DOCSIS MAC chip adapted

• US 8,230,464 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitting, Robert Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stronczer, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/411,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/74 of satellite networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

Disclosed in one embodiment is the use of a terrestrial media access control (MAC) chip or circuit in a satellite modem. The satellite modem comprises a satellite receiver, a satellite transmitter, an adaptor, and a terrestrial MAC chip. The adapter translates between the satellite physical layer and the physical layer of the terrestrial MAC chip. Protocols, messaging and signaling is spoofed for the terrestrial MAC chip such that it can be integrated into a satellite system. The received satellite signal is filtered so select one or more sub-channels that are fed to the terrestrial MAC chip. The terrestrial MAC chip could use a variety of physical layers, for example, Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) or World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX).

Claims

1. A satellite modem for communicating with a satellite, the satellite modem comprising:

a satellite receiver configured to receive a receive satellite signal;

a satellite transmitter configured to transmit a transmit satellite signal;

a terrestrial cable modem including a circuit for media access control; and

an adapter communicatively coupled with the satellite receiver, the satellite transmitter and the terrestrial cable modem circuit for media access control, and the adapter being configured to;

filter a sub-channel of information from a signal from the satellite receiver for further processing,

translate signaling and/or protocol between the satellite receiver and the terrestrial cable modem, and

translate signaling and/or protocol between the terrestrial cable modem and the satellite transmitter.

2. The satellite modem according to claim 1, wherein the terrestrial cable modem circuit is configured to communicate with a wired cable plant.

3. The satellite modem according to claim 1, wherein the terrestrial cable modem circuit is configured to receive an analog signal from the adapter that is not used in reception of a satellite signal.

4. The satellite modem according to claim 1, wherein the terrestrial cable modem circuit is configured to transmit an analog signal from the adapter that is not used in transmission of a satellite signal.

5. The satellite modem according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to remodulate digital information received from the satellite link and couples the remodulated digital information to the terrestrial cable modem circuit.

6. The satellite modern according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is configured to demodulate a signal received from the terrestrial cable modem circuit and remodulates the signal for the satellite link.

7. The satellite modem according to claim 1, wherein the terrestrial cable modem circuit is an off-the-shelf circuit chip.

8. The satellite modern according to claim 1, wherein the terrestrial cable modem circuit is configured to operate operates according to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) standard.

9. The satellite modem according to claim 1, wherein the terrestrial cable modem circuit is configured to operate according to a World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standard.

10. A satellite modem for communicating with a satellite, the satellite modem comprising:

a satellite receiver configured to receive a receive satellite signal;

a satellite transmitter configured to transmit a transmit satellite signal;

a terrestrial modem; and

means, communicatively coupled with the satellite receiver, the satellite transmitter and the terrestrial cable modern, for;

filtering a sub-channel of information from a signal from the satellite receiver for further processing,

translating signaling and/or protocol between the satellite receiver and the terrestrial cable modem, and

translating signaling and/or protocol between the terrestrial cable modem and the satellite transmitter.

11. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the terrestrial cable modem is configured to communicate with a wired cable plant.

12. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the terrestrial cable modem is configured to receive an analog signal that is not used in reception of a satellite signal.

13. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the terrestrial cable modem is configured to transmit an analog signal that is not used in transmission of a satellite signal.

14. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the means is further for remodulating digital information received from the satellite link and coupling the remodulated digital information to the terrestrial cable modem.

15. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the means is further for demodulating a signal received from the terrestrial cable modern and remodulating the signal for the satellite link.

16. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the terrestrial cable modem is an off-the-shelf circuit.

17. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the terrestrial cable modem is configured to operate according to a Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) standard.

18. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the terrestrial cable modem is configured to operate according to a World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) standard.

19. The satellite modem according to claim 10, wherein the terrestrial cable modem is configured to perform media access control.

20. A method for receiving information from a satellite, the method comprising:

receiving at a satellite receiver a satellite signal, the satellite signal being;

coupled to an antenna, and

received from a satellite;

processing the satellite signal to produce a data stream from information sent over the satellite link;

filtering a sub-channel of the data stream to form a filtered data stream; and

delivering the filtered data stream to a terrestrial cable modem circuit for media access control.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising encapsulating the filtered data stream into an MPEG-2 transport stream for the terrestrial cable modern.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the media access control to further filter the filtered data stream.

23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising:

remodulating the filtered data stream with an analog carrier; and

coupling the analog carrier to the terrestrial cable modem.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the receive satellite signal uses a single carrier.