EP0748065A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Satellite repeater diversity resource management system
Assignee: Globalstar LP
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Filing: 1996-04-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-30
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improving and optimizing the delivery of path diversity in a satellite repeater-based communication system, thereby conserving both FDM channels and satellite power utilization. The reception of communications is improved, when one or more orbiting satellite repeater (12) transmitters is blocked or severely faded, by recognizing the need for satellite path diversity on a real-time or near real-time basis. A user terminal (13) is thus enabled to receive sufficient signal strength to avoid having an ongoing call automatically terminated. The system optimizes satellite path diversity applied to (a) classes (types) of user terminals and/or (b) to individual user terminals as a function of location and also a local RF propagation environment of the user terminal. In addition, the invention teaches a consideration of the satellite resources that are available at any given point in time, and may restrict or limit the availability of satellite path diversity, thereby increasing overall system capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Wiedeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18532; H04B7/18534; H04B7/02; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A communications system, comprising: at least one communication signal repeater; a communication signal transmitter having a plurality of antennas for selectively transmitting a communication signal to said at least one communication signal repeater; a communication signal receiver for receiving a communication signal from said communication signal transmitter through said at least one communication signal repeater; and control means, responsive to information specifying at least a location of said communication signal receiver, for specifying a number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating a communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver via said specified number of communication signal repeaters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means is further responsive to information that specifies a communication signal receiver type for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver is a component of a transceiver having a transmitter capable of being remotely power controlled, and wherein said control means is further responsive to information specifying a power control history for said transmitter of said transceiver for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the information specifying a location of said communication signal receiver includes information that specifies an RF energy propagation characteristic that is associated with an environment within which the communications signal receiver is located.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one communication signal repeater is one of a plurality of earth orbiting satellites.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plurality of earth orbiting satellites form a portion of a constellation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said control means is further responsive to information that specifies a current availability of said plurality of earth orbiting satellites for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means is further responsive at least to information that specifies a current availability of said plurality of earth orbiting satellites for specifying a number of beams of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transmitter is a component of a ground station transceiver having a ground-based receiver for receiving user communications via said at least one communication signal repeater, wherein said receiver is a component of a user transceiver having a transmitter and antenna that is capable of directing a transmission towards at least one of said communication signal repeaters to be relayed to said ground-based receiver, and wherein said control means is capable of selecting at least one of said communication signal repeaters for relaying a communication from said user transceiver to said ground-based receiver, and further including means for transmitting a message to said user transceiver for controlling said antenna of said user transceiver for transmitting the communication towards a selected one of said communication signal repeaters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
98 words
A communications system, comprising: a plurality of communication signal repeaters; a communication signal transmitter having a plurality of antennas for selectively transmitting a communication signal to individual ones of said communication signal repeaters; a communication signal receiver for receiving a communication signal from said communication signal transmitter through at least one of said communication signal repeaters; and control means, responsive to information specifying at least a type of said communication signal receiver, for specifying a number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating a communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said control means is further responsive to information that specifies a location of said communication signal receiver for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said control means is further responsive to information that specifies an environment of said communication signal receiver for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said control means is further responsive to information that specifies a historical usage of the system by the communication signal receiver for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said receiver is a component of a transceiver having a transmitter capable of being remotely power controlled, and wherein said control means is further responsive to information specifying a power control history for said transmitter of said transceiver for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 wherein the information specifying a location of said communication signal receiver includes information that specifies an RF energy propagation characteristic that is associated with an environment within which the communications signal receiver is located.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said plurality of communication signal repeaters are comprised of a plurality of earth orbiting satellites.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said plurality of earth orbiting satellites form a portion of a constellation of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said control means is further responsive to information that specifies a current availability of said plurality of earth orbiting satellites for specifying the number of said communication signal repeaters to be used in repeating the communication signal that is transmitted from said transmitter to said receiver.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of operating a satellite communication system, comprising the steps of: initiating a communication between a user terminal and a ground station via at least one satellite communication signal repeater; determining a location of the user terminal within a area serviced by the ground station; and selecting a number of satellite communication signal repeaters to relay the communication between the user terminal and the ground station, the selected number being a function of at least the determined location of the user terminal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of determining an RF energy propagation characteristic that is associated with the determined location of the user terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of classifying the user terminal as to type.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of considering a power control history of the user terminal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of considering a current availability of satellite communication signal repeaters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of considering a system usage historical record of the user terminal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the communication is bidirectionally relayed as a spread spectrum, code division multiple access communication signal between the user terminal and the ground station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as set forth in claim 19 and further comprising the steps of: receiving the communication with the user terminal, the communication being received through different communication paths associated with individual ones of the selected number of satellite communication signal repeaters; equalizing at least the phase shifts and delays of the received communication from each of the different paths to provide a plurality of equalized communication signals; and combining the equalized communication signals into a composite received communication signal.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of operating a satellite communication system, comprising the steps of: initiating a communication between a user terminal and a ground station via at least one satellite communication signal repeater; classifying the user terminal as to type; and selecting a number of satellite communication signal repeaters to relay the communication between the user terminal and the ground station, the selected number being a function of at least the type of the user terminal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 wherein the step of selecting further includes a step of determining a location of the user terminal within an area serviced by the ground station.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as set forth in claim 28 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of determining an RF energy propagation characteristic that is associated with the determined location of the user terminal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of considering a power control history of the user terminal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of considering a system usage history of the user terminal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of considering an availability of satellite communication signal repeaters.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 wherein the communication is bidirectionally relayed as a spread spectrum, code division multiple access communication signal between the user terminal and the ground station.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as set forth in claim 27 and further comprising the steps of: receiving the communication with the user terminal, the communication being received through different communication paths associated with individual ones of the selected number of satellite communication signal repeaters; equalizing at least the phase shifts and delays of the received communication from each of the different paths to provide a plurality of equalized communication signals; and combining the equalized communication signals into a composite received communication signal.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of operating a satellite communication system, comprising the steps of: initiating a communication between a user terminal and a ground station via at least one satellite communication signal repeater; selecting at least one satellite communication signal repeater to relay a return link communication between the user terminal and the ground station; and transmitting a message from the ground station to the user terminal over a forward link, the message controlling the user terminal to transmit the return link communication though the selected at least one satellite communication signal repeater.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
205 words
A satellite communication system, comprising: a plurality of communication satellites; a ground station comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals with individual ones of said plurality of communication satellites; at least one user terminal comprising a transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals with individual ones of said plurality of communication satellites; said ground station further comprising a data base of user terminal-related information including information specifying, for individual user terminals, at least a type of user terminal, said data base further storing information that is descriptive of an RF propagation characteristic of one or more regions within a service area of said ground station; said ground station further comprising control means that is coupled to said data base and to a rules set for determining a number of communication satellites for relaying a communication between individual ones of said user terminals and said ground station, said ground station including means for determining a location of individual ones of said user terminals, and wherein said control means determines the number of communication satellites in accordance with at least one of a user terminal type, a user terminal location, and an RF propagation characteristic that is associated with a location of said user terminal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
A satellite communication system as set forth in claim 36, wherein said data base further stores information that is descriptive of user terminal historical power control activity.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
A satellite communication system as set forth in claim 36, wherein said data base further stores information that is descriptive of user terminal historical system usage.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
60 words
A satellite communication system as set forth in claim 36, wherein said plurality of communication satellites comprise a Walker constellation of low earth orbit satellites, and wherein communications are bidirectionally transmitted as spread spectrum, code division multiple access communication signals between a user terminal's transceiver and the ground station's transceiver, through at least one of said plurality of communication satellites.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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