Paired-beam transponder satellite communication
First Claim
1. A satellite communications system comprising:
- a first gateway terminal located in a first spot beam coverage area;
a first plurality of user terminals located in a second spot beam coverage area that does not overlap with the first spot beam coverage area; and
a satellite, in communication with the first gateway terminal via a paired gateway beam and in communication with the first plurality of user terminals via a paired user beam, and comprising a paired-beam transponder, the paired-beam transponder comprising;
an input subsystem configured to receive a gateway uplink signal via the paired gateway beam on an uplink frequency band, receive a user uplink signal via the paired user beam on the uplink frequency band, and amplify and combine the gateway uplink signal and the user uplink signal into a combined input signal;
a frequency translation subsystem configured to convert the combined input signal to a combined output signal at a downlink frequency band that is different from the uplink frequency band; and
an output subsystem configured to transmit the combined output signal to the first gateway terminal via the paired gateway beam as a gateway downlink signal on the downlink frequency band, and transmit the combined output signal to the first plurality of user terminals via the paired user beam as a user downlink signal on the downlink frequency band.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for paired-beam satellite communications in a flexible satellite architecture. Embodiments include one or more “bent pipe” satellites having multiple transponders for servicing a number of spot beams. Implementations include novel types of paired-beam transponders that communicatively couple gateway terminals and user terminals in different spot beams. Some implementations also include loopback transponders that communicatively couple gateway terminals and user terminals in the same spot beam. The transponders can use similar components, can provide for flexible forward-link and return-link spectrum allocation, and/or can provide other features. Certain embodiments further include support for utility gateway terminal service and/or redundancy (e.g., active spares) for one or more active components.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A satellite communications system comprising:
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a first gateway terminal located in a first spot beam coverage area; a first plurality of user terminals located in a second spot beam coverage area that does not overlap with the first spot beam coverage area; and a satellite, in communication with the first gateway terminal via a paired gateway beam and in communication with the first plurality of user terminals via a paired user beam, and comprising a paired-beam transponder, the paired-beam transponder comprising; an input subsystem configured to receive a gateway uplink signal via the paired gateway beam on an uplink frequency band, receive a user uplink signal via the paired user beam on the uplink frequency band, and amplify and combine the gateway uplink signal and the user uplink signal into a combined input signal; a frequency translation subsystem configured to convert the combined input signal to a combined output signal at a downlink frequency band that is different from the uplink frequency band; and an output subsystem configured to transmit the combined output signal to the first gateway terminal via the paired gateway beam as a gateway downlink signal on the downlink frequency band, and transmit the combined output signal to the first plurality of user terminals via the paired user beam as a user downlink signal on the downlink frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for satellite communications comprising:
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receiving a gateway uplink signal by a paired-beam transponder of a satellite from a first gateway terminal via a paired gateway beam on an uplink frequency band, the first gateway terminal located in a first spot beam coverage area; receiving a user uplink signal by the paired-beam transponder from a first plurality of user terminals via the paired user beam on the uplink frequency band, the first plurality of user terminals located in a second spot beam coverage area that does not overlap with the first spot beam coverage area; amplifying and combining the gateway uplink signal and the user uplink signal into a combined input signal using the paired-beam transponder; converting the combined input signal to a combined output signal at a downlink frequency band that is different from the uplink frequency band using the paired-beam transponder; transmitting the combined output signal by the paired-beam transponder to the first gateway terminal via the paired gateway beam on the downlink frequency band; and transmitting the combined output signal to the first plurality of user terminals via the paired user beam on the downlink frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification