Virtual channel satellite communication system with improved bandwidth efficiency
First Claim
1. A method of satellite communication that allows efficient use of available bandwidth, the method comprising:
- receiving a channel signal;
dividing the channel signal into one or more subchannels according to available bandwidths; and
transmitting the subchannel to at least one transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Presented is a satellite communication system that allows aggregation of available transponder bandwidth. A channel signal is divided into subchannels if no full transponder is available to receive the channel signal in its entirety, and the subchannels are distributed among a available bandwidths in a plurality of transponders. At the receiving station, the subchannels are combined to form the original channel signal. The channel signal, whether divided and reconstructed or transmitted without being divided, are received into a switch matrix that receives a user channel selection and identifies the channel signal that corresponds to the selection. The identified channel signal is then demodulated and forwarded to a user interface unit. Only a single demodulator is necessary for a user interface unit.
32 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of satellite communication that allows efficient use of available bandwidth, the method comprising:
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receiving a channel signal;
dividing the channel signal into one or more subchannels according to available bandwidths; and
transmitting the subchannel to at least one transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of satellite communication, the method comprising:
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multiplexing a plurality of channel signals to create a virtual channel; and
transmitting substantially all contents of the virtual channel to a transponder, wherein the transponder has sufficient bandwidth to transmit the virtual channel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A satellite communications system comprising:
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at least one low noise block converter feed (LNBF) device receiving signals from transponders;
a switch matrix coupled to the LNBF device, wherein the switch matrix includes an independently programmable switch between each of a plurality of input ports and an output port and receives a command to turn the switch on and off in response to a user action. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification