Dual channel two-way satellite communication

• US 7,327,989 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Original Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Inventors: Levinberg, Amiram
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phuong; Dai
• Application Number:
  US10/235,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 455/428, 455/450, 455/3.02, 455/427, 455/13.2, 455/454, 455/431, 455/430, 455/12.1, 455/98, 455/43.2, 455/460, 370/316, 725/64, 725/68, 725/76, 725/75
• US Class Current: 455/98
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system, device and method for two-way satellite communication using a dual channel communication configuration to make better use of limited bandwidth. The two channels include a dedicated Unicast channel for each remote VSAT terminal and a dedicated Multicast channel that is a shared resource for all the VSAT terminals in the network. Each VSAT terminal is provided with two separate tuners, one for Unicast information and one for Multicast information. The system thus provides Unicast information through the Unicast channel to the Unicast receiver in the VSAT terminal to individual destination VSAT terminals, and sends Multicast information to all VSAT terminals via the Unicast channel and the Unicast receivers in each VSAT terminal.

Claims

1. A two-way VSAT satellite communication system comprising:

at least one satellite Multicast transponder and at least one satellite Unicast transponder;

a first fixed location VSAT terminal, having at least one Unicast receiver dedicated to receiving Unicast transmissions via at least one dedicated Unicast channel and at least one Multicast receiver dedicated to receiving Multicast transmissions via at least one dedicated Multicast channel co-located with the first fixed location VSAT terminal;

a second fixed location VSAT terminal, disposed at a remote location from the first fixed location VSAT terminal, having at least one Unicast receiver dedicated to receiving Unicast transmissions via at least one dedicated Unicast channel and at least one Multicast receiver dedicated to receiving Multicast transmissions via at least one dedicated Multicast channel co-located with the second fixed location VSAT terminal;

a first Unicast channel for transmission from said at least one satellite Unicast transponder to said first fixed location VSAT terminal;

a second Unicast channel for transmission from said at least one satellite Unicast transponder to said second fixed location VSAT terminal; and

at least one Multicast channel for transmission from said at least one satellite Multicast transponder to said first fixed location VSAT terminal and to said second fixed location VSAT.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, including a very large network of fixed location, remotely located, VSAT terminals, each comprising at least one Unicast receiver.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, including a very large network of VSAT terminals, each comprising at least one Multicast receiver.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said VSAT terminals each comprises one Multicast receiver.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each Unicast channel transmits information to a plurality of VSAT terminals.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each Unicast channel transmits information to a plurality of VSAT terminals.