Satellite-based programmable allocation of bandwidth for forward and return links
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a filter parameter at a satellite in orbit;
receiving an input signal at the satellite;
programming a filter in the satellite to separate a plurality of sub-signals from the input signal based on the filter parameter;
filtering the input signal into the plurality of sub-signals as programmed based on the filter parametertranslating the plurality of sub-signals into an output signal, wherein translating the plurality of sub-signals comprises;
multiplying the first sub-signal by a first number to produce a first amplified signal;
multiplying the second sub-signal by a second number to produce a second amplified signal, the second number being different from the first number; and
adding the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal; and
transmitting the output signal from the satellite;
wherein;
the input signal comprises an uplink from a plurality of earth stations to the satellite, the plurality of earth stations comprising a gateway and a user station;
the output signal comprises a downlink from the satellite to the plurality of earth stations;
andthe plurality of sub-signals comprise a first sub-signal and a second sub-signal, wherein the first sub-signal comprises a forward link from the gateway to the user station, and the second sub-signal comprises a return link from the user station to the gateway.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite includes a programmable facility including circuitry responsive to programmable control information. One or more filter parameters, or other forms of instructions for allocating channel capacity (i.e. bits/second/Hz), are received at the satellite in orbit to direct the programmable facility to separate particular sub-signals from an input signal. In one embodiment, the programmable facility can be programmed to change the allocation of channel capacity dedicated to the forward and return links based on the ratio forward and return traffic through a satellite. Changing the allocation of channel capacity may be achieved by changing the portions of the total allocated frequency bandwidth that are used for forward and return links. Alternatively, the changes may be made to the forward and/or return data rates, either alone or in combination with frequency bandwidth allocations.
73 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a filter parameter at a satellite in orbit; receiving an input signal at the satellite; programming a filter in the satellite to separate a plurality of sub-signals from the input signal based on the filter parameter; filtering the input signal into the plurality of sub-signals as programmed based on the filter parameter translating the plurality of sub-signals into an output signal, wherein translating the plurality of sub-signals comprises; multiplying the first sub-signal by a first number to produce a first amplified signal; multiplying the second sub-signal by a second number to produce a second amplified signal, the second number being different from the first number; and adding the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal; and
transmitting the output signal from the satellite;
wherein;the input signal comprises an uplink from a plurality of earth stations to the satellite, the plurality of earth stations comprising a gateway and a user station; the output signal comprises a downlink from the satellite to the plurality of earth stations; and the plurality of sub-signals comprise a first sub-signal and a second sub-signal, wherein the first sub-signal comprises a forward link from the gateway to the user station, and the second sub-signal comprises a return link from the user station to the gateway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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a satellite configured to receive a filter parameter, wherein the filter parameter comprises at least one of a high frequency limit for the input signal, a low frequency limit for the input signal, a median frequency to separate a first sub-signal from a second sub-signal within the plurality of sub-signals; the satellite further comprising; a programmable filter configured to separate a plurality of sub-signals from an input signal based on the filter parameter; and a frequency translator configured to translate the plurality of sub-signals into an output signal, wherein the frequency translator comprises; a first digital multiplier configured to multiply the first sub-signal by a first number to produce a first amplified signal; a second digital multiplier configured to multiply the second sub-signal by a second number to produce a second amplified signal, the second number being different from the first number; and a digital adder configured to add the first amplified signal and the second amplified signal; and a transmitter configured to transmit the output signal from the satellite;
whereinthe input signal comprises an uplink from a plurality of earth stations to the satellite, the plurality of earth stations comprising a gateway and a user station; the output signal comprises a downlink from the satellite to the plurality of earth stations; and the plurality of sub-signals comprise a first sub-signal and a second sub-signal, wherein the first sub-signal comprises a forward link from the gateway to the user station, and the second sub-signal comprises a return link from the user station to the gateway. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a communications system, comprising:
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establishing a first portion of a frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by a satellite as a forward uplink, and a second portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by the satellite as a return uplink, the first and second portions comprising the total of the frequency bandwidth; monitoring traffic volume on each of the forward and return uplinks; determining a third portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by a satellite as a forward uplink, and a fourth portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by the satellite as a return uplink, the third and fourth portions comprising the total of the frequency bandwidth; transmitting instructions to the satellite, the satellite including circuitry responsive to the transmitted instructions, such that the amount of frequency bandwidth allocated to the forward and return uplinks is allocated in proportion to the monitored traffic volume on each of the forward and return uplinks. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. Apparatus for use in operating a communications system, comprising:
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means for establishing a first portion of a frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by a satellite as a forward uplink, and a second portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by the satellite as a return uplink, the first and second portions comprising the total of the frequency bandwidth; means for monitoring traffic volume on each of the forward and return uplinks; means for determining a third portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by a satellite as a forward uplink, and a fourth portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by the satellite as a return uplink, the third and fourth portions comprising the total of the frequency bandwidth; and means for transmitting instructions to the satellite, the satellite including circuitry responsive to the transmitted instructions, such that the amount of frequency bandwidth allocated to the forward and return uplinks is allocated in proportion to the monitored traffic volume on each of the forward and return uplinks.
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions stored thereon, the instructions facilitating operations comprising:
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establishing a first portion of a frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by a satellite as a forward uplink, and a second portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by the satellite as a return uplink, the first and second portions comprising the total of the frequency bandwidth; monitoring traffic volume on each of the forward and return uplinks; determining a third portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by a satellite as a forward uplink, and a fourth portion of the frequency bandwidth to be received and processed by the satellite as a return uplink, the third and fourth portions comprising the total of the frequency bandwidth; and transmitting instructions to the satellite, the satellite including circuitry responsive to the transmitted instructions, such that the amount of frequency bandwidth allocated to the forward and return uplinks is allocated in proportion to the monitored traffic volume on each of the forward and return uplinks.
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Specification