US6070074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for enhancing the performance of a regenerative satellite communications system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
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Filing: 1998-04-24
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Granted: 2000-05-30
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Expires: 2018-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for enhancing the performance of a communications system is disclosed. The system generally includes an originating ground station (300) which produces error-control coded uplink signals and transmits the coded uplink signals to a satellite (310). The system also includes a destination ground station (326) which receives a downlink beam from the satellite (310). The method includes the steps of receiving uplink signals transmitted by an originating ground station (300) at a destination ground station (326) and determining a downlink channel signal quality indication (504) at the destination ground station (326). The method also includes the steps of measuring an error rate associated with at least a portion of a downlink beam at said destination ground station (326) and determining an operating point (506) relative to a desired performance curve (502) based on the signal quality indication (504) and the error rate. At least one signal processing parameter of said originating ground station (300) is adjusted based on the operating point (506) when said operating point (506) lies in a predetermined region relative to the performance curve (502).
Inventors
- 👤 Eldad Perahia
- 👤 Donald C. Wilcoxson
- 👤 Chamroeun Kchao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:08
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/0001; H04L1/0009; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18532; H04B7/18534; H04B7/18539; H04B7/18543; H04L1/004; H04L1/0056; H04L1/0064; H04L1/0065; H04L1/20; H04L1/203; H04L1/0071
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for enhancing the performance of a communications system in which an originating ground station produces error-control coded uplink signals and transmits the coded uplink signals to a satellite and in which a destination ground station receives a downlink beam transmitted by said satellite including the coded uplink signals, the method comprising the steps of: receiving uplink signals transmitted to a satellite by an originating ground station and transmitted by a satellite in a downlink beam to a destination ground station; determining a downlink channel signal quality indication of said downlink beam at said destination ground station; measuring an error rate associated with at least a portion of said uplink signals at said destination ground station; determining an operating point relative to a desired performance curve based on said signal quality indication and said error rate; adjusting at least an amount of error correction coding applied by said originating ground station to the uplink signal based on said operating point when said operating point lies in a predetermined region relative to said performance curve.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for enhancing the performance of a communications system in which an originating ground station produces error-control coded uplink signals and transmits the coded uplink signals to a satellite and in which a destination ground station receives a downlink beam transmitted by said satellite including the coded uplink signals, the method comprising the steps of: receiving uplink signals transmitted to a satellite by an originating ground station and transmitted by a satellite in a downlink beam to a destination ground station; determining a downlink channel signal quality indication of said downlink beam at said destination ground station; measuring an error rate associated with at least a portion of said uplink signals at said destination ground station; determining an operating point relative to a desired performance curve based on said signal quality indication and said error rate; adjusting at least an amount of error correction coding applied by said originating ground station to the uplink signal based on said operating point when said operating point lies in a predetermined region relative to said performance curve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said adjusting step includes changing the transmit power of said uplink signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of measuring an error rate measures a symbol error rate, at the input to a decoder, at the destination ground station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of calculating a bit error rate based in part on said symbol error rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining a downlink channel quality indication determines a signal to noise ratio.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said signal to noise ratio is Eb/(No+Io).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: decreasing the amount of error correction coding at said originating ground station by a predetermined decrement value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting an amount of change in the error correction coding through the satellite over one of the data and control channels to said originating ground stations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: transmitting an amount of change in the error correction coding trough a ground based network to said originating ground station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: increasing an amount of error correction coding at said originating ground station by a predetermined incremental value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining an uplink power requirement of the received communications signal; determining whether said originating ground station transmitting the communications signal has sufficient transmit power available to meet an uplink power requirement; and when said originating ground station has insufficient uplink power, increasing an amount of error correction coding applied to the data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controlling, in a communications system, signal quality of at least one of an uplink and a downlink between a satellite and ground stations, comprising: transmitting error correction coded data in a communications signal over a downlink between a satellite and ground station; measuring a signal quality of the received communications signal transmitted over said downlink between the satellite and ground station; and changing an amount of error correction coding applied to data in said communications signal transmitted by an originating ground station based on the measured signal quality.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controlling, in a communications system, signal quality of at least one of an uplink and a downlink between a satellite and ground stations, comprising: transmitting error correction coded data in a communications signal over a downlink between a satellite and ground station; measuring a signal quality of the received communications signal transmitted over said downlink between the satellite and ground station; and changing an amount of error correction coding applied to data in said communications signal transmitted by an originating ground station based on the measured signal quality.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: decreasing the amount of error correction coding at an originating ground station by a predetermined increment value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: transmitting the change in the error correction coding through the satellite over one of data and control channels to an originating ground station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: transmitting the change in the error correction coding through a ground based network to an originating ground station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: increasing the amount of error correction coding at an originating ground station by a predetermined incremental value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining an uplink power requirement of the received communications signal; determining whether an originating ground station transmitting the communications signal has sufficient transmit power available to meet the uplink power requirement; and when the originating ground station has insufficient uplink power, increasing an amount of error correction coding applied to the data.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-11-29 | 2004-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-30 | 2007-11-29 | 2008-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-30 | 2011-11-29 | 2012-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |