Low-cost satellite communication system
First Claim
1. A satellite comprising:
- a spacecraft control system that is configured to control the satellite;
a receiver that is configured to receive communications from a base station, on an uplink channel;
a transmitter that is configured to transmit communications to the base station on a downlink channel;
a controller that is configured to manage respective communications associated with the corresponding uplink and downlink channels; and
a satellite-based remote terminal unit operably coupled to the receiver, the transmitter, and the spacecraft control system, that is configured to;
monitor the communications from the base station for messages that are addressed to the satellite-based remote terminal unit,communicate the communications that are addressed to the satellite-based remote terminal unit to the spacecraft control system, andcommunicate messages from the spacecraft control system to the base station via the transmitter.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system is provided that allows the use of low-cost, low-power remote terminal units that communicate substantially asynchronously and independently to a base station. To minimize cost and complexity, the remote terminal units are configured similarly, including the use of substantially identical transmission schemes, such as a common Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) code. To minimize collisions among transmissions, the communication system is designed to use a high-gain antenna with a limited field of view, to limit the number of cotemporaneous, or overlapping transmissions that are received at the base station. To cover a wide area, the limited field of view is swept across the area of coverage. To overcome potential losses caused by collisions, the remote terminal units are configured to repeat transmissions; to minimize repeated collisions, the repeat interval and/or duration is randomized.
-
Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A satellite comprising:
-
a spacecraft control system that is configured to control the satellite; a receiver that is configured to receive communications from a base station, on an uplink channel; a transmitter that is configured to transmit communications to the base station on a downlink channel; a controller that is configured to manage respective communications associated with the corresponding uplink and downlink channels; and a satellite-based remote terminal unit operably coupled to the receiver, the transmitter, and the spacecraft control system, that is configured to; monitor the communications from the base station for messages that are addressed to the satellite-based remote terminal unit, communicate the communications that are addressed to the satellite-based remote terminal unit to the spacecraft control system, and communicate messages from the spacecraft control system to the base station via the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
Specification