• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    MULTIBAND SATELLITE COMMUNICATION FADING Attenuation One or more satellites can generate multiple beams. The beams can facilitate communication over various communication frequency bands, which include a frequency band of relatively high capacity and a frequency band relatively resilient to fading. Beams may overlap. User terminals and/or gateways at a beam intersection can select between various communication frequency bands for communication with the satellite(s). In response to rain fade detection, some of the user terminals and/or gateways may be instructed to use the relatively fade-resistant frequency band. Various communication frequency bands can be assigned to user terminals and/or gateways in order to maximize the total system capacity.
    公开号:BR112012000190B1
    申请号:R112012000190-6
    申请日:2010-06-14
    公开日:2021-04-20
    发明作者:Mark D. Dankberg；Daryl T. Hunter；Charles N. Pateros
    申请人:Viasat, Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED ORDERS
    This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 61/186 539 entitled "Multiband Satellite Communication Fading Attenuation", which has proxy protocol No. 017018-024300US, and which has No. Customer Reference VS-0369, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by way of reference. TECHNICAL FIELD
    The present invention relates to satellite communication in general and in particular to multiband satellite communication. BACKGROUND
    Consumer broadband satellite services are gaining momentum in North America with the take-off of star network services using KA-band satellites. While such generation satellite systems can provide several gigabits per second (Gbits/sec) per total satellite capacity, the design of such systems can inherently limit the number of clients that can be adequately serviced with a high level of accessibility.
    Although existing designs have several capacity limitations, demand for such broadband services continues to grow. The last few years have seen great advances in communications and processing technology. This technology, together with a selected innovative system and component design, can be used to produce an unprecedented satellite communication system to meet this demand. SUMMARY
    The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for maximizing the accessibility of a high rate satellite communication system by using multiple frequency bands. In some implementations, one frequency band is used by at least some users with a clear line of sight, while another frequency band is used by users with a deteriorated line of sight (due to fading by rain). In some implementations, one frequency band is used by gateway/connectors, while another frequency band is used by user terminals.
    Implementations within the scope of the invention may include: earth-to-space and/or space-to-earth connections; a single satellite and/or multiple satellites; use of ACM (Adaptive Coding and Modulation) and/or CCM (Constant Coding and Modulation); satellite beam power and/or frequency band layout based on previous determination of rain statistics.
    In at least one embodiment of the invention, one or more satellites can generate multiple beams. The beams can facilitate communication across multiple frequency bands, including a frequency band that is relatively resilient to fading. Beams may overlap. User terminals and/or gateways at a beam intersection can select from multiple communication frequency bands for communication with satellite(s). In response to rain fade detection, some of the user terminals and/or gateways may be instructed to use the frequency band that is relatively fade-resilient. Multiple communication frequency bands can be assigned to user terminals and/or gateways in order to increase total system capacity.
    This Summary is presented to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are also described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed object, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the revealed object. Other objects and/or advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the Detailed Description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    Various modalities according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
    Figure 1 is a graph showing aspects of exemplary relationships between the rain fade attenuation margin and the accessibility of space-to-Earth communication channels in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 2 is a graph showing aspects of exemplary relationships between the fading attenuation margin and the accessibility of Earth-Space communication channels in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of a satellite communication system in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of an exemplary frequency allocation in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of another exemplary frequency allocation in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of yet another exemplary frequency allocation in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of overlapping satellite beams in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of an exemplary satellite communication system that includes multiple satellites in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of an exemplary satellite communication gateway complex in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing aspects of an exemplary satellite communication system that incorporates fading attenuation in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    Figure 11 is a flowchart showing exemplary steps for satellite communication fading attenuation in multiple bands in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention.
    The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and in the figures to refer to the same components and features. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
    With respect to satellite communications, higher frequency bands, such as the Ka band, may have a higher communication capacity (with respect to users, throughput and/or bandwidth, for example ) with respect to lower frequency bands such as the Ku band. For example, the higher communication capability of higher frequency bands may be due, at least in part, to higher frequency spectrum allocations associated with higher frequency bands and/or associated smaller spot beam sizes to higher frequency bands, which allows for greater frequency reuse. In contrast, lower frequency bands may have higher accessibility (of communication resources such as bandwidth, for example) relative to higher frequency bands. For example, the higher accessibility of lower frequency bands may be due, at least in part, to higher frequency bands that have higher susceptibility to rain fading. This is shown in Figures 1 and 2.
    Figure 1 represents two commonly used Space-to-Earth frequency bands (namely 11.95 GHz and 19.95 GHz) and Figure 2 represents the corresponding Earth-to-Space frequency bands (of 14 .25 GHz and 29.25 GHz, respectively). Each graphically plotted point represents an estimated rain fade attenuation margin (geometric Y axis) necessary to obtain a given accessibility level (geometric X axis) for a specific geographic region (in this case, Miami, Florida). Data were obtained using standard techniques for determining accessibility well known to those skilled in the art. The numbers are presented solely as an illustrative example and are not intended to represent any specific implementation. Any communication frequency band can be used according to at least one embodiment of the invention.
    As indicated by curves 102 and 104 of Figure 1, the estimated rainfall fading attenuation margin ("fading margin") required for the higher frequency band is higher than that required for the lower frequency band for all accessibility levels represented graphically. For example, at 99% accessibility, a fading margin of about 18.4 dB is required for the higher frequency band, while a fading margin of only 6.3 dB is required for the frequency band. lower. At 97% accessibility, a fading margin of around 3.3 dB is required for the higher frequency band, while a fading margin of around 1.0 dB is required for the lower frequency band. Thus, the higher frequency band requires almost 15 dB more fading margin to increase accessibility from 97% to 99.9%, while the lower frequency band only requires about 5.3 dB more fading margin for the same increase in accessibility. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the higher frequency band is more susceptible to fading with respect to the lower frequency band. The lower frequency band is more resilient to fading relative to the higher frequency band.
    Examining Figure 2 for the corresponding Earth-to-Space data, the upper curve 202 shows that, for the higher frequency band, the required fading margins are 34.8 dB and 6 dB for 99.9% and 97% accessibility, respectively. The lower curve 204 shows that, for the lower frequency band, the fading margins are 9.3 dB and 1.5 dB for 99.9% and 97% accessibility, respectively. Thus, in the trajectory from Earth to Space, the higher frequency band requires an additional 29.1 dB to improve accessibility from 97% to 99.9%, while the lower frequency band requires an additional 7.8 dB for the same improvement. Again, according to at least one embodiment of the invention, the higher frequency band is more susceptible to fading with respect to the lower frequency band, and the lower frequency band is more resilient to fading with respect to the band. of higher frequency.
    In at least one embodiment of the invention, multiple frequency bands, including a suitable higher frequency band (fading-susceptible) and a suitable lower frequency band (fading-resistant), are made available for Earth communication with Space and/or Space with Earth. Suppose, in such a “multi-band” system, that the individual frequency bands were driven at fading margins with an accessibility level of 97%. Improved joint accessibility can be expected due to the multiple possible frequency bands available to each user terminal. In fact, if the higher and lower frequency bands had been affected by different uncorrelated events, the joint accessibility (the probability that at least one band is usable, for example) would amount to almost 99.9%. However, events that cause the two frequency bands to deteriorate are typically highly correlated (the same rain typically affects both frequency bands, for example). In this case, the resulting joint accessibility is still only about 97%.
    In at least one embodiment of the invention, the higher frequency band, susceptible to fading, has a higher communication capacity with respect to the lower frequency band, resilient to fading. Therefore, a relatively high proportion of users can be attributed to the higher frequency band. Demand for the lowest frequency band with the lowest capacity can fluctuate in response to atmospheric disturbances such as thunderstorms. Staggering search statistics by the highest reachability frequency band (fade-resilient, for example) (with respect to user requests and/or automated decisions to switch to the highest reachability frequency band, for example) can be a function of the spatial correlation of storms and the co-location of users). For example, if storms are small in size and satellite communication user terminals ("user terminals") are evenly distributed within a large service area, the surge capacity required in the reachability frequency band higher may be relatively low. On the other hand, if storms are large in size and/or user endpoints are grouped together, then relatively high surge capacity may be required to maintain the same overall system accessibility.
    In at least one embodiment of the invention, user terminals affected by fading are switched to an alternative frequency band that is more resilient to fading. Figure 3 shows an exemplary satellite communication system 300 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. The satellite communication system 300 shown in Figure 3 is an example of a connector speech satellite communication system. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, each embodiment of the invention is not so limited, and satellite communication systems can incorporate any suitable architecture and/or topology that includes a mesh.
    In the exemplary satellite communication system 300 of Figure 3, a connector 302 transmits traffic data and control information to a relay communication satellite 304 by using uplink signals from connector 306. These signals 306 may be in a band of Earth-to-Space frequency or in multiple Earth-to-Space frequency bands as determined by system 300 design. Signal or signals 306 are received by satellite 304, processed and retransmitted to user terminals (UTs) 308- 322 via one or more 324 downlink signals. These 324 signals may again be in one Space-to-Earth frequency band or in multiple Space-to-Earth frequency bands, as determined by the system design. In some embodiments, the same or the same frequency bands used in the 306 connector uplinks are reused by the 308-322 user terminals. User terminals 309-322 receive and demodulate the appropriate Space to Earth user downlink signals 324 to retrieve traffic data and control information for the present user terminal of connector 302. Such systems 300 may contain many hundreds or thousands of 308-322 user terminals in a 326 coverage area, so each 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322 user terminal shown in the figures can represent a large number of physical terminals .
    When user terminal 308-322 has information to be sent to connector 302, it transmits traffic data and control information to communication relay satellite 304 using user uplink signals 328. 328 signals can be in one Earth-Space frequency band or in multiple Earth-Space frequency bands, as determined by the system design. Signal or signals 328 are received by satellite 304, processed and relayed to connector terminal 302 via one or more user downlink signals 330. These signals 330 may again be in one Space-Earth frequency band or in multiples Space-Earth frequency bands as determined by the system design. In some embodiments, the same frequency band or bands used in user uplinks 328 are reused by connector terminals, such as connector 302. Connector terminal 302 receives and demodulates user downlink signals 330 in order to recover the traffic data and control information from the present user terminal 308-322 to the connector 302.
    Examples of configurations of satellite communication system 300 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, including exemplary connectors suitable for connector 302, exemplary satellites suitable for satellite 304, exemplary user terminals suitable for user terminals 308-322 , as well as uplink 306, 328 and downlink 324, 330 exemplar codings are described in the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standard EM 301 709, “Execution of Digital Video Broadcast (DVB); Interaction Channel for Satellite Distribution Systems”, version 1.5.1, published May 2009, and/or EM 302 307 of the ETSI standard, “Digital Video (DVB) Broadcast Execution; Framing structure, coding systems and modulation of second generation channels for Broadcasting, Interactive Services, News Collection and other broadband satellite applications (DVB-S2)”, version 1.2.1, published in August of 2009.
    Figure 4 shows an exemplary satellite communication system 400 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Satellite communication system 400 includes components 402-430 which correspond respectively to components 302-330 of satellite communication system 300 of Figure 3. In addition, user terminals 408-422 are capable of communicating with the satellite. 404 across multiple frequency bands, including a higher capacity frequency band F1 that is susceptible to fading (subject to deterioration by rain, for example) and a lower capacity frequency band F2 that is resilient to fading (It has a higher accessibility in the rain, for example). As described above, the higher capacity frequency band F1 can correspond to a higher frequency band, and the lower capacity frequency band F2 can correspond to a lower frequency band. These frequency designations (ie F1 and F2) may apply to either user downlinks or user uplinks since, for at least the purposes of this description, the process by which atmospheric disturbances, such as rain, attenuate a signal is approximately equivalent in both directions.
    In the example shown in Figure 4, system 400 is in clear sky conditions at each of the 408-422 user terminals, so a small group of 408 terminals is randomly chosen (pseudo-randomly, for example) to use the lowest capacity frequency band F2 when system 400 is powered above the capacity of the highest capacity frequency band F1. For example, the higher capacity frequency band F1 may have a higher communication capacity with respect to information transfer rate and/or bandwidth with respect to the lower capacity frequency band F2. The lower communication capacity can be shared by a smaller number of users, thus achieving approximately equivalent performance across the total population of 408-422 users. Alternatively to, or in addition to, random selection of terminals for the lowest capacity frequency band(s) F2, choices can be made based, at least in part, on weather forecasts, under the above conditions. , etc.
    Figure 5 shows an exemplary satellite communication system 500 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Satellite communication system 500 includes components 502-530 that correspond respectively to components 402-430 of satellite communication system 400 of Figure 4. In Figure 5, a rain cell 532 has entered coverage area 526 and is affecting several user terminals 58. In this example, the affected 518 terminals are assigned to the lowest-capacity frequency band(s) F2 and previous 508 users of the lowest-capacity frequency band F2 are reassigned to the highest capacity frequency F1.
    Figure 6 shows an exemplary satellite communication system 600 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Satellite communication system 600 includes components 602-630 that correspond respectively to components 502-530 of satellite communication system 500 of Figure 5. In Figure 6, rain cell 532 of Figure 5 (labeled rain cell 632 in Figure 6) has moved to another set of 620 user terminals and the process continues. The terminals 618 that had required the fade-resilient frequency band F2 are now unobstructed, so that they are reassigned to the higher capacity frequency band F1, while the new set of terminals 620 is assigned to the resilient frequency band to F2 fading.
    In Constant Coding and Modulation (CCM) satellite communication systems, the amount of data that can be transmitted per unit time is fixed and is determined by the connection budget. Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) satellite communication systems maximize the number of data bits that are transmitted per unit time by adjusting the modulation and coding to match the connection conditions. When connection conditions are poor (characterized by a low signal-to-noise ratio due to a high intensity of fading by rain, for example) a low-order (power-effective) modulation is typically used and many redundant error correction bits they are typically sent per data bit to transmit data to a receiver securely. Therefore, fewer bits of data can be sent per unit time (ie, the variable connection capacity is lower). When connection conditions are good (characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio due to a low intensity of fading by rain, for example), a higher order (bandwidth-effective) modulation can be used, and it is necessary send fewer redundant error correction bits per data bit, so more data bits are sent per unit time (ie, the variable capacity of the connection is higher). Exemplary ACM schemes in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention are described in Hole et alii, "Adaptive Coding and Modulation, a Key to Bandwidth Effective Multimedia Communications in Future Wireless Systems", Telektronikk, Volume 1, 2001.
    In systems where the signal from one transmitter reaches many receivers, the connection conditions for each receiver may vary. In the 600 satellite communication system, for example, a 624 signal is transmitted to thousands of 608-622 receivers, and a localized rain fade can attenuate the signal to dozens or hundreds of 620 receivers, while thousands of 608-618 and 622 are not affected. In such a 600 system, when data packets are addressed to a single terminal (unicast), the packets can be sent using the most effective modulation and encoding that single sign-on will support. When data packets are addressed to many receivers (multicast or broadcast), the packets are typically sent using the modulation and encoding that the receiver with the worst connection in the group can handle.
    In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, ACM can be used to extend the range of conditions in which both high and low accessibility frequency bands can be used. One problem with using ACM, however, is that data streams at lower modulation and encoding points will use more of the full connect capacity to carry the same number of bits as a stream using modulation points and higher encoding. Therefore, the system operator can maximize the total system capacity by switching users to the high-accessibility/lower-capacity frequency band when their modulation and coding points are such that the high-capacity/lower-capacity frequency band lower accessibility works ineffectively (less effectively than if the user of a deteriorated connection were switched to an alternate frequency band, for example). Often, in practice, however, the capacity of the lower capacity frequency band is much less than that of the higher capacity band. Thus, in many practical systems, such an optimization scheme will result in the transfer to the lower-capacity frequency band only when the high-capacity connection is very severely deteriorated (can no longer be closed in the high-capacity frequency, for example).
    When designing a communication satellite such as satellite 600 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, one can take advantage of an a priori knowledge that certain parts of the coverage area 626 are subject to more atmospheric disturbance than others. parts of the coverage area in question. For example, the geographic area covered by rain cell 632 may have related historical weather statistics that indicate a relatively high probability of rain fading relative to, say, the geographic area that contains user terminals 616. Individual beams from satellite 604 may be thus allocated among multiple frequency bands based, at least in part, on anticipated channel conditions. A beam operating in a fading-resilient frequency band can be directed to cover the geographic area covered by the rain cell 632. The power allocated to the beams can also be adjusted to reflect these conditions. For example, a beam operating in a fading-susceptible frequency band that covers the geographic area covered by rain cell 632 may be driven at a higher power level relative to another beam operating in the fading-susceptible frequency band which covers the geographic area containing the 616 user terminals.
    Figure 7 shows an exemplary satellite configuration 700 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. A 702 satellite illuminates the Earth's surface with eight beams 704-718. One or more of the beams from the lower capacity frequency band are made wider than the beam(s) from the higher capacity frequency band. In Figure 7, seven smaller 706-718 “dot” beams (or, more strictly, their intersections with the Earth's surface) that operate in the higher-capacity frequency band are substantially contained by (and therefore intersect) a larger 704 beam that operates in the lower capacity frequency band. For example, small spot beams 706-718 in the Ka band can be used within a large area (ie, the joining of spot beams 706-718). A 704 Ku-band beam that covers substantially the entire large area can also be used, supporting a large proportion of Ka-band system users who are unable to close their connection due to weather conditions. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the probability of cloudy or rainy weather within a large percentage of the coverage area 704 at any given time is small.
    According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a cost-effective strategy is to minimize the physical size and power in the communication satellite that is dedicated to the lower-capacity frequency band. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a satellite grouping that includes several satellites provides communication services across multiple frequency bands. Figure 8 shows an exemplary satellite communication system 800 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Satellite communication system 800 includes components 802 and 806-830 which correspond respectively to components 602 and 606-630 of satellite communication system 600 of Figure 6. Satellite communication system 800 also includes several satellites 832, 834 which they function as an array of satellites 804. Although, for clarity, Figure 8 shows only two satellites 832, 834, satellite communication systems in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention may include any suitable number of satellites.
    In at least one embodiment of the invention, an entire satellite is dedicated to the highest capacity frequency band. For example, satellite 832 may be an existing Ka-band communication satellite. When a new Q or V band communication satellite 834 is triggered, the older satellite 832 can be integrated into the 804 cluster. In at least one embodiment of the invention, some of the 808822 user terminals may have to accommodate the multiple satellites 832, 834 with the use of separate antenna feeds or completely separate antennas, etc.
    The multiple satellites 832, 834 may each be owned by the same party, or the capacity of some or all of the 904 satellites may be leased from other parties. In addition, the requirements for the lower capacity frequency can be seasonal, giving the system operator the ability to either lease at least a portion of this capacity that is resilient to decay or to release its lease during certain periods.
    In at least one embodiment of the invention, the satellite communication gateways used for the high-capacity frequency band can be different from the gateways used for the low-capacity frequency band. Figure 9 shows aspects of an exemplary satellite communication gateway complex 902 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. The exemplary 902 gateway complex includes several gateways 904, 906, and 908 that communicate with a satellite and/or satellite cluster 910 via the high-capacity frequency band F1, as well as a gateway 912 that communicate with the satellite 910 via of the low-capacity frequency band F2.
    For example, a Ka-band spot beam system might use the three gateways 904, 906, and 908 to cover a large number of user beams (the 706-718 spot beams in Figure 7, for example). A reserve Ku-band system with service within the entire Ka-band coverage area (the bundle 704, for example) can be served by the single gateway 912. Gateway 912 can be co-located with one or more of the Ka-band gateways 904, 906, 908 or geographically isolated. In any case, when a user terminal is switched between the higher-capacity frequency band F1 and the lower-capacity frequency band F2, the flow of data traffic to the user terminal is switched to and from the modem. appropriate gateway. This can be as simple as routing between two different modems at a single location to routing between graphically distant gateways via some kind of backhaul, typically a fiber-optic terrestrial backhaul. Network 914 may incorporate a suitable return transport channel.
    According to at least one embodiment of the invention, several gateways 904, 906, 908, 912 operating primarily at the physical layer may be served by one or more data multiplexers/demultiplexers 916, 918, 920, 922 that interface with the network 914, with another 916, 918, 920, 922 and/or with other networks, such as the Internet. The 916, 918, 920, 922 multiplexers/demultiplexers can provide a data interface with one or more gateways in the Ku band or in other appropriate bands.
    To avoid return transport channel requirements, lower capacity frequency band gateways can be co-located with each higher capacity frequency band gateway. In this case, the lower capacity frequency band direct channel from the gateway to the user terminals can be shared between the gateways with a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) sharing scheme, for example.
    In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, the design of a user terminal 810 (Figure 8) operating in multiple frequency bands is more complex than that of a single frequency terminal. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, multiple antenna reflectors, multiple antenna feeds, multiple external units, and/or multiple modems may be incorporated into the 810 user terminal. Some users may not desire the high accessibility provided by the 800 multi-band system (with respect to a specific cost-benefit analysis, for example), while other users may be located in a geographic area that naturally provides the accessibility required by its climate (a desert, for example).
    Therefore, system 800 can incorporate several additional user terminal types, which include: • A low-accessibility, high-rate user terminal in which the ability to communicate with respect to at least one frequency band is resilient to dislocation. -vanishing is omitted. • a high-accessibility, low-rate user terminal in which the ability to communicate with at least one high-capacity frequency band is omitted. These can also be legacy terminals used in previous generation systems. In this context, high accessibility refers to the accessibility compared to a similar terminal operating in the higher capacity frequency band. The accessibility of these terminals may actually be less than the accessibility of high-rate, low-access user terminals. • a low or high rate low-access user terminal. An exemplary application for such user terminals is utility metering, which requires regular connections, but exact connection timing is typically less important. In this case, the system can schedule communication around the time of the user terminal and/or other terminals (as well as schedule around other system constraints such as critical weather forecasts).
    One or more fade attenuation components can be incorporated into the satellite communication system 800 (Figure 8). In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, Figure 10 shows location options for fading attenuation components in an exemplary satellite communication system 1000. Satellite communication system 1000 may include one or more satellite communication gateways 1002 corresponding to one or more of gateways 904, 906, 908, 912 of Figure 9 and/or connector 802 of Figure 8, one or more satellites 1004 that correspond to one or more of the satellites 832, 834 of Figure 8 and one or more user terminals 1006 that correspond to one or more of the user terminals 802-822 of Figure 8. The gateway or gateways 1002 may collectively or individually incorporate a fade attenuation component 1008. Satellite or satellites 1004 may collectively or individually incorporate a fade attenuation component 1010. User terminal or terminals 1006 may collectively or individually incorporate a fade attenuation component 1012. Figure 10 shows each of gateway(s) 1002, satellite(s) 1004, and user terminal(s) 1006 as incorporating a fading attenuation component 1008, 1010, 1012. However, each embodiment of the invention is not so limited. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the fade attenuation functionality in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be distributed among the fade attenuating components 1008, 1010, 1012 in various suitable configurations.
    Figure 11 shows exemplary steps for attenuating multiband satellite communication fading in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. In step 1102, several satellite beams can be configured. For example, beams 704-718 from satellite 702 can be configured as shown in Figure 7. In step 1104, rain fading can be detected. In step 1106, for example, one or more values that correspond to the fading by rain can be obtained and, in step 1108, the values obtained can be analyzed in order to detect the fading by rain. Rain fade can be detected by one or more of the fade attenuation components 1008, 1010, 1012 of Figure 10 working alone or collectively. For example, the fading attenuation component 1008 can obtain values, such as throughput statistics, that indicate fading by rain in a communication link between the satellite(s) 1004 and one of the user terminals. 1006. Alternatively, or in addition, the fading attenuation components 1010 and/or 1012 may provide as suitable values that include explicit rain fading notifications and/or reassignment requests to a fading-resilient frequency band. In step 1110, frequencies can be reassigned to user terminals based, at least in part, on the rain fade detected in step 1104. For example, each of the user terminals 408-422 of Figure 4 can be reset. -assigned to one of a fading susceptible frequency band of higher capacity F1 and a fading resilient frequency band of lower capacity F2 by a fading attenuation component 1008 (Figure 10) in connector 402. fading attenuation component 1008 in connector 402 can detect that user terminals 418 are subject to fading by rain. At step 1112, user terminals 418 may be selected as part of a fading subset of user terminals 408-422. The user terminals 418 will be switched to the fading-resilient frequency band F2, but the capacity of the fading-resilient frequency band F2 is currently allocated to the user terminals 408. Therefore, in step 1114, the user terminals 408 can be selected as part of a swap subset of the 408-412 user terminals.
    In step 1116, the user terminals can be instructed to switch frequency bands. For example, the fading attenuation component 1008 (Figure 10) in connector 402 (Figure 2) can send communication frequency band reassignment messages to each of the fading subset of user terminals 408-422 (in step 1118) and each of the user terminals 408-422 exchange subassembly (at step 1120). Target user terminals can switch frequency bands when receiving reassignment messages. For example, user terminals 418 can switch to frequency band F2, and user terminals 408 can switch to frequency band F1.
    All references, including publications, patent applications and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and/or presented herein in its entirety.
    The use of the terms "a" and "the" and similar referents in the report and in the following claims shall be construed as covering both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein. or in clear contradiction to the context. The terms "which has(has)" "which includes", "which contains(are)" and similar references in the report and in the following claims shall be interpreted as open terms (meaning "which include(s) but is not limited to”) unless otherwise noted. The enumeration of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value that falls within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the report as if were here individually enumerated. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language ("such as", for example) herein, is merely intended to better illuminate the modalities of the invention and does not present a limitation on the scope of the invention, unless that claimed otherwise. No language in the report should be interpreted as indicating any element not claimed to be essential to an embodiment of the invention.
    Described herein are preferred embodiments of the invention, including the best known mode of the invention for carrying out the invention. Variations of these preferred modalities may become evident to those skilled in the art upon reading the report. The inventors expect those skilled in the art to utilize such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend that the invention be practiced other than as explicitly described herein. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention include all modifications and equivalents to the subject matter enumerated in the following claims, as permitted by applicable law.
    权利要求:
    Claims (22)
    [0001]
    1. A multi-band satellite communication fading attenuation system, CHARACTERIZED by comprising a fading attenuation component configured to at least: detect fading by rain in communication connections between at least one satellite and a set of terminals of satellite communication users located at at least one intersection of a plurality of beams from the at least one satellite, the plurality of beams corresponding to a plurality of communication frequency bands including a frequency band relatively resilient to fading; selecting a fading subset of the satellite communication user terminals based, at least in part, on the fading by rain in the communication connections; and sending a first set of instructions to the fading subset of the satellite communication user terminals for communication with the at least one satellite over the frequency band relatively resilient to fading.
    [0002]
    2. System according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the set of satellite communication user terminals is assigned to the plurality of communication frequency bands so that the total communication capacity is increased to the maximum.
    [0003]
    3. System according to claim 2, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the plurality of communication frequency bands further includes a frequency band of relatively high capacity that has a variable communication capacity based, at least in part , in the intensity of fading by rain; and maximizing total communication capacity comprises determining the communication capacity of at least one of the set of satellite communication user terminals assigned to the relatively high capacity frequency band.
    [0004]
    4. System according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the plurality of communication frequency bands further includes a frequency band of relatively high capacity; and the fading attenuating component is further configured to at least: select an exchange subset of the satellite communication user terminals based at least in part on the fading subset; and sending a second set of instructions to the switching subset of the satellite communication user terminals for communication with the at least one satellite over the relatively high-capacity frequency band.
    [0005]
    5. System according to claim 4, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that selecting the swap subset comprises selecting the swap subset so as to provide communication capability associated with the frequency band relatively resilient to fading.
    [0006]
    6. System, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that detecting fading by rain in communication connections comprises obtaining at least one value that corresponds to fading by rain in each of the communication connections.
    [0007]
    7. System, according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the at least one value that corresponds to fading by rain comprises at least one value that corresponds to the throughput of communications between the at least one satellite and the minus one of the set of satellite communication user terminals.
    [0008]
    8. System according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the plurality of communication frequency bands further includes a frequency band of relatively high capacity; the plurality of beams comprises a plurality of spot beams corresponding to the frequency band of relatively high capacity and a beam corresponding to the frequency band relatively resilient to fading; and the beam corresponding to the frequency band relatively resilient to fading has a coverage area which contains a collective coverage area of the plurality of spot beams corresponding to the frequency band of relatively high capacity.
    [0009]
    9. System according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the fading subset of the satellite communication user terminals comprises at least some of the satellite communication user terminals most affected by the rain fading .
    [0010]
    10. System according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the fading subset of the satellite communication user terminals comprises at least some of the satellite communication user terminals most likely to be affected by the fading by rain.
    [0011]
    11. System, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the fading attenuation component is incorporated into a satellite communications gateway.
    [0012]
    12. System, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the fading attenuation component is incorporated into a satellite.
    [0013]
    13. System according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the fading attenuation component is incorporated into a satellite communication user terminal.
    [0014]
    14. A multi-band satellite communication fading attenuation system, CHARACTERIZED by comprising: a plurality of satellite communication user terminal types located at at least one intersection of a plurality of at least one satellite beams. lite, wherein the plurality of beams corresponds to a plurality of communication frequency bands that includes a frequency band relatively resilient to fading, wherein at least one satellite communication user terminal of at least one of the The plurality of types of satellite communication user terminal is configured at least to communicate with the at least one satellite via the plurality of communication frequency bands, and wherein the use of the plurality of communication frequency bands is based, at least in part, on at least one value that corresponds to rain fade in communication between the at least one terminal d and satellite communication user and the at least one satellite.
    [0015]
    15. System according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that communicating with the at least one satellite through the plurality of communication frequency bands comprises communicating with the at least one satellite in a program based It is, at least in part, not at least one value that corresponds to fading by rain.
    [0016]
    16. System according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the plurality of types of satellite communication user terminal comprises at least one type of satellite communication user terminal configured at least to communicate with the at least one satellite across less than the entire plurality of communication frequency bands.
    [0017]
    17. System according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the plurality of beams collectively cover a sufficiently large geographical area so that, occasionally, rain fade intensity varies significantly across the geographical area.
    [0018]
    18. System according to claim 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the coverage areas of the plurality of beams are selected based, at least in part, on historical rain fade data.
    [0019]
    19. Satellite capable of participating in satellite communication fading attenuation in multiple bands, the satellite CHARACTERIZED for being configured to at least: obtain at least one value that corresponds to rain fading in communication between the satellite and a set of satellite communication user terminals located at an intersection of a plurality of beams from a set of satellites that includes the satellite, the plurality of beams corresponding to a plurality of communication frequency bands that includes a frequency band relatively resilient to the fading; and instructing a fading subset of the satellite communication user terminals to communicate with at least one of the set of satellites over the relatively fade-resilient frequency band, the fading subset of the communication user terminals satellite being selected based, at least in part, on the at least one value that corresponds to fading by rain.
    [0020]
    20. Satellite, according to claim 19, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the plurality of communication frequency bands further includes a frequency band of relatively high capacity; and the satellite is further configured to instruct a switching subset of the satellite communication user terminals to communicate with at least one of the set of satellites over the relatively high capacity frequency band, the switching subset of the terminals. of satellite communication user being selected based, at least in part, on the fading subset.
    [0021]
    21. Satellite, according to claim 19, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the set of satellites comprises a plurality of satellites.
    [0022]
    22. Satellite, according to claim 21, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that each of the plurality of satellites corresponds to one of the plurality of communication frequency bands.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    BR112012000190B1|2021-04-20|system for attenuation of fading of satellite communication in multiple bands and satellite capable of participating in attenuation of fading of satellite communication in multiple bands
    US8259640B2|2012-09-04|Broadband demodulator for modified downstream waveform
    US8230464B2|2012-07-24|DOCSIS MAC chip adapted
    AU2012347621B2|2016-01-28|Interference management in a hub-spoke spot beam satellite communication system
    US8159992B2|2012-04-17|Routing paths onboard satellite with reference terminal functionality
    US8208422B2|2012-06-26|Intra-domain load balancing
    US9432161B2|2016-08-30|Shared channel resource allocation
    US8159994B2|2012-04-17|High data rate multiplexing satellite stream to low data rate subscriber terminals
    US8218473B2|2012-07-10|Web-bulk transfer preallocation of upstream resources in a satellite communication system
    US20090295628A1|2009-12-03|Satellite System Optimization
    US20090289839A1|2009-11-26|Dynamic Sub-Channel Sizing
    US8897207B2|2014-11-25|Method for fade mitigation in a satellite communication network
    US10651928B2|2020-05-12|System and method of adaptive interference avoidance in multi-beam satellite communications network
    EP3243281A1|2017-11-15|Satellite system noise and interference calibration using terminal measurements
    Losquadro et al.1997|An advanced satellite system to provide interactive multimedia mobile services
    Takahashi et al.2021|A Practical Approach for SNR-Based Subchannel Allocation Considering Inter-Beam Interference in a Satellite Communication System
    BR102012000289B1|2022-01-18|HIGH CAPACITY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A HIGH CAPACITY SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
    Suffritti2009|Advanced cooperative and cognitive radio techniques for resource management in mobile satellite communications
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    WO2010144918A3|2011-02-24|
    BR112012000190A2|2016-11-01|
    US20110143656A1|2011-06-16|
    US8385817B2|2013-02-26|
    WO2010144918A2|2010-12-16|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    US6511020B2|2000-01-07|2003-01-28|The Boeing Company|Method for limiting interference between satellite communications systems|
    US6813476B1|2000-11-13|2004-11-02|Andrew Corporation|Method and system for compensating for atmospheric fading in a communications system|
    US7174179B2|2001-09-20|2007-02-06|Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.|Methods and apparatus for mitigating rain fading over SATCOM links via information throughput adaptation|
    US8149761B2|2006-08-29|2012-04-03|Wildblue Communications, Inc.|Incrementally increasing deployment of gateways|
    US8131212B2|2007-04-23|2012-03-06|Elbit Systems Land and C41—Tadiran Ltd.|Method and apparatus for compensation for weather-based attenuation in a satellite link|CN102725971B|2010-01-04|2015-11-25|泰纳股份公司|For the terminal that simultaneously communicates on both frequencies and method|
    FR2976750B1|2011-06-16|2013-07-19|Astrium Sas|USEFUL SATELLITE REPEATER CHARGE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS.|
    US8914536B2|2012-01-31|2014-12-16|Comtech Ef Data Corp.|Method and system for performing multi-layer, multi-dimensional link budget analysisusing real-time network, weather, satellite ephemeras and ionospheric information|
    KR20130098072A|2012-02-27|2013-09-04|한국전자통신연구원|Apparatus and method for estimating rain attenuation, and apparatus for compensating rain attenuation|
    US9119178B2|2013-02-08|2015-08-25|Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson |Efficient transmission parameter selection|
    WO2015162878A1|2014-04-25|2015-10-29|日本電気株式会社|Wireless communication control method and device in wireless communication system, and wireless communication device|
    US9967792B2|2015-03-16|2018-05-08|Space Systems/Loral, Llc|Communication system with multi band gateway|
    US10128939B2|2015-04-10|2018-11-13|Viasat, Inc.|Beamformer for end-to-end beamforming communications system|
    US10187141B2|2015-04-10|2019-01-22|Viasat, Inc.|Cross-band system for end-to-end beamforming|
    SG10201912451YA|2015-04-10|2020-02-27|Viasat Inc|Ground based antenna beamforming for communications between access nodes and users terminals linked by a satelliten and satellite therefore|
    KR101691931B1|2015-10-14|2017-01-02|국방과학연구소|An apparatus and method for link selection according to resource usage rate in satellite communications network that use multiple frequency bands|
    US10652835B2|2016-06-01|2020-05-12|Isco International, Llc|Signal conditioning to mitigate interference impacting wireless communication links in radio access networks|
    EP3520168A4|2016-09-30|2020-07-01|Jeffrey Freedman|Providing communications coverage using hybrid analog/digital beamforming|
    ES2856184T3|2016-10-21|2021-09-27|Viasat Inc|Terrestrial beamforming communications using mutually synchronized spatially multiplexed feeder links|
    US20180152235A1|2016-11-01|2018-05-31|Maxwell A. Smoot|Methods and systems using an agile hub and smart connectivity broker for satellite communications|
    US10298279B2|2017-04-05|2019-05-21|Isco International, Llc|Method and apparatus for increasing performance of communication paths for communication nodes|
    US10284313B2|2017-08-09|2019-05-07|Isco International, Llc|Method and apparatus for monitoring, detecting, testing, diagnosing and/or mitigating interference in a communication system|
    WO2019051500A1|2017-09-11|2019-03-14|Worldvu Satellites Limited|Satellite system and method for addressing rain fade|
    EP3695531A4|2017-10-12|2020-12-09|Jeffrey Freedman|Hybrid beamforming rain fade mitigation|
    US20190124645A1|2017-10-23|2019-04-25|Qualcomm Incorporated|Techniques and apparatuses for modulation order control for an uplink channel|
    FR3076139B1|2017-12-21|2021-04-30|Thales Sa|METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY ADAPTING THE TRANSMIT POWER OF A STATION IN A SATCOM SYSTEM|
    US10826598B1|2019-07-10|2020-11-03|Eagle Technology, Llc|Satellite communication system having mitigation action for rain fade and associated method|
    US11223418B2|2019-12-31|2022-01-11|Hughes Network Systems, Llc|Multi-band satellite terminal estimating a second band based on first band link conditions|
    法律状态:
    2019-01-15| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2020-01-14| B15K| Others concerning applications: alteration of classification|Free format text: AS CLASSIFICACOES ANTERIORES ERAM: H04B 7/185 , H04W 84/06 Ipc: H04B 7/185 (1974.07), H04B 7/204 (1990.01), H04W 8 |
    2020-01-14| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2021-04-06| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2021-04-20| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 10 (DEZ) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 20/04/2021, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US18653909P| true| 2009-06-12|2009-06-12|
    US61/186,539|2009-06-12|
    PCT/US2010/038548|WO2010144918A2|2009-06-12|2010-06-14|Multi-band satellite communication fade mitigation|
    [返回顶部]