Satellites using inter-satellite links to create indirect feeder link paths

• US 20060189275A1
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00

Abstract

Methods of providing a feeder link between a first substantially geo-stationary satellite and a satellite gateway include establishing a communications link between the satellite gateway and a second substantially geo-stationary satellite, establishing an inter-satellite communications link between the first substantially geo-stationary satellite and the second substantially geo-stationary satellite, and communicating between the first substantially geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via the inter-satellite communications link and the communications link. A satellite communications system includes first and second substantially geo-stationary satellites configured to establish an inter-satellite communications link therebetween, and a satellite gateway configured to establish a direct feeder link with one of the first and second substantially geo-stationary satellites and to establish an indirect feeder link with the other of the first and second substantially geo-stationary satellites using the inter-satellite communications link and the direct feeder link.

Claims

1. A method of providing a feeder link between a first geo-stationary satellite and a satellite gateway, the method comprising:

establishing a communications link between the satellite gateway and a second geo-stationary satellite;

establishing an inter-satellite communication link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite; and

communicating feeder link information between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via the inter-satellite communications link and the communications link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the satellite gateway comprises a first satellite gateway, and establishing a communications link between the first satellite gateway and the second geo-stationary satellite comprises establishing an inter-gateway communications link between the first satellite gateway and a second satellite gateway and establishing a satellite communications link between the second satellite gateway and the second geo-stationary satellite.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the communications link between the satellite gateway and the second geo-stationary satellite comprises establishing a communications link using a feeder link frequency.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the feeder link frequency comprises a frequency in the Ku-band and/or a frequency in the C-band.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the inter-satellite communications link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite comprises establishing an inter-satellite communications link using one of an optical communications link, an infrared communications link, an ultraviolet communications link and/or an RF communications link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the inter-satellite communications link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite comprises establishing a first inter-satellite communications link between the first geo-stationary satellite and a third geo-stationary satellite and establishing a second inter-satellite communications link between the third geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the inter-gateway communications link comprises establishing a first inter-gateway communications link between the first satellite gateway and a third satellite gateway and establishing a second inter-gateway communications link between the third satellite gateway and the second satellite gateway.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a feeder link data stream;

segmenting the feeder link data stream into a plurality of packets; and

routing at least one of the plurality of packets between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via the second geo-stationary satellite.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising routing at least another of the plurality of packets between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via a different route than the at least one of the plurality of packets.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a service link between the first geo-stationary satellite and at least one wireless terminal over a satellite service link frequency;

and

transmitting data received over the feeder link to the at least one wireless terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving data over the service link;

and

transmitting the data received over the service link to the satellite gateway via the feeder link.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first geo-stationary satellite is configured to transmit wireless communications signals over a frequency in a satellite frequency band to a satellite footprint in which an ancillary terrestrial component is located, the method further comprising transmitting a wireless communications signal from the ancillary terrestrial component to a wireless terminal located within the satellite footprint over a frequency in the satellite frequency band.

13. A method of providing a feeder link between a first geo-stationary satellite and a satellite gateway comprising:

communicating between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via at least one second geo-stationary satellite.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein communicating between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via at least one second geo-stationary satellite comprises establishing a direct feeder link between the satellite gateway and the at least one second geo-stationary satellite.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein establishing a direct feeder link between the satellite gateway and the at least one second geo-stationary satellite comprises establishing a direct feeder link using a feeder link frequency.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the feeder link frequency comprises a frequency in the Ku-band and/or a frequency in the C-band.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the satellite gateway comprises a first satellite gateway, and wherein communicating between the first geo-stationary satellite and the first satellite gateway comprises communicating via at least one second satellite gateway.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

establishing a communications link between the first satellite gateway and the at least one second satellite gateway; and

establishing a direct feeder link between at least one second satellite gateway and the at least one second geo-stationary satellite.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the communications link between the first satellite gateway and the second satellite gateway comprises a terrestrial communications link.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a feeder link data stream;

segmenting the feeder link data stream into a plurality of packets; and

routing at least one of the plurality of packets between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via the at least one second geo-stationary satellite.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising routing at least another of the plurality of packets between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway via a different route than the at least one of the plurality of packets.

22. A method of processing feeder link communications in a satellite communications system, the method comprising:

establishing a direct feeder link between a satellite gateway and a first geo-stationary satellite using a feeder link frequency;

receiving, at the first geo-stationary satellite, a communications signal from the satellite gateway over the direct feeder link;

determining if the communications signal received over the direct feeder link is intended for a second geo-stationary satellite; and

responsive to a determination that the communications received over the direct feeder link is intended for a second geo-stationary satellite, determining if an inter-satellite link exists between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the communications received over the direct feeder link is intended for a second geo-stationary satellite and that an inter-satellite link exists between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite, forwarding the communications signal to the second geo-stationary satellite over the inter-satellite link.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the communications received over the feeder link is intended for a second geo-stationary satellite and that no inter-satellite link exists between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite, establishing an inter-satellite link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite and forwarding the communications signal to the second geo-stationary satellite over the established inter-satellite link.

25. A method of processing feeder link communications in a satellite communications system, the method comprising:

establishing an inter-satellite link between a first geo-stationary satellite and a second geo-stationary satellite;

receiving, at the first geo-stationary satellite, a communications signal from the second geo-stationary satellite over the inter-satellite link;

determining if the communications signal received over the inter-satellite link is intended for a satellite gateway; and

responsive to a determination that the communications received over the inter-satellite link is intended for a satellite gateway, determining if a feeder link exists between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the communications received over the feeder link is intended for a satellite gateway and that a feeder link exists between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway, forwarding the communications signal to the satellite gateway over the feeder link.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

responsive to a determination that the communications signal received over the inter-satellite link is intended for a satellite gateway and that no feeder link exists between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway, establishing a feeder link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the satellite gateway and forwarding the communications signal to the satellite gateway over the established feeder link.

28. A satellite communications system, comprising:

first and second geo-stationary satellites configured to establish an inter-satellite communications link therebetween; and

a satellite gateway configured to establish a direct feeder link with one of the first and second geo-stationary satellites and to establish an indirect feeder link with the other of the first and second geo-stationary satellites using the inter-satellite communications link and the direct feeder link.

29. The satellite communications system of claim 28, wherein the satellite gateway comprises a first satellite gateway, and the system further comprises a second satellite gateway configured to establish an inter-gateway communications link with the first satellite gateway and to establish an indirect feeder link with the other of the first and second geo-stationary satellites using the inter-satellite communications link, the direct feeder link, and the inter-gateway communications link.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising an intermediate satellite gateway, wherein the inter-gateway communications link between the first and second satellite gateways comprises a first intermediate inter-gateway communications link between the first satellite gateway and the intermediate satellite gateway, and a second intermediate inter-gateway communications link between the intermediate satellite gateway and the second satellite gateway.

31. The system of claim 28 wherein the inter-satellite communications link comprises one of an optical communications link, an infrared communications link, an ultraviolet communications link and/or an RF communications link.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising an intermediate geo-stationary satellite, wherein the inter-satellite communications link between the first and second geo-stationary satellites comprises a first intermediate inter-satellite communications link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the intermediate geo-stationary satellite, and a second intermediate inter-satellite communications link between the intermediate geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite.

33. The system of claim 28, further comprising a routing table stored at the satellite gateway and configured to provide routing information to the satellite gateway to assist the satellite gateway in selecting a route for establishing the feeder link.

34. A satellite communications system, comprising:

a first geo-stationary satellite configured to transmit wireless communications signals to a plurality of wireless terminals in a satellite footprint including one or more satellite cells over one or more satellite forward service link frequencies;

a second geo-stationary satellite; and

a satellite gateway configured to establish a direct feeder link with the second geo-stationary satellite;

wherein the first geo-stationary satellite is configured to establish an indirect feeder link with the satellite gateway using the direct feeder link between the satellite gateway and the second geo-stationary satellite.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the satellite gateway comprises a first satellite gateway, the system further comprising a second satellite gateway configured to establish an inter-gateway communications link with the first satellite gateway;

wherein at least one of the first or second geo-stationary satellites is configured to establish an indirect feeder link with the second satellite gateway using the inter-gateway communications link between the first and second satellite gateways and the direct feeder link between the first satellite gateway and the second geo-stationary satellite.

36. A satellite gateway configured to establish an indirect feeder link with a geo-stationary satellite.

37. A satellite gateway comprising:

an antenna; and

an electronics system coupled to the antenna configured to establish a direct feeder link with a first geo-stationary satellite via the antenna and an indirect feeder link with a second geo-stationary satellite via an inter-satellite link between the first geo-stationary satellite and the second geo-stationary satellite.

38. The satellite gateway of claim 37, further comprising a routing table stored at the satellite gateway and configured to provide routing information to the satellite gateway to assist the satellite gateway in selecting a route for establishing the indirect feeder link.

39. A satellite gateway, comprising:

an antenna; and

an electronics system coupled to the antenna and configured to receive a communications signal from a first geo-stationary satellite over a direct feeder link, to determine if the communications signal received over the direct feeder link is intended for a second satellite gateway; and

responsive to a determination that the communications received over the direct feeder link is intended for a second satellite gateway, to forward the communications to the second satellite gateway via an inter-gateway link.

40. A satellite gateway, comprising:

an antenna; and

an electronics system coupled to the antenna and configured to receive a feeder link communications signal from a second satellite gateway over an inter-gateway link, to identify a geo-stationary satellite for which the feeder link communications signal is intended, to establish an indirect feeder link with the geo-stationary satellite for which the feeder link communications signal is intended, and to forward the feeder link communications signal to the geo-stationary satellite for which the feeder link communications signal is intended.

41. A geo-stationary satellite configured to establish an indirect feeder link with a satellite gateway.

42. The geo-stationary satellite of claim 41, further comprising a routing table stored at the geo-stationary satellite and configured to provide routing information to the geo-stationary satellite to assist the geo-stationary satellite in selecting a route for establishing the indirect feeder link.

43. A geo-stationary satellite comprising:

an antenna; and

an electronics system configured to establish a direct feeder link with a satellite gateway using a feeder link frequency, to receive a communications signal from the satellite gateway over the direct feeder link, to determine if the communications signal is intended for a second geo-stationary satellite, and to establish an inter-satellite link with the second geo-stationary satellite.

44. The geo-stationary satellite of claim 43, wherein the electronics system is further configured to forward the communications signal to the second geo-stationary satellite over the inter-satellite link.

45. A geo-stationary satellite comprising:

an antenna; and

an electronics system configured to establish an inter-satellite link with a second geo-stationary satellite, to receive a communications signal from the second geo-stationary satellite over the inter-satellite link, to determine if the communications signal is intended for a satellite gateway, and to establish a direct feeder link with the second geo-stationary satellite.

46. The geo-stationary satellite of claim 45, wherein the electronics system is further configured to forward the communications signal to the satellite gateway over the direct feeder link.