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

• US 8,897,769 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• 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:
  US13/481,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20120238203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.03, 455/12.1, 455/13.2, 455/98, 455/427, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 701/213, 244/158.1, 244/158.4, 244/158.6
• 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 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 command center of a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite communication system comprising:

a data processing unit for identifying an occurrence of an in-line event involving a GSO satellite and a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite; and

a network control unit coupled to the data processing unit for (i) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, a GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a NGSO signal on a primary basis; and

(ii) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.

2. The command center of claim 1, further comprising:

a satellite control unit coupled to the data processing unit for (i) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal at least partially occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis; and

(ii) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.

3. The command center of claim 2, wherein the satellite control unit instructs the GSO satellite via a separate telemetry link transmitted by a separate GSO earth station.

4. The command center of claim 1, wherein the data processing unit identifies an occurrence of an in-line event based on orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.

5. The command center of claim 4, further comprising:

a memory unit coupled to the data processing unit for storing the orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.

6. The command center of claim 5, wherein the data processing unit is further for modifying the memory unit with updated orbital ephemeris data.

7. The command center of claim 1, further comprising:

an acquisition unit coupled to the data processing unit for obtaining orbital ephemeris data of one or more NGSO satellite constellations.

8. The command center of claim 1, wherein the command center is located at one location on earth.

9. The command center of claim 1, wherein the command center is distributed among a plurality of locations on earth.

10. The command center of claim 1, wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in the Ka-band.

11. The command center of claim 1, wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in a proximate range of a GSO frequency spectrum allocated to a GSO signal.

12. A system of a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite communication system comprising:

means for identifying an occurrence of an in-line event involving a GSO satellite and a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite; and

means for (i) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, a GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a NGSO signal on a primary basis; and

(ii) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.

13. A method for operating a command center of a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite communication system comprising:

identifying an occurrence of an in-line event involving a GSO satellite and a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite;

instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, a GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a NGSO signal on a primary basis; and

instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal at least partially occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis; and

instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein instructing the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station includes instructing a separate GSO earth station to transmit instructions to the GSO satellite via a separate telemetry link.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein identifying is based on orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing the orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

modifying the stored orbital ephemeris data with updated orbital ephemeris data.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining orbital ephemeris data of one or more NGSO satellite constellations.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in the Ka-band.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in a proximate range of a GSO frequency spectrum allocated to a GSO signal.