Leader-follower power control
First Claim
1. In a communication system having a hub and a plurality of subscriber terminals coupled for communication with one another via relay satellite operative in a bent pipe mode through a forward uplink path from the hub, a forward downlink path to the subscriber terminals, a return uplink path from the subscriber terminals, and a return downlink path to the hub, a method for transmit power level control at the subscriber terminals comprising:
- providing a calibrated transmit signal terminal operative as a leader terminal and having a leader downlink propagation path that represents subscriber terminal downlink propagation paths;
causing the leader terminal to calibrate its power level using power levels of at least said leader downlink propagation path;
measuring subscriber terminal power levels;
comparing the respective subscriber terminal power levels with the leader terminal power level to produce an error signal; and
using the error signal to produce a control signal to control the transmit power level of the subscriber terminals.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a satellite or other relayed communication system having a plurality of subscriber terminals that communicate through an elevated wireless relay (typically a satellite operating in bent pipe mode), a technique for subscriber terminal power control is provided whereby the power level is controlled via leader-follower operation relying on sharing control factors determined at a single calibrated subscriber terminal transmitter (the leader terminal) to create traffic to be compared to the received traffic of the other subscriber terminals. The power level of the subscriber terminals is then adjusted based on the relationship of their received energy to the received energy of the leader terminal.
8 Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a communication system having a hub and a plurality of subscriber terminals coupled for communication with one another via relay satellite operative in a bent pipe mode through a forward uplink path from the hub, a forward downlink path to the subscriber terminals, a return uplink path from the subscriber terminals, and a return downlink path to the hub, a method for transmit power level control at the subscriber terminals comprising:
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providing a calibrated transmit signal terminal operative as a leader terminal and having a leader downlink propagation path that represents subscriber terminal downlink propagation paths; causing the leader terminal to calibrate its power level using power levels of at least said leader downlink propagation path; measuring subscriber terminal power levels; comparing the respective subscriber terminal power levels with the leader terminal power level to produce an error signal; and using the error signal to produce a control signal to control the transmit power level of the subscriber terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A subscriber terminal for use in a satellite communication system having a leader terminal and a plurality of subscriber terminals coupled for communication with one another via a relay satellite having a forward downlink path to the subscriber terminals, a return uplink path from the subscriber terminals, a return leader downlink path to the leader terminal, and a transmitter at the leader terminal operative to generate power level testing signals on a leader uplink path, the subscriber terminal comprising:
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a receiver operative to receive error and control information for use in adjusting transmit power levels; a control system for controlling transmit power level on its own return uplink path in response to said error information, said error information comparing leader terminal transmit signals and self transmitted signals on the return leader downlink path; and a transmitter coupled to said control system for generating power level adjusted signals on said own return uplink path such that output power of a relay downlink signal is a function of input power of a relay uplink signal received by the relay apparatus from the leader terminal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification