Dynamic link adaption and/or dynamic allocation of communication resources of a communication system based on external interference information received from external interference information sources

• US 9,628,168 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxar Space LLC (Galileo Parent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Space Systems/Loral Incorporated (Loral Space and Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wharton, Anne E., Hreha, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Tan H
• Application Number:
  US14/632,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20160254854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 455 121, 455 133, 4555521, 455429, 455427, 455 134, 455 6713, 455 6711, 4554561, 455430, 455 305, 455426, 455517, 455 131, 4552261
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/10 Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18519 Operations control, administration or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition

Abstract

Interference information is obtained from one or more interference information sources external to a particular communication system, wherein the interference information is indicative of non-weather related interference that can adversely affect efficacy of the particular communication system. Configurable link parameters of the particular communication system are dynamically adapted and/or resources of the particular communication system are dynamically allocated based on the interference information obtained from the interference information source(s) that is/are external to the particular communication system. Such embodiments can advantageously be performed proactively to prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference on the efficacy of the particular communication system.

Claims

1. A method for use with a communication system that includes a plurality of satellites and a plurality of satellite terminals, wherein each of the satellite terminals is configured to communicate with at least one of the other satellite terminals utilizing at least one of the satellites, and wherein the communication system is configured to provide wireless communication capabilities, the method comprising:

obtaining interference information from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, wherein the interference information is indicative of non-weather related interference that can adversely affect efficacy of the communication system; and

dynamically adapting configurable link parameters of the communication system and/or dynamically allocating resources of the communication system based on the interference information obtained from the one or more interference information sources that is/are external to the communication system;

wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocating resources of the communication system, based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, is performed proactively prior to an adverse effect of the non-weather related interference being detected by the communication system so as to prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference on the efficacy of the communication system in a prophylactic manner.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more instances of the interference information includes information about a geographic location and/or region associated with non-weather related interference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more instances of the interference information includes information about one or more of spectral, temporal, spatial, power density, or code characteristics associated with non-weather related interference.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more instances of the interference information includes information indicative of changes in a geographic location and/or region associated with non-weather related interference.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system; and

wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocating resources of the communication system is also based on the monitored locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the monitoring locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system includes monitoring changes in the locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system; and

wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocating resources of the communication system is also based on the changes in the monitored locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocating resources of the communication system, based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, comprises dynamically adapting configurable link parameters associated with one or more of the following:

uplink modulation;

downlink modulation;

uplink forward error correction coding;

downlink forward error correction coding;

uplink burst rate;

downlink burst rate;

uplink channel and/or subchannel characteristics;

uplink bandwidth;

downlink bandwidth;

uplink power;

downlink power;

uplink polarization;

downlink polarization;

uplink transmission frequency bands;

downlink transmission frequency bands;

uplink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

downlink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

uplink beam assignments;

or

downlink beam assignments.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocating resources of the communication system, based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, comprises dynamically allocating resources of the communication system associated with one or more of the following:

uplink spectrum spreading code and/or multiple access code;

downlink spectrum spreading code and/or multiple access code;

uplink transmission time slots;

downlink transmission time slots;

uplink bandwidth;

downlink bandwidth;

uplink power;

downlink power;

uplink polarization;

downlink polarization;

uplink transmission frequency bands;

downlink transmission frequency bands;

uplink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

downlink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

uplink beam assignments;

or

downlink beam assignments.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-weather related interference comprises one or more types of electromagnetic interference (EMI).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference information sources external to the communication system comprise one or more of the following:

a satellite subsystem of another communication system;

a ground-based subsystem of another communication system;

a radar system or a subsystem thereof;

a government agency;

a company that monitors at least a portion of a radio frequency (RF) spectrum;

an individual reporter;

or

a military branch.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein instances of the interference information is/are indicative non-weather related interference caused by one or more of the following:

a satellite subsystem of another communication system;

a ground-based subsystem of another communication system;

an airborne-based subsystem of another communication system;

a marine-based subsystem of another communication system;

a navigation system;

a radar system;

or an intentional interferer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the interference information is a type of situational awareness information, and further comprising:

obtaining one or more other types of situational awareness information from one or more sources external to the communication system;

wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters of the communication system and/or dynamically allocating resources of the communication system is also based on at least one of the one or more other types of situational awareness information obtained from the one or more sources that is/are external to the communication system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining interference information and one or more other types situational awareness information from one or more sub-systems of the communication system;

wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocating resources of the communication system is also based on the interference information and at least one of the one or more other types of situational awareness information obtained from the one or more subsystems of the communication system.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a said interference information source external to the communication system, from which the communication system obtains an instance of said interference information, and based upon which the communication system dynamically adapts configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocating resources, comprises a government agency or a military branch.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a said interference information source external to the communication system, from which the communication system obtains an instance of said interference information, and based upon which the communication system dynamically adapts configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocating resources, comprises a company that monitors at least a portion of a radio frequency (RF) spectrum.

16. A method for use with a communication system that includes a plurality of satellites and a plurality of satellite terminals, wherein each of the satellite terminals is configured to communicate with at least one of the other satellite terminals utilizing at least one of the satellites, the method comprising:

obtaining interference information from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, wherein the interference information is indicative of non-weather related interference that can adversely affect efficacy of the communication system;

determining whether an instance of the interference information is associated with a same geographic region as at least one of the satellite terminals of the communication system;

determining whether the instance of the interference information is associated with a frequency or frequency range that impacts a predetermined frequency range of interest to the communication system; and

if the instance of the interference information is associated with the same geographic region as at least one of the satellite terminals of the communication system, and also impacts the predetermined frequency range of interest to the communication system, then dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocating resources of the communication system based on the interference information to proactively prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference corresponding to the instance of the interference information on the at least one of the satellite terminals of the communication system.

17. A communication system, comprising:

a plurality of satellites;

a plurality of satellite terminals each of which is configured to communicate with at least one of the other satellite terminals utilizing at least one of the satellites;

one or more network interfaces adapted to obtain interference information from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, wherein the interference information is indicative of non-weather related interference that can adversely affect efficacy of the communication system; and

one or more controllers adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system based on the interference information obtained from the one or more interference information sources that is/are external to the communication system;

wherein the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system, based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, to proactively prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference on the efficacy of the communication system.

18. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the one or more network interfaces and the one or more controllers are implemented by one or more of the satellite terminals, satellites or other network nodes of the communication system.

19. The communication system of claim 17, wherein one or more instances of the interference information, obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, includes information about a geographic location and/or region associated with non-weather related interference.

20. The communication system of claim 17, wherein one or more instances of the interference information, obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, includes information about one or more of spectral, temporal, spatial, power density, or code characteristics associated with non-weather related interference.

21. The communication system of claim 17, wherein one or more instances of the interference information, obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, includes information indicative of changes in a geographic location and/or region associated with non-weather related interference.

22. The communication system of claim 17, wherein:

the interference information is a type of situational awareness information;

at least one of the one or more network interfaces is/are also adapted to obtain one or more other types of situational awareness information from one or more sources external to the communication system, and

at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters of the communication system and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on at least one of the one or more other types of situational awareness information obtained from the one or more sources that is/are external to the communication system.

23. The communication system of claim 17, wherein:

the interference information is a type of situational awareness information;

at least one of the one or more network interfaces is/are also adapted to obtain interference information and/or one or more other types of situational awareness information from one or more sub-systems of the communication system; and

at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters of the communication system and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on the interference information and/or one or more other types of the situational awareness information obtained from the one or more subsystems of the communication system.

24. The communication system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to:

monitor locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system; and

dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on the monitored locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system.

25. The communication system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to:

monitor changes in locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system; and

dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on the changes in the monitored locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system.

26. The communication system of claim 17, wherein based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters associated with one or more of the following:

uplink modulation;

downlink modulation;

uplink forward error correction coding;

downlink forward error correction coding;

uplink burst rate;

downlink burst rate;

uplink channel and/or subchannel characteristics;

uplink bandwidth;

downlink bandwidth;

uplink power;

downlink power;

uplink polarization;

downlink polarization;

uplink transmission frequency bands;

downlink transmission frequency bands;

uplink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

downlink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

uplink beam assignments;

or

downlink beam assignments.

27. The communication system of claim 17, wherein based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically allocate resources of the communication system associated with one or more of the following:

uplink spectrum spreading code and/or multiple access code;

downlink spectrum spreading code and/or multiple access code;

uplink transmission time slots;

downlink transmission time slots;

uplink bandwidth;

downlink bandwidth;

uplink power;

downlink power;

uplink polarization;

downlink polarization;

uplink transmission frequency bands;

downlink transmission frequency bands;

uplink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

downlink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

uplink beam assignments;

or

downlink beam assignments.

28. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the non-weather related interference comprises one or more types of electromagnetic interference (EMI).

29. The communication system of claim 17, wherein the interference information sources external to the communication system comprise one or more of the following:

a satellite subsystem of another communication system;

a ground-based subsystem of another communication system;

a radar system or a subsystem thereof

a government agency;

a company that monitors at least a portion of a radio frequency (RF) spectrum;

an individual reporter;

or

a military branch.

30. The communication system of claim 17, wherein instances of the interference information is/are indicative non-weather related interference caused by one or more of the following:

a satellite subsystem of another communication system;

a ground-based subsystem of another communication system;

an airborne-based subsystem of another communication system;

a marine-based subsystem of another communication system;

a navigation system;

a radar system;

or

an intentional interferer.

31. A subsystem of a communication system, the subsystem comprising:

one or more network interfaces adapted to obtain interference information from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, wherein the interference information is indicative of non-weather related interference that can adversely affect efficacy of the communication system; and

a controller adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system based on the interference information obtained from the one or more interference information sources that is/are external to the communication system;

wherein the controller is adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system, based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, to proactively prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference on the efficacy of the communication system.

32. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein the controller is adapted to modify at least one of a frequency, a code, a polarization or a time slot used by a further subsystem of the communication system to proactively prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference on the efficacy of the communication system.

33. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein the communication system comprises a satellite communication system.

34. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein the communication system includes both satellite and non-satellite communication capabilities.

35. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein the communication system comprises non-satellite communication capabilities.

36. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein one or more instances of the interference information includes information about a geographic location and/or region associated with non-weather related interference.

37. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein one or more instances of the interference information includes information about one or more of spectral, temporal, spatial, power density, or code characteristics associated with non-weather related interference.

38. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein one or more instances of the interference information includes information indicative of changes in a geographic location and/or region associated with non-weather related interference.

39. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to:

monitor locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system; and

dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on the monitored locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system.

40. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to:

monitor changes in locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system; and

dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on the changes in the monitored locations of one or more of the satellite terminals of the communication system.

41. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters associated with one or more of the following:

uplink modulation;

downlink modulation;

uplink forward error correction coding;

downlink forward error correction coding;

uplink burst rate;

downlink burst rate;

uplink channel and/or subchannel characteristics;

uplink bandwidth;

downlink bandwidth;

uplink power;

downlink power;

uplink polarization;

downlink polarization;

uplink transmission frequency bands;

downlink transmission frequency bands;

uplink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

downlink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

uplink beam assignments;

or

downlink beam assignments.

42. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically allocate resources of the communication system associated with one or more of the following:

uplink spectrum spreading code and/or multiple access code;

downlink spectrum spreading code and/or multiple access code;

uplink transmission time slots;

downlink transmission time slots;

uplink bandwidth;

downlink bandwidth;

uplink power;

downlink power;

uplink polarization;

downlink polarization;

uplink transmission frequency bands;

downlink transmission frequency bands;

uplink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

downlink channel and/or subchannel assignments;

uplink beam assignments;

or

downlink beam assignments.

43. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein the non-weather related interference comprises one or more types of electromagnetic interference (EMI).

44. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein the interference information sources external to the communication system comprise one or more of the following:

a satellite subsystem of another communication system;

a ground-based subsystem of another communication system;

a radar system or a subsystem thereof

a government agency;

a company that monitors at least a portion of a radio frequency (RF) spectrum;

an individual reporter;

or

a military branch.

45. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein instances of the interference information is/are indicative non-weather related interference caused by one or more of the following:

a satellite subsystem of another communication system;

a ground-based subsystem of another communication system;

an airborne-based subsystem of another communication system;

a marine-based subsystem of another communication system;

a navigation system;

a radar system;

or

an intentional interferer.

46. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein:

the interference information is a type of situational awareness information;

at least one of the one or more network interfaces is/are also adapted to obtain one or more other types of situational awareness information from one or more sources external to the communication system; and

at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters of the communication system and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on at least one of the one or more other types of situational awareness information obtained from the one or more sources that is/are external to the communication system.

47. The subsystem of claim 31, wherein:

the interference information is a type of situational awareness information;

at least one of the one or more network interfaces is/are also adapted to obtain interference information and/or one or more other types of situational awareness information from one or more sub-systems of the communication system; and

at least one of the one or more controllers is/are adapted to dynamically adapt configurable link parameters of the communication system and/or dynamically allocate resources of the communication system also based on the interference information and/or one or more other types of the situational awareness information obtained from the one or more subsystems of the communication system.

50. The method of claim 31, wherein the communication system comprises a satellite communication system.

51. The method of claim 31, wherein the communication system includes both satellite and non-satellite communication capabilities.

52. The method of claim 31, wherein the communication system comprises non-satellite communication capabilities.

48. A method for use by subsystem of a communication system, the method comprising:

obtaining interference information from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, wherein the interference information is indicative of non-weather related interference that can adversely affect efficacy of the communication system; and

dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocating resources of the communication system based on the interference information obtained from the one or more interference information sources that is/are external to the communication system;

wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocating resources of the communication system, based on the interference information obtained from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, is performed proactively prior to an adverse effect of the non-weather related interference being detected by the communication system so as to prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference on the efficacy of the communication system in a prophylactic manner.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the dynamically adapting configurable link parameters and/or dynamically allocating resources of the communication system includes modifying at least one of a frequency, a code, a polarization or a time slot used by a further subsystem of the communication system to proactively prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference on the efficacy of the communication system.

53. A subsystem of a communication system that includes a plurality of satellites and a plurality of satellite terminals, wherein each of the satellite terminals is configured to communicate with at least one of the other satellite terminals utilizing at least one of the satellites, the subsystem comprising:

one or more network interfaces adapted to obtain interference information from one or more interference information sources external to the communication system, wherein the interference information is indicative of non-weather related interference that can adversely affect efficacy of the communication system; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to

determine whether an instance of the interference information is associated with a same geographic region as at least one of the satellite terminals of the communication system;

determine whether the instance of the interference information is associated with a frequency or frequency range that impacts a predetermined frequency range of interest to the communication system; and

dynamically adapt configurable link parameters and/or the dynamically allocate resources of the communication system based on the interference information to proactively prevent or mitigate adverse effects of non-weather related interference corresponding to the instance of the interference information on the at least one of the satellite terminals of the communication system, in response to the controller determining that the instance of the interference information is associated with the same geographic region as at least one of the satellite terminals of the communication system and also impacts the predetermined frequency range of interest to the communication system.