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

• US 7,738,837 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US11/313,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 455427-429, 455/445, 455/446, 455/436, 455/12.1, 455 131- 133, 455 301- 303, 455/25, 455/430, 370/316, 370323-325, 370/422, 370/351, 370/322, 370/326, 370/320, 342/352, 342/357.1, 342/357.15, 342/357.16, 342353-356
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• 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, 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 directly to a terrestrial wireless terminal located within the satellite footprint over a frequency in the satellite frequency band.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the satellite gateway comprises a first satellite gateway, and establishing a communications link between the 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 the feeder link frequency comprises a frequency in the Ku-band and/or a frequency in the C-band.

4. 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.

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 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.

6. The method of claim 1, 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.

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 7, 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.

9. 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.

10. The method of claim 9, 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.