) network.

9. A system for exchanging signals over a two-way satellite network, comprising:

an indoor receiving unit (IRU) configured to receive TCP/IP data from a user terminal;

an indoor transmitting unit (ITU) selectively coupled to the receiving unit and configured to transmit the data wherein said ITU receives network management instructions from a hub, operatively coupled to a packet switched network, and prepares transmission data in accordance with said instructions; and

an outdoor unit (ODU) coupled to the IRU and ITU and configured to receive the data for transmission over a return channel that is established over a satellite to the hub, wherein said hub manages the return channel bandwidth during transmission.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the IRU is dynamically connected to the user terminal via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

11. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a power supply configured to provide power to the IRU.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the IRU forwards the data to the ITU via a cable, the cable providing power to the ITU.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the cable is a serial data link.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the ITU and the IRU are connected to the ODU via a common cable.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the ITU is a peripheral device to the IRU, the ITU being contained in a housing that is separate housing from the IRU.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the ODU comprises:

an antenna configured to transmit and receive signals from the satellite;

a low noise block mounted on the antenna; and

a radio coupled to the low noise block and configured to receive the data from the ITU and to transmit signals to the IRU.

17. The system according to claim 9, wherein the packet switched network is an IP (Internet Protocol) network.