Satellite communication system

Claim 2

A satellite communication system comprising: a satellite having means for receiving a signal on an uplink carrier frequency, frequency translating, and transmitting said signal at a downlink carrier frequency, said downlink carrier frequency differing from said uplink carrier frequency by a standard frequency offset and a frequency offset error; a terminal earth station for transmitting to said satellite an inbound signal on said uplink carrier frequency; and a hub earth station including: means for continually transmitting to said satellite an outbound signal on said uplink carrier frequency; means for receiving from said satellite said outbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; means for stripping the outbound signal from said downlink carrier frequency; means for providing a reference carrier; means for comparing said stripped downlink carrier frequency to said reference carrier and for providing a frequency offset error signal corresponding to the frequency offset error; means for receiving from said satellite said inbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency, and means for adjusting the processing of said inbound signal in response to said offset frequency error signal to compensate for said offset frequency error, said satellite communication system not requiring a pilot signalor synchronization between the hub earth station and the terminal earth station.

Claim 3

The satellite communication system of claim 1 wherein said hub earth station includes an antenna having a size equivalent to three meters or less diameter dish at an carrier frequency at Ku band.

Claim 4

A satellite communication system comprising: a satellite having means for receiving a signal on an uplink carrier frequency, frequency translating, and transmitting said signal at a downlink carrier frequency, said downlink carrier frequency differing from said uplink carrier frequency by a standard frequency offset and a frequency offset error; a terminal earth station for transmitting to said satellite an inbound signal on said uplink carrier frequency; and a hub earth station including: means for continually transmitting to said satellite an outbound signal including a clock signal on said uplink carrier frequency; means for receiving from said satellite said outbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; means for stripping said clock signal from said outbound signal and for locking said uplink carrier frequency to said clock signal; means for stripping the outbound signal from said downlink carrier frequency; means for providing a reference carrier locked to said clock signal; means for comparing said stripped downlink carrier frequency to said reference carrier for providing a frequency offset error signal corresponding to the frequency offset error; means for receiving from said satellite said inbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; and means for adjusting the intermediate frequency of said inbound signal in response to said offset frequency error signal to compensate for said offset frequency error, said satellite communication system not requiring a pilot signalor synchronization between the hub earth station and the terminal earth station.

Claim 5

A satellite communication system comprising: a satellite having means for receiving a signal on an uplink carrier frequency, frequency translating, and transmitting said signal at a downlink carrier frequency, said downlink carrier frequency differing from said uplink carrier frequency by a standard frequency offset and a frequency offset error; a terminal earth station for transmitting to said satellite an inbound signal on said uplink carrier frequency; and a hub earth station including: means for continually transmitting to said satellite an outbound signal including a clock signal on said uplink carrier frequency; means for receiving from said satellite said outbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; means for stripping said clock signal from said outbound signal and for locking said uplink carrier frequency to said clock signal; means for stripping the outbound signal from said downlink carrier frequency; means for providing a reference carrier locked to said clock signal; means for comparing said stripped downlink carrier frequency to said reference carrier for providing a frequency offset error signal corresponding to the frequency offset error; means for receiving from said satellite said inbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; and means for adjusting the intermediate frequency of said inbound signal in response to said offset frequency error signal to compensate for said offset frequency error, said satellite communication system not requiring a pilot signalor synchronization between the hub earth station and the terminal earth station.

Claim 6

The satellite communication system of claim 3 wherein said hub earth station includes an antenna having a size equivalent to three meters or less diameter dish at an carrier frequency at Ku band.

Claim 7

A hub earth station including: means for continually transmitting an outbound signal on an uplink carrier frequency; means for receiving said outbound signal at a downlink carrier frequency; means for stripping the outbound signal from said downlink carrier frequency; means for providing a reference carrier; means for comparing said stripped downlink carrier frequency to said reference carrier and for providing a frequency offset error signal corresponding to the frequency offset error; means for receiving an inbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; and means for adjusting the processing of said inbound signal in response to said offset frequency error signal to compensate for said offset frequency error, said hub earth station not requiring a pilot signal or synchronization between the hub earth station other earth stations.

Claim 8

A hub earth station including: means for continually transmitting an outbound signal on an uplink carrier frequency; means for receiving said outbound signal at a downlink carrier frequency; means for stripping the outbound signal from said downlink carrier frequency; means for providing a reference carrier; means for comparing said stripped downlink carrier frequency to said reference carrier and for providing a frequency offset error signal corresponding to the frequency offset error; means for receiving an inbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; and means for adjusting the processing of said inbound signal in response to said offset frequency error signal to compensate for said offset frequency error, said hub earth station not requiring a pilot signal or synchronization between the hub earth station other earth stations.

Claim 9

The hub earth station of claim 5 wherein said hub earth station includes an antenna having a size equivalent to three meters or less diameter dish at carrier frequency at Ku band.

Claim 10

A hub earth station including: means for continually transmitting an outbound signal including a clock signal on an uplink carrier frequency; means for receiving said outbound signal at a downlink carrier frequency; means for stripping said clock signal from said outbound signal and for locking said uplink carrier frequency to said clock signal; means for stripping the outbound signal from said downlink carrier frequency; means for providing a reference carrier locked to said clock signal; means for comparing said stripped downlink carrier frequency to said reference carrier for providing a frequency offset error signal corresponding to the frequency offset; means for receiving an inbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; and means for adjusting the intermediate frequency of said inbound signal in response to said offset frequency error signal to compensate for said offset frequency error, said hub earth station not requiring a pilot signal or synchronization between the hub earth station other earth stations.

Claim 11

A hub earth station including: means for continually transmitting an outbound signal including a clock signal on an uplink carrier frequency; means for receiving said outbound signal at a downlink carrier frequency; means for stripping said clock signal from said outbound signal and for locking said uplink carrier frequency to said clock signal; means for stripping the outbound signal from said downlink carrier frequency; means for providing a reference carrier locked to said clock signal; means for comparing said stripped downlink carrier frequency to said reference carrier for providing a frequency offset error signal corresponding to the frequency offset; means for receiving an inbound signal at said downlink carrier frequency; and means for adjusting the intermediate frequency of said inbound signal in response to said offset frequency error signal to compensate for said offset frequency error, said hub earth station not requiring a pilot signal or synchronization between the hub earth station other earth stations.

Claim 12

The hub earth station of claim 7 wherein said hub earth station includes an antenna having a size equivalent to a three meters or less diameter dish at a carrier frequency at Ku band.