System and method for efficient frequency use in a hybrid multi-spot satellite broadcasting system

• US 7,953,367 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Courseille, Olivier, Francon, Michel-Guy, Nussli, Christophe, Combe, Christian, Bouchired, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Huang; Wen
• Application Number:
  US10/503,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,406 Days
• Field of Search: 455/20, 455/447, 455/7, 455/15, 455/16, 455/17, 455/12.1, 455/13.3
• US Class Current: 455/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18534 for enhancing link reliablility, e.g. satellites diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18536 Shadowing compensation therefor, e.g. by using an additional terrestrial relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/02 Arrangements for relaying broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/423 Transmitter side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks

Abstract

System and method for use in a hybrid multispot satellite broadcasting system comprising at least one satellite (S; S1; S2) for multibeam broadcasting of beams in respective frequency bandwidths (F1; F2; F3), the system further comprising a plurality of terrestrial repeater (R1; R2; R3) for receiving, processing and re-transmitting said beams in a frequency bandwidth which is different from that of the bandwidth of the beam received. Each terrestrial repeater (R1; R2; R3) re-uses for terrestrial re-transmission a combination of bandwidths corresponding to different beams broadcast from said satellite to different beams.

Claims

1. A hybrid multispot satellite broadcasting system comprising at least one satellite capable of multibeam broadcasting of beams in respective frequency bandwidths, each one of said beams adapted to be broadcast towards a terrestrial repeater which is capable of receiving, processing and re-transmitting said beam in a frequency bandwidth B_T which is different from that of the bandwidth B_S of the beam received, characterized in that a bandwidth of a signal re-transmitted from a first terrestrial repeater contains a frequency range substantially equal to a bandwidth used for a beam broadcast from said satellite to at least a second terrestrial repeater corresponding to a different area of coverage from said first terrestrial repeater, wherein B_T=k×

B_S and 1≦

k≦

2 for time division multiplexing (TDM) mode transmission, and wherein k corresponds to a difference between a satellite channel coding rate and a terrestrial channel coding rate, and wherein k=1 for CDM mode transmission.

2. A satellite system, according to claim 1, wherein said frequency range within the bandwidth of said retransmitted signal contains at least two bandwidths, one being different from the other, said bandwidths being substantially equal to bandwidths used for respective beams broadcast from said satellite to at least a respective second and a respective third terrestrial repeaters.

3. A satellite system according to claim 1, wherein said satellite broadcasts at least a first, a second and a third beam, each beam directed to a respective first, second and third terrestrial repeater, wherein, said first terrestrial repeater re-transmits said first beam using a bandwidth which is a combination of the respective bandwidths of said second and said third beams.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal re-transmitted from said first terrestrial repeater is retransmitted to said second terrestrial repeater.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein k=1.5.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said satellite channel coding rate is ¾

and said terrestrial channel coding rate is ½

.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said terrestrial repeater requires a frequency range of B_T=1.5B_S and has 2B_S available for retransmission, such that 0.5B_S is available and not used for said retransmission.

8. A method for a hybrid multispot broadcasting through a satellite system, said system comprising at least one satellite for multibeam broadcasting of beams in respective frequency bandwidths, each one of said beams being broadcast towards a terrestrial repeater which is capable of receiving, processing and re-transmitting said beam in a frequency bandwidth B_T which is different from that of the bandwidth B_S of the beam received, characterized in that said first terrestrial repeater re-transmits said signal in a bandwidth containing a frequency range substantially equal to a bandwidth used for a beam broadcast from said satellite to at least a second terrestrial repeater corresponding to a different area of coverage from said first terrestrial repeater, wherein B_T=k×

B_S and 1≦

k≦

2 for time division multiplexing (TDM) mode transmission, and wherein k corresponds to a difference between a satellite channel coding rate and a terrestrial channel coding rate, and wherein k=1 for CDM mode transmission.

9. Method of claim 8 wherein said frequency range within the bandwidth of said retransmitted signal contains at least two bandwidths, one being different from the other, said bandwidths being substantially equal to bandwidths used for respective beams broadcast from said satellite to at least a respective second and a respective third terrestrial repeaters.

10. Method, according to any one of claim 8, wherein said satellite broadcasts at least a first, a second and a third beam, each beam directed to a respective first, second and third terrestrial repeater, wherein, said first terrestrial repeater re-transmits said first beam using a bandwidth which is a combination of the respective bandwidths of said second and said third beams.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said signal re-transmitted from said first terrestrial repeater is retransmitted to said second terrestrial repeater.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein k=1.5.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said satellite channel coding rate is ¾

and said terrestrial channel coding rate is ½

.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said terrestrial repeater requires a frequency range of B_T=1.5B_S and has 2B_S available for retransmission, such that 0.5B_S is available and not used for said retransmission.