Spatial guardbands for terrestrial reuse of satellite frequencies
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
- a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and
an ancillary terrestrial network that is configured to refrain from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell;
wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband;
wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to determine portions thereof that are located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and
wherein the satellite radiotelephone frequencies include a plurality of Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) frequencies and wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to determine portions thereof that are located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband by receiving and/or processing signal strength and/or content of at least one of the BCCH frequencies.
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Abstract
Satellite radiotelephone systems include a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band. The satellite footprint is divided into a plurality of satellite cells, in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused. An ancillary terrestrial network is configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the ancillary radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the cell and in some embodiments separated therefrom by a spatial guardband.
321 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
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a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and an ancillary terrestrial network that is configured to refrain from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband; wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to determine portions thereof that are located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and wherein the satellite radiotelephone frequencies include a plurality of Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) frequencies and wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to determine portions thereof that are located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband by receiving and/or processing signal strength and/or content of at least one of the BCCH frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
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a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and an ancillary terrestrial network tat is configured to refrain from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is further configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband; wherein the ancillary terrestrial network is farther configured to determine portions thereof that are located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and wherein the ancillary terrestrial network comprises a plurality of ancillary terrestrial components, at least one of which is configured to determine whether it is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband and to transmit results of the determination to at least a second one of the plurality of ancillary terrestrial components.
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17. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused, the ancillary terrestrial component comprising:
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an electronics system that is configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in at least one predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the at least one predetermined satellite cell and not to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the electronics system is further configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in at least one predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the at least one predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband and not to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell or within the spatial guardband; wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is further configured to determine whether the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and wherein the satellite radiotelephone frequencies include a plurality of Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) frequencies and wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is further configured to determine whether the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband by receiving and/or processing signal strength and/or content of at least one of the BCCH frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused, the ancillary terrestrial component comprising:
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an electronics system tat is configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in at least one predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the at least one predetermined satellite cell and not to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the electronics system is further configured to terrestrially reuse at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in at least one predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the at least one predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband and not to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell or within the spatial guardband; wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is further configured to determine whether the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is configured to determine whether it is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband and to transmit result of the determination to at least a second ancillary terrestrial component.
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28. A satellite radiotelephone communications method comprising:
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providing space-based wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell, and refraining from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the terrestrially reusing comprises terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband; the method further comprising determining where to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint; and wherein the satellite radiotelephone frequencies include a plurality of Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) frequencies and wherein the determining comprises receiving and/or processing signal strength and/or content of at least one of the BCCH frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A satellite radiotelephone communications method comprising:
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providing space-based wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell, and refraining from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the terrestrially reusing comprises terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by a spatial guardband; the method further comprising determining where to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint; and the method further comprising transmitting results of the determining.
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40. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
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means for providing space-based wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and means for terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell, and for refraining from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the means for terrestrially reusing comprises means for determining where to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint; and wherein the satellite radiotelephone frequencies include a plurality of Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) frequencies and wherein the means for determining comprises means for receiving and/or processing signal strength and/or content of at least one of the BCCH frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A satellite radiotelephone system comprising:
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means for providing space-based wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused; and means for terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, outside the predetermined satellite cell, and for refraining from terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint, within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the means for terrestrially reusing comprises means for determining where to terrestrially reuse the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint; and wherein the means for terrestrially reusing comprises a plurality of ancillary terrestrial components, at least one of which comprises means for determining whether it is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband and means for transmitting results of the means for determining to at least a second one of the plurality of ancillary terrestrial components.
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57. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused, the ancillary terrestrial component comprising:
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means for terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell; and means for refraining from terrestrially reusing the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the means for terrestrially reusing comprises means for terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated from therefrom by a spatial guardband; wherein the means for refraining from terrestrially reusing comprises means for refraining from terrestrially reusing the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell or within the spatial guardband; wherein the ancillary terrestrial component further comprises means for determining whether the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and wherein the satellite radiotelephone frequencies include a plurality of Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) frequencies and wherein the means for determining comprises means for receiving and/or processing signal strength and/or content of at least one of the BCCH frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. An ancillary terrestrial component for a satellite radiotelephone system that includes a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless radiotelephone communications in a satellite footprint over a satellite radiotelephone frequency band, the satellite footprint being divided into a plurality of satellite cells in which satellite radiotelephone frequencies of the satellite radiotelephone frequency band are spatially reused, the ancillary terrestrial component comprising:
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means for terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell; and means for refraining from terrestrially reusing the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell; wherein the means for terrestrially reusing comprises means for terrestrially reusing at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in a predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated from therefrom by a spatial guardband; wherein the means for refraining from terrestrially reusing comprises means for refraining from terrestrially reusing the at least one of the satellite radiotelephone frequencies that is used in the predetermined satellite cell in the satellite footprint when the ancillary terrestrial component is located within the predetermined satellite cell or within the spatial guardband; wherein the ancillary terrestrial component further comprises means for determining whether the ancillary terrestrial component is located outside the predetermined satellite cell and separated therefrom by the spatial guardband; and wherein the ancillary terrestrial component further comprises means for transmitting results of the means for determining to at least a second ancillary terrestrial component.
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Specification