EP0837569A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple satellite fade attenuation control system
Assignee: Globalstar LP
•
Filing: 1997-10-21
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Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-10-21
Abstract
Abstract The teaching of this invention pertains particularly to satellite communications systems using GSO or NGSO satellites (50a). This invention employs data derived from signals of various types to derive a mathematical model of propagation related attenuation-inducing events so as to plan system resource allocation to minimize an amount of power required to close communication links between user terminals and the satellites. Disclosed are methods for modelling gateway (6) to satellite links, as well as methods for modelling the user terminal to satellite links. This invention overcomes the problems inherent in the prior art by providing a direct measurement of severe path attenuation potential. The use of the teaching of this invention enables preplanning of the allocation of satellites and satellite resources by calculating a potential for signal path interference based on an external measurement of where rain attenuation may be located, and the real-time or approximately real-time tracking of rain cell activity within storm cells. Optimization of a global system of satellites is made possible, particularly in the context of a system of LEO satellites.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Wiedeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1851; H04B7/18513; H04B7/18519; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for operating a satellite communications
system of a type that includes at least one ground station,
at least one satellite, and a plurality of user terminals,
characterised in the steps of: generating a model of atmospheric-related, RF signal
attenuation-inducing structures located within a coverage
area of the ground station; and allocating at least one of ground station, satellite, and
user terminal resources in accordance with the generated
model.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in
the step of generating a model includes an initial step of
inputting atmospheric-related data from a radar system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in
the step of generating a model includes an initial step of
inputting atmospheric-related data from a satellite
observation system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in
the step of generating a model includes an initial step of
generating atmospheric-related data from user terminal
signals received by at least one of the ground station and
another ground station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in
the step of generating a model includes a step of generating
a three dimensional attenuation contour map of the
structures, and a step of updating the contour map so as to
reflect the evolution of the structures over time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in
the step of transmitting data indicative of the generated
model to a ground station controller, wherein the ground
station controller receives data indicative of the generated
model from a plurality of ground stations, and wherein the
ground station controller allocates satellite communications
system resources at least in accordance with the received
data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in
the step of transmitting data indicative of the atmospheric-related
attenuation-inducing structures to a ground station
controller, wherein the ground station controller receives
such data from a plurality of ground stations, and wherein
the ground station controller generates a global model of RF
signal attenuation due to atmospheric effects.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for managing the power consumption in a
satellite communications system of a type that includes at
least one ground station, at least one satellite, and a
plurality of user terminals, characterised in the steps of:
inputting atmospheric-related data from at least one of a
radar system and a satellite observation system; generating, from the atmospheric-related data, a model of RF
signal attenuation-inducing structures located within a
coverage area of the ground station; and assigning at least one of communication links and link powers
in accordance with the generated model.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, characterised in
the step of generating a model includes an initial step of
generating atmospheric-related data from user terminal
signals received by at least one of the ground station and
another ground station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, characterised in
the step of generating a model includes a step of generating
a three dimensional attenuation contour map of the
structures, and a step of updating the contour map so as to
reflect the evolution of the structures over time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, characterised in
the step of transmitting data indicative of the generated
model to a ground station controller, wherein the ground
station controller receives data indicative of the generated
model from a plurality of ground stations, and wherein the
ground station controller preemptively allocates satellite
communications system resources at least in accordance with
the received data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, characterised in
the step of transmitting data indicative of the RF signal
attenuation-inducing structures to a ground station
controller, wherein the ground station controller receives
such data from a plurality of ground stations, and wherein
the ground station controller generates a global model of RF
signal attenuation due to atmospheric effects.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for operating a satellite communications
system of a type that includes a plurality of ground
stations, a plurality of satellites, and a plurality of user
terminals, characterised in the steps of: at a plurality of the gateways, generating a model of
atmospheric-related attenuation-inducing structures located
within a coverage area of each of the gateways; transmitting data indicative of the generated model from each
of the plurality of gateways to a gateway controller, and generating gateway commands at the gateway controller for
preemptively allocating satellite communications system
resources at least in accordance with the received data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, characterised in
the step of generating at the gateway controller a global
model of RF signal attenuation due to atmospheric effects.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A satellite communications system having at least
one ground station, at least one satellite, and a plurality
of user terminals, characterised in a data processor in said
ground station for generating a model of atmospheric-related
RF signal attenuation-inducing structures located within a
coverage area of the ground station; said data processor
being further operable for allocating at least one of ground
station, satellite, and user terminal resources in accordance
with the generated model.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as claimed in claim 15, characterised in
that the ground station has an input coupled to an output of
means for generating atmospheric-related data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 16, characterised in
that the generating means generates the atmospheric-related
data from user terminal signals received by at least one of
the ground station and another ground station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 15, characterised in
that said processor generates a three dimensional attenuation
contour map of the structures.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system as claimed in claim 15, characterised in
a ground station controller that is bidirectionally coupled
to said ground station for receiving data indicative of the
generated model, wherein said ground station controller
receives data indicative of the generated model from a
plurality of said ground stations, and wherein the ground
station controller comprises control means for generating
commands to said plurality of ground stations for allocating
satellite communications system resources at least in
accordance with the received data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system as claimed in claim 15, characterised in
a ground station controller that is bidirectionally coupled
to said ground station for receiving data indicative of the
atmospheric-related RF signal attenuation-inducing
structures, wherein said ground station controller receives
such data from a plurality of said ground stations, and
wherein the ground station controller comprises a data
processor for generating a global model of RF signal
attenuation due to atmospheric effects.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for operating a satellite communications
system of a type that includes at least one ground station,
at least one satellite, and a plurality of user terminals,
characterised in the steps of: generating a model of atmospheric-related, RF signal
attenuation-inducing structures located within a coverage
area of the ground station; determining from a user terminal
attenuated RF signal received at the ground station, and in
accordance with the generated model, a contribution to the
attenuation due to at least two signal propagation effects;
and separately compensating for the at least two effects.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, characterised in
that a first of the at least two effects is due to RF signal
rain attenuation, and wherein a second of the at least two
effects is due to RF signal depolarization.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for operating a satellite communications
system of a type that includes at least one ground station,
a plurality of satellites, and a plurality of user terminals,
characterised in the steps of: generating a current model of atmospheric-related, RF signal
impairments located within a coverage area of the ground
station; and allocating at least one of ground station, satellite, and
user terminal resources in accordance with the generated
model so as to close a communication link between the ground
station and a given one of the user terminals with a minimum
amount of power consumption.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 23, characterised in
that a transmitted power level between the ground station and
at least one of the plurality of satellites, and between the
at least one of the satellites and the given one of the user
terminals, is determined by the ground station.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as claimed in claim 23, characterised in
that a transmitted power level between the ground station and
at least one of the plurality of satellites is determined by
the ground station, and wherein a transmitted power level
between the at least one of the satellites and the given one
of the user terminals is determined by the at least one of
the satellites.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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