Multiple return link

• US 9,496,946 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2013
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Battista, Rich, Brosius, John W., Shankar, Uday
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US13/867,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 455/427, 455/428, 455/430, 370319-321
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18539 Arrangements for managing radio, resources, i.e. for establishing or releasing a connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18543 for adaptation of transmission parameters, e.g. power control for detecting or preventing errors in the information received H04L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18545 Arrangements for managing station mobility, i.e. for station registration or localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18554 using the position provided by an existing geolocalisation system

Abstract

A system and method for improving efficiency of satellite communications is described. In one embodiment, multiple return links are associated with a single forward link to reduce communications costs.

Claims

1. A satellite communications method, comprising:

transmitting a message to a plurality of mobile terminals in a first direction on a satellite link, the message including a common request for an updated sensor reading from each of the plurality of mobile terminals; and

receiving, from the plurality of mobile terminals in response to the common request for an updated sensor reading, a plurality of sensor reading update reports on a respective plurality of different frequencies in a second direction on the satellite link, wherein a first of the plurality of sensor reading update reports from a first of the plurality of mobile terminals includes sensor information based on readings by a sensor supported by the first of the plurality of mobile terminals;

wherein the plurality of sensor reading update reports in the second direction occur after a fixed delay after the message in the first direction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a position sensor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensor reading update reports include GPS code phase information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed delay is based on a time for the first of the plurality of mobile terminals to acquire the sensor information based on readings by the sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is carried on a time division multiple access slot.

6. A satellite communications system, comprising:

a transmitter that is configured to transmit a message to a plurality of mobile terminals in a first direction on a satellite link, the message including a common request for an updated sensor reading from each of the plurality of mobile terminals; and

a receiver that is configured to receive, from the plurality of mobile terminals in response to the common request for an updated sensor reading, a plurality of sensor reading update reports on a respective plurality of different frequencies in a second direction on the satellite link, wherein a first of the plurality of sensor reading update reports from a first of the plurality of mobile terminals includes sensor information based on readings by a sensor supported by the first of the plurality of mobile terminals,

wherein the plurality of sensor reading update reports in the second direction occur after a fixed delay after the message in the first direction.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is a position sensor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of sensor reading update reports include GPS code phase information.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the fixed delay is based on a time for the first of the plurality of mobile terminals to acquire the sensor information based on readings by the sensor.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the message is carried on a time division multiple access slot.