Methods of Reducing Interference Including Determination of Feeder Link Signal Error and Related Systems

• US 20090170427A1
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1851 Systems using a satellite or space-based relay H04B7/18508, H04B7/18521 take precedence; providing specific services H04B7/18523 - H04B7/18576
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system

Abstract

Methods of reducing interference in a satellite communications system may include receiving a plurality of feeder link signals and time aligning the plurality of feeder link signals to provide time aligned feeder link signals. At least two of the time aligned feeder link signals may be combined to provide reduced interference of at least one of the feeder link signals. Related systems are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method of reducing interference in a satellite communications system, the method comprising:

determining an error of a received feeder link signal;

pre-distorting a signal responsive to the error; and

transmitting the pre-distorted signal.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein pre-distorting a signal responsive to the error comprises combining a measure of the signal with a measure of at least one other signal that is correlated with the error.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the at least one other signal is a feeder link signal.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein pre-distorting a signal responsive to the error comprises pre-distorting a feeder link signal, transmitting the pre-distorted signal comprises transmitting the pre-distorted signal to a Space-Based Component (SBC) and determining an error of a received feeder link signal comprises determining an error at the SBC.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein pre-distorting a signal responsive to the error comprises pre-distorting a feeder link signal, transmitting the pre-distorted signal comprises transmitting the pre-distorted signal to a Ground Based Equipment (GBE) and determining an error of a received feeder link signal comprises determining an error at the GBE.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the received feeder link signal includes an information component, and wherein determining an error of the received feeder link signal comprises comparing the information component with at least one value of the received feeder link signal.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the information component is compared with the at least one value at a Space-Based Component (SBC), and wherein a result of the comparison is transmitted from the SBC.

8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the information component is compared with the at least one value at a Ground-Based Equipment (GBE), and wherein a result of the comparison is transmitted from the GBE.

9. A method according to claim 6 wherein the information component comprises a-priori known information.

10. A satellite communications system comprising:

a processor configured to provide an error of a feeder link signal; and

an interference reducer configured to reduce interference of the feeder link signal responsive to the error.

11. A satellite communications system according to claim 10 wherein the interference reducer is further configured to calculate a weight to be applied to a second feeder link signal to provide an error correction signal, and to combine the error correction signal with a measure of the feeder link signal.

12. A satellite communications system according to claim 11 wherein the feeder link signal and the second feeder link signal are received via spatially diverse paths and/or different antenna patterns.

13. A satellite communications system according to claim 11 wherein the processor is farther configured to provide a second error of a second feeder link signal, and the interference reducer is further configured to calculate a second weight to be applied to the feeder link signal to provide a second error correction signal and to combine the second error correction signal with a measure of the second feeder link signal.

14. A satellite communications system according to claim 13 wherein the feeder link signal and the second feeder link signal are transmitted via spatially diverse paths and/or different antenna patterns.

15. A satellite communications system according to claim 13 wherein the processor and/or the interference reducer is/are at a Space-Based Component (SBC) and/or at a Ground-Based Equipment (GBE).

16. A satellite communications system according to claim 10 wherein the feeder link signal includes an information component, and wherein providing the error of the feeder link signal comprises comparing the information component with at least one value of the feeder link signal.

17. A satellite communications system according to claim 16 wherein the information component is compared with the at least one value at a Space-Based Component (SBC) and/or at a Ground-Based Equipment (GBE).

18. A satellite communications system according to claim 17 wherein a result of the comparison is transmitted to a Space-Based Component (SBC) and/or to a Ground-Based Equipment (GBE).

19. A satellite communications system according to claim 16 wherein the information component comprises a-priori known information.