Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In a satellite communications system of the type wherein multiple earth stations transmit one or more regular bursts of communications to a plurality of transponders on said satellite, said transponders operating at different frequencies, the improvement comprising the steps of, a. periodically transmitting a group of reference bursts from a single earth station, all said reference bursts within said group being at different transponder frequencies, occurring at different times within said period, and including a reference unique word and no data communications, b. synchronizing each said regular bursts to one of said reference bursts to provide multiple transponder TDMA frames of non-overlapping regular bursts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a satellite communications system of the type wherein multiple earth stations transmit one or more regular bursts of communications to a plurality of transponders on said satellite, said transponders operating at different frequencies, the improvement comprising the steps of, a. periodically transmitting a group of reference bursts from a single earth station, all said reference bursts within said group being at different transponder frequencies, occurring at different times within said period, and including a reference unique word and no data communications, b. synchronizing each said regular bursts to one of said reference bursts to provide multiple transponder TDMA frames of non-overlapping regular bursts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
143 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of synchronizing is performed at each earth station and comprises, a. receiving and detecting a selected one of said reference bursts, b. receiving and detecting one of said earth station''s own bursts after transmission through one of said transponders, c. comparing the time difference between the detection of said reference burst and the detection of said own burst with a preassigned time separation, d. periodically generating a start signal having the same repetition period as said reference bursts, e. transmitting said one or more regular bursts at one or more of said transponder frequencies, respectively, at predetermined times, less than the period of said reference bursts, following the generation of said start signal, and f. shifting the time of generation of said start signal to equalize said time difference and said time separation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein only some of the transponder TDMA frames have reference bursts included therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a TDMA satellite communications system of the type having multiple stations adapted to communicate data with each other via a satellite transponder, the method comprising, a. transmitting, from each of said stations, a burst of communications toward said satellite, said burst of communications comprising a preamble portion and a data portion, said preamble portion including carrier and bit timing synchronizing signals, and a detectable unique word, b. transmitting from a master station an additional reference burst of communication, having no data therein, to said satellite on a periodic basis, said reference burst consisting only of a preamble comprising carrier and bit timing synchronization and a reference unique word, c. receiving and retransmitting all said bursts at said satellite transponder to all said stations, d. comparing, at each station, the time difference of arrival of said reference unique word and the detectable unique word in said station''s own burst with a preset time separation, and e. altering the transmit time of said station''s burst in response to said comparison to properly align said burst in a TDMA frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a TDMA satellite communications system of the type having multiple stations adapted to communicate data with each other via a satellite transponder, the method comprising, a. transmitting, from each of said stations, a burst of communications toward said satellite, said burst of communications comprising a preamble portion and a data portion, said preamble portion including carrier and bit timing synchronizing signals, and a detectable unique word, b. transmitting from a master station an additional reference burst of communication, having no data therein, to said satellite on a periodic basis, said reference burst consisting only of a preamble comprising carrier and bit timing synchronization and a reference unique word, c. receiving and retransmitting all said bursts at said satellite transponder to all said stations, d. comparing, at each station, the time difference of arrival of said reference unique word and the detectable unique word in said station''s own burst with a preset time separation, and e. altering the transmit time of said station''s burst in response to said comparison to properly align said burst in a TDMA frame.