Non-interfering utilization of non-geostationary satellite frequency band for geostationary satellite communication

• US 8,213,929 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Mark J., Tchorz, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US13/276,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20120034866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/98, 455/427, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/3.02
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/19 Earth-synchronous stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/195 Non-synchronous stations

Abstract

A method, satellite and system utilizes non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) frequency spectrum in geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellite communication in a non-interfering manner. A ground station transmits signals to a GSO satellite using a GSO frequency band and an extended frequency spectrum including the an NGSO frequency band whenever a noninterference situation exists, i.e., when an NGSO satellite is not in-line between the earth terminal and the GSO satellite or when the NGSO satellite is not utilizing the NGSO band of interest. A command module is provided to instruct the ground station to transmit signals to the GSO satellite using the GSO frequency band and the extended frequency spectrum.

Claims

1. A geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite for relayed communications comprising:

an antenna for receiving a spot beam signal from a GSO earth station;

a down converter coupled to the antenna for generating a down-converted signal from the received spot beam signal;

a band-pass filter coupled to the down converter and having a frequency response that allows passing of a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) signal on a primary basis, for generating a first output signal based on the down-converted signal; and

a switch coupled to the band-pass filter and having a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the switch permits transmission of the first output signal toward Earth, and wherein in the second position, the switch suppresses transmission of the first output signal toward Earth; and

wherein the switch is controllable to be placed in the first or the second position based on information relating to occurrence of an in-line event involving the GSO satellite and an NGSO satellite.

2. The GSO satellite of claim 1, wherein the switch is directly coupled to the output of the band-pass filter, such that in the first position, the switch connects the output of the band-pass filter to an output of the switch, and in the second position, the switch disconnects the output of the band-pass filter from the output of the switch.

3. The GSO satellite of claim 1, further comprising a control device coupled to the switch and operable to place the switch in either the first or the second position.

4. The GSO satellite of claim 3, wherein the control device is operable to place the switch in either the first or the second position based on ephemeris data stored on board the GSO satellite.

5. The GSO satellite of claim 3, wherein the control device is operable to place the switch in either the first or the second position based on an instruction received from a command center on Earth.

6. The GSO satellite of claim 5, wherein the control device includes a demodulator for demodulating the instruction from the down-converted signal.

7. The GSO satellite of claim 5, wherein the control device receives the instruction via a separate telemetry link.

8. The GSO satellite of claim 1, further comprising:

a second band-pass filter coupled to the down converter and having a frequency response that allows passing of a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis, for generating a second output signal based on the down-converted signal;

wherein the switch comprises a first input for receiving the first output signal and a second input for receiving the second output signal; and

wherein in the first position, the switch produces the first output signal, and in the second position, the switch produces the second output signal.

9. A method for relayed communications using a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite comprising:

receiving a spot beam signal at the GSO satellite from a GSO earth station;

generating a down-converted signal from the received spot beam signal;

using a band-pass filter having a frequency response that allows passing of a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) signal on a primary basis, to generate a first output signal based on the down-converted signal; and

using a switch having a first and a second position to control transmission of the first output signal toward Earth, wherein in the first position, the switch permits transmission of the first output signal toward Earth, and wherein in the second position, the switch suppresses transmission of the first output signal toward Earth; and

wherein the switch is controllable to be placed in the first or the second position based on information relating to occurrence of an in-line event involving the GSO satellite and an NGSO satellite.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the switch is directly coupled to the output of the band-pass filter, such that in the first position, the switch connects the output of the band-pass filter to an output of the switch, and in the second position, the switch disconnects the output of the band-pass filter from the output of the switch.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of using a control device on the GSO satellite to place the switch in either the first or the second position.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device is used to place the switch in either the first or the second position based on ephemeris data stored on board the GSO satellite.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device is used to place the switch in either the first or the second position based on an instruction received from a command center on Earth.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of demodulating the instruction from the down-converted signal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of receiving the instruction via a separate telemetry link.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of:

using a second band-pass filter having a frequency response that allows passing of a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis, to generate a second output signal based on the down-converted signal;

wherein the switch comprises a first input for receiving the first output signal and a second input for receiving the second output signal; and

wherein in the first position, the switch produces the first output signal, and in the second position, the switch produces the second output signal.

17. A system for relayed communications using a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite comprising:

means for receiving a spot beam signal at the GSO satellite from a GSO earth station;

means for generating a down-converted signal from the received spot beam signal;

means for passing of a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) signal on a primary basis, to generate a first output signal based on the down-converted signal; and

means for switching having a first and a second position to control transmission of the first output signal toward Earth, wherein in the first position, the means for switching permits transmission of the first output signal toward Earth, and wherein in the second position, the means for switching suppresses transmission of the first output signal toward Earth; and

means for controlling, to place the means for switching in the first or the second position based on information relating to occurrence of an in-line event involving the GSO satellite and an NGSO satellite.