Multimode transmission system using TDMA
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multimode transmission system using TDMA comprising:
- a TDM switch coupled to a data signal, said data signal comprising a plurality of satellite services, said TDM switch multiplexing said data signal into a TDMA signal comprising a plurality of TDMA transmission frames, each TDMA transmission frame having a plurality of downlink frame time slots, wherein each of said downlink frame time slots is dynamically allocated to one of said plurality of satellite services, which comprise a point-to-point service comprising a portion of said downlink frame time slots dedicated for radiating multiple spot beams, wherein said spot beams are pointed to cover downlink cells, said pointing dynamically scheduled from data queues;
a modulator coupled to said TDM switch and receiving said TDMA signal, said modulator modulating said TDMA signal to generate a modulated TDMA signal;
a transmit antenna comprising beam-shaping and power-controlling systems coupled to said modulator and broadcasting said modulated TDMA signal using at least one downlink beam, said at least one downlink beam having a shape and number determined by said data signal, said beam-shaping and power-controlling systems enabling TDMA switching between shaped beam modes and spot beam modes of said antenna; and
a processor comprising said data queues, said processor further comprising a power check mechanism checking that required power for said multiple spot beams is less than or equal to a total available radio frequency power in said transmit antenna.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multimode transmission system using TDMA provides a plurality of satellite services to a ground station terminal. These services include timing beacon synchronization, multi-cast/broadcast data service, calibration data, and point-to-point data service. The multimode transmission system uses a TDM switch to generate a TDMA signal having a plurality of TDMA transmission frames. Each TDMA transmission frame includes a plurality of downlink frame time slots. Each time slot may be of variable length and is dynamically allocated to an individual satellite service based upon demand. The TDMA signal is then broadcast using an advanced transmit antenna system, which requires beam-shaping and beam power control features, to enable TDMA switching between shaped beams and spot beam modes of the antenna. These antenna features allow for the dynamic partitioning of satellite system capacity between wide-area broadcasts and localized point-to-point service and efficient utilization of the satellite transmission power.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A multimode transmission system using TDMA comprising:
a TDM switch coupled to a data signal, said data signal comprising a plurality of satellite services, said TDM switch multiplexing said data signal into a TDMA signal comprising a plurality of TDMA transmission frames, each TDMA transmission frame having a plurality of downlink frame time slots, wherein each of said downlink frame time slots is dynamically allocated to one of said plurality of satellite services, which comprise a point-to-point service comprising a portion of said downlink frame time slots dedicated for radiating multiple spot beams, wherein said spot beams are pointed to cover downlink cells, said pointing dynamically scheduled from data queues;
a modulator coupled to said TDM switch and receiving said TDMA signal, said modulator modulating said TDMA signal to generate a modulated TDMA signal;
a transmit antenna comprising beam-shaping and power-controlling systems coupled to said modulator and broadcasting said modulated TDMA signal using at least one downlink beam, said at least one downlink beam having a shape and number determined by said data signal, said beam-shaping and power-controlling systems enabling TDMA switching between shaped beam modes and spot beam modes of said antenna; and
a processor comprising said data queues, said processor further comprising a power check mechanism checking that required power for said multiple spot beams is less than or equal to a total available radio frequency power in said transmit antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
11. A method for satellite system synchronization comprising the steps of:
-
generating a data signal comprising a plurality of satellite services;
generating a timing signal;
multiplexing said data signal to generate a TDMA signal having a plurality of downlink frames each downlink frame having a plurality of downlink frame slots, wherein each of said plurality of downlink frame slots is dynamically allocated to one of said plurality of satellite services comprising a broadcast service and anoint-to-point service, wherein said multi-cast/broadcast data service comprises a cell-cast function;
converting messages from said cell-cast function to multi-cast messages as a function of an RF transmission power increase above a regulated limit;
modulating said TDMA signal to generate a modulated TDMA signal;
broadcasting said modulated TDMA signal using at least one downlink beam, said at least one downlink beam having a shape and number determined by said data signal; and
TDMA switching between shaped beam modes and spot beam modes.
-
-
12. A satellite system comprising:
-
a ground station;
a satellite in orbit and in communication with said ground station, said satellite having a multimode transmission system using TDMA comprising;
a TDM switch coupled to a data signal, said data signal comprising a plurality of satellite services, said TDM switch multiplexing said data signal into a TDMA signal comprising a plurality of TDMA transmission frames, each TDMA transmission frame having a plurality of downlink frame time slots, wherein each of said downlink frame time slots is dynamically allocated to one of said plurality of satellite services, which comprise at least one of a broadcast service or a point-to-point service, said point-to-point service comprising a portion of said downlink frame time slots dedicated for radiating multiple spot beams, wherein said snot beams are pointed to cover downlink cells, said painting dynamically scheduled from data queues;
a modulator coupled to said TDM switch and receiving said TDMA signal, said modulator modulating said TDMA signal to generate a modulated TDMA signal;
a transmit antenna comprising beam-shaping and power-controlling systems coupled to said modulator and broadcasting said modulated TDMA signal using at least one downlink beam, said at least one downlink beam having a shape and number determined by said data signal, said beam-shaping and power-controlling systems enabling TDMA switching between shaped beam modes and spot beam modes of said antenna; and
a satellite on-board processor comprising said data queues, said processor further comprises a power check mechanism checking that required power for said multiple snot beams is less than or equal to a total available radio frequency power in said transmit antenna. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeHughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
-
Original AssigneeThe DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
-
InventorsVaughan, Robert E., Rosen, Harold
-
Primary Examiner(s)Duong, Frank
-
Application NumberUS09/664,082Time in Patent Office1,912 DaysField of Search370/310, 370/315, 370/316, 370/321, 370/323, 370/325, 370/319, 370/320, 370/324, 370/326, 370/375, 370/503, 370512-515, 455/427, 455/12.1, 455/13.3, 455/428, 342/351, 342/352, 342/353, 375/354, 375/355US Class Current370/321CPC Class CodesH04B 7/212 Time-division multiple acce...Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication n...
