Multi-band satellite and/or ancillary terrestrial component radioterminal communications systems and methods with combining operation
First Claim
1. A satellite radioterminal communications system comprising:
- a first space-based component that is configured to communicate with a first radioterminal over a first forward link using a first band of frequencies and over a first return link using a second band of frequencies;
a second space-based component that is configured to communicate with a second radioterminal over a second forward link using a third band of frequencies and over a second return link using a fourth band of frequencies and to receive return link communications from the first radioterminal over the second band of frequencies; and
a combiner that is configured to combine return link communications received from the first radioterminal at the first and second space-based components;
wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude communications using the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude communications using the first band of frequencies;
wherein the first band of frequencies comprises a first one of an S frequency band or an L frequency band and excludes a second one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band, wherein the third band of frequencies comprises the second one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band and excludes the first one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the first band of frequencies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite radioterminal communications system may include first and second space-based components and a return link diversity combiner. The first space-based component may be configured to communicate uni-directionally and/or bidirectionally with a first radioterminal over a first forward link using a first band of frequencies and/or over a first return link using a second band of frequencies. The second space-based component may be configured to communicate uni-directionally and/or bidirectionally with a second radioterminal over a second forward link using a third band of frequencies and/or over a second return link using a fourth band of frequencies. The second space-based component may also be configured to receive return link communications from the first radioterminal over the first return link using the second band of frequencies, and the first and third bands of frequencies may be different bands of frequencies.
133 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A satellite radioterminal communications system comprising:
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a first space-based component that is configured to communicate with a first radioterminal over a first forward link using a first band of frequencies and over a first return link using a second band of frequencies; a second space-based component that is configured to communicate with a second radioterminal over a second forward link using a third band of frequencies and over a second return link using a fourth band of frequencies and to receive return link communications from the first radioterminal over the second band of frequencies; and a combiner that is configured to combine return link communications received from the first radioterminal at the first and second space-based components; wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude communications using the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude communications using the first band of frequencies; wherein the first band of frequencies comprises a first one of an S frequency band or an L frequency band and excludes a second one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band, wherein the third band of frequencies comprises the second one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band and excludes the first one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the first band of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a satellite radioterminal communications system, the method comprising:
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providing communications between a first space-based component and a first radioterminal over a first forward link using a first band of frequencies and over a first return link using a second band of frequencies; providing communications between a second space-based component and a second radioterminal over a second forward link using a third band of frequencies and over a second return link using a fourth band of frequencies; receiving return link communications at the second space-based component from the first radioterminal over the second band of frequencies; and combining return link communications received from the first radioterminal at the first and second space-based components; wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the first band of frequencies; wherein the first band of frequencies comprises a first one of an S frequency band or an L frequency band and excludes a second one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band, wherein the third band of frequencies comprises the second one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band and excludes the first one of the S frequency band or the L frequency band, and wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission using the first band of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A satellite radioterminal communications system comprising:
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a first space-based component that is configured to communicate with a first radioterminal over a first forward link using a first band of frequencies and over a first return link using a second band of frequencies; a second space-based component that is configured to communicate with a second radioterminal over a second forward link using a third band of frequencies and over a second return link using a fourth band of frequencies and to receive return link communications from the first radioterminal over the second band of frequencies; and a combiner that is configured to combine return link communications received from the first radioterminal at the first and second space-based components; wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the first band of frequencies; wherein the first band of frequencies comprises a portion of one of an L frequency band, an S frequency band, a C frequency band, an X frequency band, a Ku frequency band, a Ka frequency band, or a V frequency band, wherein the first band of frequencies excludes a second one of the L frequency band, the S frequency band, the C frequency band, the X frequency band, the Ku frequency band, the Ka frequency band, or the V frequency band, wherein the second band of frequencies comprises the second one of the L frequency band, the S frequency band, the C frequency band, the X frequency band, the Ku frequency band, the Ka frequency band, or the V frequency band, wherein the second band of frequencies excludes the first one of the L frequency band, the S frequency band, the C frequency band, the X frequency band, the Ku frequency band, the Ka frequency band, or the V frequency band, wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the first band of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A method of operating a satellite radioterminal communications system, the method comprising:
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providing communications between a first space-based component and a first radioterminal over a first forward link using a first band of frequencies and over a first return link using a second band of frequencies; providing communications between a second space-based component and a second radioterminal over a second forward link using a third band of frequencies and over a second return link using a fourth band of frequencies; receiving return link communications at the second space-based component from the first radioterminal over the second band of frequencies; and combining return link communications received from the first radioterminal at the first and second space-based components; wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the first band of frequencies; wherein the first band of frequencies comprises a portion of a first one of an L frequency band, an S frequency band, a C frequency band, an X frequency band, a Ku frequency band, a Ka frequency band, or a V frequency band, wherein the first band of frequencies excludes a second one of the L frequency band, the S frequency band, the C frequency band, the X frequency band, the Ku frequency band, the Ka frequency band, or the V frequency band, wherein the second band of frequencies comprises a portion of the second one of the L frequency band, the S frequency band, the C frequency band, the X frequency band, the Ku frequency band, the Ka frequency band, or the V frequency band, wherein the second band of frequencies excludes the first one of the L frequency band, the S frequency band, the C frequency band, the X frequency band, the Ku frequency band, the Ka frequency band, or the V frequency band, and wherein the first space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the third band of frequencies and wherein the second space-based component is configured to exclude transmission over the first band of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification