System and method for transmitting high-bandwidth signals over a satellite communications system

• US 20040028411A1
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SES AMERICOM, Inc. (SES SA)
• Original Assignee: SES AMERICOM, Inc. (SES SA)
• Inventors: Londono, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US10/213,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20040028411A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/121
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system

Abstract

A system for communicating signals over a satellite makes more efficient use of bandwidth compared with conventional systems. In one embodiment, the system converts an optical signal having a first bit-rate format into a plurality of signals, each having a bit-rate format smaller than the first bit-rate format and thus smaller transmission bandwidths than the initial optical signal. The converted signals are then modulated and transmitted to a satellite over a predetermined frequency band. The satellite includes a first transponder having an operating bandwidth substantially equal to the transmission bandwidth of at least two of the transmitted signals, and a second transponder having an operating bandwidth sufficient to receive remaining ones of the transmitted signals. In one preferred embodiment, the higher bit-rate format signal is an OC-3 signal, the lower bit-rate format signals are OC-1/STS-1 signals, and the first and second satellite transponders have 36 MHz operating bandwidths. Given these parameters, the system communicates information using less bandwidth than is required by conventional systems.

Claims

1. A method for communicating signals, comprising:

splitting an optical signal having a first bit-rate format into a plurality of signals each having a bit-rate format smaller than the first bit-rate format, wherein the bit-rate formats of said plurality of signals have smaller transmission bandwidths than said first bit-rate format; and

transmitting said plurality of signals to a satellite.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical signals have a same bit-rate format.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of optical signals have equal transmission bandwidths.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said satellite includes a first transponder which has an operating bandwidth sufficient to receive two of said plurality of signals and a second transponder having an operating bandwidth sufficient to receive a third one of said plurality of signals.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of said two signals has a transmission bandwidth equal to one-half the operating bandwidth of said first transponder.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operating bandwidth of said first transponder is 36 MHz, and wherein each of said two signals has a transmission bandwidth of 18 MHz.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the operating bandwidth of said second transponder is 36 MHz, and wherein the third one of said signals has a transmission bandwidth of 18 MHz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical signal is an OC-3 signal and said plurality of signals are OC-1 signals, and wherein said method further includes converting each of said OC-1 signals into STS-1 electrical signals to be transmitted in said transmitting step.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said splitting step is performed in a network router.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step includes simultaneously transmitting said plurality of signals to said satellite.

11. A method for communicating with a satellite, comprising:

splitting an OC-3 signal into three OC-1 signals;

converting the three OC-1 signals into electrical signals; and

transmitting said electrical signals to a satellite.

12. The method of claim 13, wherein each of said OC-1 signals has a transmission bandwidth of 18 MHz, and wherein said satellite includes a first transponder having an operating bandwidth of 36 MHz which receives two of said electrical signals and a second transponder having an operating bandwidth of 36 MHz which receives a third one of said electrical signals.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, in the transmitting step, said electrical signals are transmitted to said satellite in parallel.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

combining two of said electrical signals to form a first combined signal; and

combining the first combined signal with a third one of said electrical signals to form a second combined signal, wherein said second combined signal is transmitted in said transmitting step.

15. A signal transmission system, comprising:

a splitter which splits an optical signal having a first bit-rate format into a plurality of signals each having a bit-rate format smaller than the first bit-rate format, wherein the bit-rate formats of said plurality of signals have smaller transmission bandwidths than said first bit-rate format; and

a transmitter which transmits said plurality of signals.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of signals have a same bit-rate format.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of signals have equal transmission bandwidths.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a satellite for receiving said plurality of signals transmitted from said transmitter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said satellite includes a first transponder having an operating bandwidth sufficient to receive two of said plurality of signals and a second transponder having an operating bandwidth sufficient to receive a third one of said plurality of signals.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of said two signals has a transmission bandwidth equal to one-half the operating bandwidth of said first transponder.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the operating bandwidth of said first transponder is 36 MHz, and wherein the transmission bandwidth of each of said two signals is 18 MHz.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the operating bandwidth of said second transponder is 36 MHz, and wherein the third one of said signals has a transmission bandwidth of 18 MHz.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein said optical signal is an OC-3 signal and said plurality of signals are OC-1 signals, and wherein said system further includes a converter which converts each of said OC-1 signals into STS-1 electrical signals.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a satellite for receiving said plurality of signals transmitted from said transmitter,

wherein said satellite includes a first transponder having an operating bandwidth sufficient to receive two of said STS-1 electrical signals and a second transponder having an operating bandwidth sufficient to receive a third one of said STS-1 electrical signals.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each of said two STS-1 electrical signals has a transmission bandwidth equal to one-half an operating bandwidth of said first transponder.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein said splitter is included in a network router.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein said transmitter simultaneously transmits said plurality of signals.

28. A satellite communications system, comprising:

a splitter which splits an OC-3 signal into three OC-1 signals;

a converter which converts the three OC-1 signals into electrical signals; and

a transmitter transmits the electrical signals.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a satellite for receiving said plurality of electrical signals transmitted from said transmitter.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein each of said OC-1 signals has a transmission bandwidth of 18 MHz, and wherein said satellite includes a first transponder having an operating bandwidth of 36 MHz which receives two of said converted OC-1 electrical signals and a second transponder having an operating bandwidth of 36 MHz which receives a third one of said converted OC-1 electrical signals.