Interference suppression in a satellite communication system using onboard beamforming and ground-based processing
First Claim
1. A satellite configured to communicate with a ground base station to provide coverage for communication in a satellite footprint defined by a first geographic region, and suppress from the communication, interference from a distinct, second geographic region that is outside the satellite footprint defined by the first geographic region, the satellite comprising:
- an onboard beamformer configured to produce a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and separate, second spot beams for the second geographic region;
a feed array configured to receive first signals in the first spot beams for the first geographic region, and second signals in the second spot beams for the second geographic region, at least a portion of the first signals carrying the communication, and at least a portion of the second signals carrying the interference; and
a feeder-link antenna configured to transmit the first signals and second signals to the ground base station that is configured to process the first signals and second signals, and based thereon, suppress any of the interference from at least the portion of the first signals carrying the communication.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite is configured to communicate with a ground base station to provide coverage for communication in a first geographic region, and suppress from the communication, interference from a second geographic region. The satellite includes an onboard beamformer (OBBF), feed array and feeder-link antenna. The OBBF is configured to produce first and second spot beams for respective ones of the first and second geographic regions. The feed array is configured to receive first and second signals in respective ones of the first and second spot beams for respective geographic regions. At least portions of the first and second signals carry respective ones of the communication and the interference. The feeder-link antenna, then, is configured to transmit the first signals and second signals to the ground base station that is configured to suppress any of the interference from at least the portion of the first signals carrying the communication.
45 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A satellite configured to communicate with a ground base station to provide coverage for communication in a satellite footprint defined by a first geographic region, and suppress from the communication, interference from a distinct, second geographic region that is outside the satellite footprint defined by the first geographic region, the satellite comprising:
- an onboard beamformer configured to produce a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and separate, second spot beams for the second geographic region;
a feed array configured to receive first signals in the first spot beams for the first geographic region, and second signals in the second spot beams for the second geographic region, at least a portion of the first signals carrying the communication, and at least a portion of the second signals carrying the interference; and
a feeder-link antenna configured to transmit the first signals and second signals to the ground base station that is configured to process the first signals and second signals, and based thereon, suppress any of the interference from at least the portion of the first signals carrying the communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21)
- an onboard beamformer configured to produce a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and separate, second spot beams for the second geographic region;
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6. A ground base station configured to communicate with a satellite to provide coverage for communication in a satellite footprint defined by a first geographic region, and suppress from the communication, interference from a distinct, second geographic region that is outside the satellite footprint defined by the first geographic region, the ground base station comprising:
- radio-frequency equipment configured to receive first signals and separate, second signals from the satellite including an onboard beamformer configured to produce a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and second spot beams for the second geographic region, the satellite being configured to receive the first signals in the first spot beams for the first geographic region, and the second signals in the second spot beams for the second geographic region, at least a portion of the first signals carrying the communication, and at least a portion of the second signals carrying the interference; and
a signal processor coupled to the radio-frequency equipment and configured to process the first signals and second signals, and based thereon, suppress any of the interference from at least the portion of the first signals carrying the communication. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
- radio-frequency equipment configured to receive first signals and separate, second signals from the satellite including an onboard beamformer configured to produce a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and second spot beams for the second geographic region, the satellite being configured to receive the first signals in the first spot beams for the first geographic region, and the second signals in the second spot beams for the second geographic region, at least a portion of the first signals carrying the communication, and at least a portion of the second signals carrying the interference; and
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11. A method of providing coverage for communication in a satellite footprint defined by a first geographic region, and suppressing from the communication, interference from a distinct, second geographic region that is outside the satellite footprint defined by the first geographic region, the method comprising:
- producing at an onboard beamformer of a satellite, a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and separate, second spot beams for the second geographic region;
receiving at the satellite, first signals in the first spot beams for the first geographic region, and second signals in the second spot beams for the second geographic region, at least a portion of the first signals carrying the communication, and at least a portion of the second signals carrying the interference; and
transmitting the first signals and second signals from the satellite to a ground base station that is configured to process the first signals and second signals, and based thereon, suppress any of the interference from at least the portion of the first signals carrying the communication. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- producing at an onboard beamformer of a satellite, a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and separate, second spot beams for the second geographic region;
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16. A method of providing coverage for communication in a satellite footprint defined by a first geographic region, and suppressing from the communication, interference from a distinct, second geographic region that is outside the satellite footprint defined by the first geographic region, the method comprising:
- receiving at a ground base station, first signals and separate, second signals from a satellite including an onboard beamformer configured to produce a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and second spot beams for the second geographic region, the satellite being configured to receive the first signals in the first spot beams for the first geographic region, and the second signals in the second spot beams for the second geographic region, at least a portion of the first signals carrying the communication, and at least a portion of the second signals carrying the interference; and
processing the first signals and second signals, and based thereon, suppressing at the ground base station, any of the interference from at least the portion of the first signals carrying the communication. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
- receiving at a ground base station, first signals and separate, second signals from a satellite including an onboard beamformer configured to produce a plurality of spot beams including first spot beams for the first geographic region, and second spot beams for the second geographic region, the satellite being configured to receive the first signals in the first spot beams for the first geographic region, and the second signals in the second spot beams for the second geographic region, at least a portion of the first signals carrying the communication, and at least a portion of the second signals carrying the interference; and
Specification