Device and method to locally fill gaps in spotbeam satellite systems with frequency re-use

• US 7,142,809 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Godwin, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/889,489
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.02, 455/3.06, 455/13.1, 455/13.2, 455/189.1, 455/209, 455/39, 455/12.1, 455/427
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/06 among broadcast stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving

Abstract

Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving diverse signals across regions using a minimum of frequency capacity and maintaining compatibility with the heritage system. A system of the invention comprises at least one broadcast transmitter for transmitting a broadcast signal in a first frequency band to a receiver, at least one gapfiller transmitter for transmitting a gapfiller signal in a second frequency band to the receiver and at least one set of reuse transmitters for transmitting a plurality of spotbeam signals in the first frequency band to define coverage regions and at least one coverage gap where the spotbeam signals are not transmitted. A method of the invention comprises receiving a first signal, receiving a second signal, generating a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal from the first signal, generating a second IF signal from the second signal, filtering the second IF signal to produce a filtered second IF signal and combining the filtered second IF signal and the first IF signal.

Claims

1. A device for receiving signals from a transmission system, said system including a broadcast transmitter and a gapfiller transmitter, said device comprising:

a first feed receiving a first signal in a first frequency band from a broadcast transmitter;

a second feed receiving a second signal in a second frequency band from a gapfiller transmitter;

a local oscillator producing a local oscillator signal;

a first multiplier coupled to the local oscillator for multiplying the local oscillator signal by a first factor producing a first multiplied signal;

a second multiplier coupled to the local oscillator for multiplying the local oscillator signal by a second factor producing a second multiplied signal;

a first mixer for mixing the first multiplied signal with the first signal producing a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal;

a second mixer for mixing the second multiplied signal with the second signal producing a second IF signal wherein the first IF signal and the second IF signal each include at least one channel having a common IF center frequency;

a filter for filtering the second IF signal producing a filtered second IF signal; and

a combiner for combining the filtered second IF signal and the first IF signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first feed and the second feed each receive a signal from different satellites.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises at least one trap filter to prevent interference with the second IF signal.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the filter further comprises a housing and the at least one trap filter is a removeable module.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the at least one filter is selected based upon regional and service requirements.