U.S. patent application number 13/931146 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-31 for satellite communication system employing a combination of time division multiplexing and non-orthogonal pseudorandom noise codes and time slots.
The applicant listed for this patent is GLOBALSTAR, INC. Invention is credited to Vijaya Gallagher, Paul A. Monte.
Application Number | 20130286934 13/931146 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38605402 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130286934 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Monte; Paul A. ; et
al. |
October 31, 2013 |
SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM EMPLOYING A COMBINATION OF TIME
DIVISION MULTIPLEXING AND NON-ORTHOGONAL PSEUDORANDOM NOISE CODES
AND TIME SLOTS
Abstract
An improved satellite communication system is provided
comprising at least one satellite wherein each satellite provides
multiple beams, a plurality of UTs, and at least one gateway
connected to a PSTN and communicating with said at least one UT or
with a constellation, wherein each of the UTs within a given
frequency band is distinguished from another of the UTs employing a
combination of TDM and NOPN codes and time slots.
Inventors: |
Monte; Paul A.; (San Jose,
CA) ; Gallagher; Vijaya; (San Jose, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GLOBALSTAR, INC |
Milpitas |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
38605402 |
Appl. No.: |
13/931146 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11403632 |
Apr 13, 2006 |
8498238 |
|
|
13931146 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/2041 20130101;
H04W 72/0446 20130101; H04B 7/212 20130101; H04J 3/10 20130101;
H04B 7/204 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/321 |
International
Class: |
H04J 3/10 20060101
H04J003/10 |
Claims
1. A satellite communication system for communicating between a
plurality of user terminals comprising: at least one satellite
which provides multiple beams; a plurality of user terminals that
communicate with each other, or a public switched telephone network
or a data network, via said at least one satellite; and at least
one gateway connected to the public switched telephone network
and/or the data network and communicating with at least one user
terminal over at least one satellite, wherein each of said user
terminals within a given frequency band of the satellite
communication system is distinguished from another of said user
terminals employing a combination of time division multiplexing and
only non-orthogonal pseudorandom noise codes and time slots where
each of the time slots includes only the non-orthogonal
pseudorandom noise codes to distinguish each of said user
terminals; wherein each of said user terminals is equipped to
initiate or receive or terminate packet data messages; wherein each
of said user terminals is handed off from one beam of a satellite
to another beam of said satellite; wherein said hand off is
predicated on signal strength determined at said plurality of user
terminals, and wherein said user terminals located in a satellite
beam are distinguished from user terminals located in an adjacent
satellite beam assigned to an identical time slot by a different
scrambling code for each beam, comprising a pseudorandom noise
sequence uniquely assigned to each beam.
2. The satellite communication system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said time division multiplexing and non-orthogonal
pseudorandom noise codes are implemented in a forward and return
link.
3. The satellite communication system as defined in claim 2,
wherein said forward link comprises time division multiplexing and
said return link uses non-orthogonal pseudorandom noise codes and
time slots to distinguish users.
4. The satellite communication system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said at least one satellite comprises a LEO constellation
satellite system.
5. The communication satellite system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said satellite system comprises a MEO satellite system.
6. The satellite communication system as defined in claim 1,
wherein said at least one satellite comprises a GEO satellite
constellation.
7. A satellite communication system for communicating between a
plurality of user terminals comprising: at least one satellite
which provides multiple beams; a plurality of user terminals that
communicate with each other, or a public switched telephone network
or a data network, via said at least one satellite; and at least
one gateway connected to the public switched telephone network
and/or the data network and communicating with at least one user
terminal over at least one satellite, wherein each of said user
terminals within a given frequency band of the satellite
communication system is distinguished from another of said user
terminals employing a combination of time division multiplexing and
only non-orthogonal pseudorandom noise codes and time slots where
each of the time slots includes only the non-orthogonal
pseudorandom noise codes to distinguish each of said user
terminals; a ground operations control center which provides
tracking information over a ground portion of the data network as
to which satellites of the system to use and transmission
parameters including transmit power and frequencies to use for
communication between the plurality of user terminals, and which
antenna to use; wherein said user terminal is equipped to initiate
or receive or terminate packet data messages; wherein said user
terminal uses tracking information provided by the ground
operations control center to optimize its signal transmission and
reception parameters; wherein said user terminals located in a
satellite beam are distinguished from user terminals located in an
adjacent satellite beam assigned to an identical time slot by a
different scrambling code for each beam, comprising a pseudorandom
noise sequence uniquely assigned to each beam.
8. The satellite communication system of claim 7, wherein said
satellites are in a LEO satellite constellation.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser.
No. 11/403,632, now allowed, filed 13 Apr. 2006, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to cellular telephone systems.
More specifically, the present invention relates to new and
improved systems and methods for communicating information in
mobile cellular telephone systems or satellite mobile telephone
systems employing spread spectrum communication signals
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Historically, the telephone, which comes from the Greek word
`tele`, meaning from afar, and `phone`, meaning voice or voice
sound, is said to have been invented on Mar. 10, 1876 in Boston,
Mass. by Alexander Graham Bell. The principle of the telephone was
conceived as early as 1874 combining electricity and voice which
led to Bell's actual invention of the telephone in 1876.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 174,465 issued Mar. 3, 1876 for improvements
in telegraphy is now considered to be the most valuable patent ever
issued.
[0005] Telstar, the world's first international communications
satellite, years later was placed into orbit on Jul. 10, 1962 in a
collaboration between NASA and the Bell System. Today satellites in
geosynchronous orbit are used mostly for long distance service.
[0006] The basic concept of cellular phones which began in 1947
with crude mobile car phones resulted in the realization that using
small cells or range of service area with frequency re-use could
increase the traffic capacity of mobile phones substantially.
However, at this point in time the technology was nonexistent. The
cellular telephone is in fact a type of two-way radio which in 1947
AT&T proposed at the FCC allocated large number of radio
spectrum frequencies so that widespread mobile phone service could
become feasible and provide AT&T an incentive to research the
new technology. The FCC's decision to limit the cellular phone
frequencies in 1947 resulted in the possibility of only 23 cellular
phone conversations which could occur simultaneously in the same
service area. In 1968 this was increased. Thereafter, a cellular
phone system was proposed by Bell Laboratories. In 1977 AT&T
Bell Labs constructed and operated a prototype cellular phone
system. In 1981 Motorola and America Radio Phone started a second
U.S. cellular radio phone system test in the Washington/Baltimore
area. Suddenly consumer demand quickly outstripped the cellular
phone system's 1982 standards so that by 1987 cellular phone
subscribers exceeded one million and the airwaves were crowded. To
stimulate the growth of new cellular phone technology, the FCC
declared in 1987 that cellular phone licenses may employ
alternative cellular phone technologies in the 800 megahertz
band.
[0007] Digital wireless and cellular find their roots back in the
1940s when commercial mobile telephony began. On Jun. 17, 1946 in
St. Louis, Mo., AT&T and Southwestern Bell introduced the first
American commercial mobile radio telephone service and mobile
telephony a channel is a pair of frequencies, one frequency to
transmit on and one to receive.
[0008] A cell phone is a portable telephone which receives or sends
messages through a cell site or transmitting tower. Radio waves are
used to transfer signals to and from the cell phone, each cell site
having a range of 3-5 miles and overlapping other cell sites. All
of the cell sites are connected to one or more cellular switching
exchanges which can detect the strength of the signal received from
the telephone. As the telephone user moves or roams from one cell
area to another, the exchange automatically switches the call to
the cell site with the strongest signal. The term `cell phone` is
uncommon outside the United States and Japan. However, almost all
mobile phones use cellular technology including GSM, CDMA and the
old analog mobile phone systems. Hence, the term `cell phone` has
been regarded by many to designate any mobile telephone system. An
exception to mobile phones which employ cellular technology are
satellite phones; for example, the Iridium phone system which is
very much like a cell phone system except the cell sites are in
orbit. Marine radio telephone satellites administered by Inmarsat
have a completely different system. The Inmarsat satellite system
simply retransmits whatever signals it receives with a mobile
station's actually logging into a ground station.
[0009] With the advent of the Globalstar.RTM. satellite telephone
system, a great advance in the art was recognized by virtue of a
basic telephonic satellite technology which provided a
constellation of 48 satellites in low earth orbit which were much
simpler to build and less expensive than those of Iridium employing
a radically different technology which employs code division
multiple access, or CDMA, technology, converting speech signals
into a digital format and then transmitting it from the
Globalstar.RTM. satellite phone up to satellite systems and down to
the ground station. Every call on the Globalstar.RTM. system
possesses its own unique code which distinguishes it from the other
calls sharing the airwaves at the same time, and employing CDMA
provides signals which are free of interference, cross-talk or
static. CDMA was introduced in 1995 and soon became the fastest
growing wireless technology and one that was chosen by
Globalstar.RTM. for use in its satellite communications network,
which service Globalstar.RTM. launched in 2000.
[0010] The key features of the Globestar.RTM. satellite phone
employing CDMA provide unique forward and reverse links, direct
sequence spread spectrum, seamless soft handoff, universal
frequency re-use, propagation through multiple overlapping beams on
multiple satellites for diversity, and variable rate
transmission.
[0011] The Globalstar.RTM. satellite phone service is delivered
through 48 low earth orbiting satellites providing both voice and
data services. The so-called Globalstar.RTM. LEO constellation
consists of satellites arranged in a Walker constellation, and each
satellite is approximately 700 miles from the earth which allows
for the highest quality voice clarity of any satellite phone in the
industry. At the heart of the Globalstar.RTM. system as initially
proposed is Qualcomm's adaptation of code division multiple access
technology which provides Globalstar's.RTM. digital satellite
service, resulting in a technology which provides signal security,
superior quality, fewer dropped calls and greater reliability.
Calls can be made from any gateway via any satellite of the system
to any user terminal, as long as the satellite is co-visible from
both gateway and user terminal. This co-visibility is what defines
a gateway service area; at least 24 gateways around the globe are
used to provide worldwide coverage. Each satellite serves at least
2,000 simultaneous users.
[0012] The Globalstar.RTM. system employs redundancy with every
call that a customer places so that a call is routed through as
many as four satellites which then combine the signal into a single
static-free call. In the event that one of the paths to one of the
satellites is blocked, the other satellites keep the call from
terminating, applying the technology of path diversity which
minimizes dropped calls and enhances the quality of the
Globalstar.RTM. satellite phone service. The Globalstar.RTM. system
employs bent pipe technology which allows a call to be first beamed
up to the satellite and then retransmitted to a relatively close
gateway. The call is then sent through its call destination through
land line or cellular networks. The Globalstar.RTM. gateway carries
out all the processing and switching of the calls which improves
the reliability of the call delivery, unlike the Iridium system
which requires satellite-to-satellite transmission.
[0013] In addition, the Globalstar.RTM. system, which provides
reliable call delivery with voice characteristics the same or
better than conventional telephony, complements the current
cellular telephone systems in existence by allowing the user to
first use conventional cellular, which is far less expensive but
totally dependent upon the proximity of cell sites for its
reliability, and then allows the user to select the Globalstar.RTM.
satellite system where cell sites are far too distant to be
reliable or in remote locations where these sites are non-existent.
Code division multiple access, which refers to a multiple access
scheme where stations use spread spectrum modulations and
orthogonal codes to avoid interfering with one another, is
typically employed in Globalstar.RTM. systems. The CDMA modulation
technique is one of several techniques for facilitating
communications in which a large number of system users are present.
Other multiple access communications system techniques such as time
division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access
(FDMA), and AM modulation schemes such as amplitude expanded single
sideband (ACSSB) are known in the art. The spread spectrum
modulation technique of CDMA is found to have significant
advantages over these modulation techniques for multiple access
communications systems. CDMA techniques in multiple access
communications systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307
entitled Spread Spectrum Multiple Access Communication System Using
Satellite or Terrestrial Repeaters, the disclosure thereof is
incorporated by reference.
[0014] In this patent, a multiple access technique is disclosed
where a large number of mobile telephone system users each having a
transceiver communicate through satellite repeaters or terrestrial
base stations, also referred to as cell sites stations, cell sites,
or for short cells, using code division multiple access (CDMA)
spread spectrum communication signals. Frequency spectrum employed
in CDMA can be reused multiple times, thus permitting an increase
in system user capacity. The CDMA is found to result in a much
higher spectral efficiency than can be achieved using other
multiple access techniques.
[0015] Satellite channels employing this system typically
experience fading that is characterized as Rician. Accordingly,
this signal is found to consist of a direct component summed with a
multiple reflected component having a Rayleigh fading statistic. A
power ratio between the direct and reflected component is typically
found to be on the order of 6 to 10 dBs depending upon the
characteristics of the mobile unit antenna and the environment
about the mobile unit. Contrasted to the satellite channel, the
terrestrial channel experiences signal fading that typically
consists of the Rayleigh faded component without a direct
component. This terrestrial channel is found to present a more
severe fading environment than the satellite channel in which the
Rician fading is the dominant fading characteristic.
[0016] The Rayleigh fading characteristics experienced in the
terrestrial signal is found to be caused by the signal being
reflected from many different features of the physical environment,
resulting in a signal which arrives at a mobile unit receiver from
many directions with different transmission delays. In the UHF
frequency bands which are usually employed for mobile radio
communications, including cellular mobile telephone systems, there
is found to be significant phase differences in signals traveling
on different paths which provides the possibility of destructive
summation of the signals causing occasional deep fades. Physical
position of the mobile unit is a strong function of the terrestrial
channel fading so that small changes in the position of the mobile
unit change the physical delays of all the signal propagation paths
which further result in a different phase for each path. The motion
of the mobile unit through the environment can result in a rapid
fading process; for example, employing 850 MHz cellular radio
frequency band, the fading can typically be as fast as one fade per
second per mile per hour of the vehicle speed. This level of fading
is found to be extremely disruptive to signals in a terrestrial
channel, resulting in poor communication quality. Quality may be
improved by providing additional power to overcome the fading,
which in itself affects both the user in excessive power
consumption and the system by increased interference. Certain CDMA
modulation techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307 offer
some advantages over narrow band modulation techniques using
communication systems employing satellite or terrestrial repeaters.
The terrestrial channel is found to pose special problems to any
communication system, particularly with respect to multiple path.
These problems may be overcome by using CDMA techniques which
overcome the special problems of the terrestrial channel by
mitigating the adverse effect of multipath, for example fading,
while also exploiting the advantages of multipath.
[0017] CDMA cellular telephone systems allow the same frequency
band to be employed for communication in all calls. CDMA waveform
properties that provide processing gain are also used to
discriminate between signals that occupy the same frequency band.
Furthermore, the high speed pseudo-noise PN modulation allows many
different propagation paths to be separated provided the difference
in path delay exceed the PN chip duration; i.e., 1/bandwidth. It is
found that if a PN chip rate of approximately one MHz is employed
in a CDM system, the full spread spectrum processing gain equal to
the ratio of the spread bandwidth to system data rate can be
employed against paths that differ by more than one microsecond in
path delay from desired path. It is found that a one microsecond
path delay differential corresponds to differential path distance
of approximately 1,000 feet, the urban environment typically
providing differential path delays in excess of one microsecond and
up to 10-20 microseconds in some areas. When narrow band modulation
systems are employed, such as at analog FM modulation, by
conventional telephone systems, the existence of multiple paths
results in severe multipath fading. By employing wideband CDMA
modulation, the different paths may be discriminated against in the
demodulation process which greatly reduces the severity of
multipath fading. Although multipath fading is not totally
eliminated using CDMA discrimination techniques, there will
occasionally exist paths with delayed differentials of less than
the PN chip duration for the particular system. For signals which
possess path delays on this order, it is found that signals cannot
be discriminated against in the demodulator, resulting in some
degree of fading.
[0018] It becomes apparent that some form of diversity is desirable
which would permit a system to reduce fading. One such system is
diversity which mitigates the deleterious effects of fading. The
three major types of diversity which may be employed are time
diversity, frequency diversity and space diversity. Time diversity
is found to be best obtained by the use of repetition, time
interleaving and error detection and coding which is a form of
repetition. CDMA by its inherent nature possessing a wide band
signal which offers a form of frequency diversity by spreading the
signal energy over a wide bandwidth, resulting in a small part of
the CDMA signal bandwidth experiencing selective fading
effects.
[0019] Space or path diversity is obtained by providing multiple
signal paths through simultaneously links from a mobile user
through two or more cell sites. Path diversity may be obtained by
exploiting the multipath environment through spread spectrum
processing by allowing a signal arriving with different propagation
delays to be received and processed separately. In U.S. Pat. No.
5,101,501 entitled Soft Handoff in a CDMA Cellular Telephone
System, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,390 entitled Diversity Receiver in
a CDMA Cellular Telephone System, examples of path diversity are
illustrated. Further control of deleterious effects in a CDMA
system may be realized by controlling transmitter power. Such a
system for cell site mobile unit power control is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,056,109 entitled Method and Apparatus for Controlling
Transmission Power in a CDMA Cellular Mobile Telephone System.
Techniques as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307 contemplate the
use of coherent modulation and demodulation for both directions of
the link in mobile satellite communications. A pilot carrier signal
as a coherent phase reference for the satellite to mobile link and
the cell to mobile link is disclosed. It is found, however, that
the severity of multipath fading experienced in the terrestrial
cellular environment with the resulting phase disruption of the
channel precludes usage of coherent demodulation techniques for the
mobile to cell link.
[0020] Relatively long PN sequences with each user channel being
assigned a different PN sequence are also disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,901,307. The different user signals may be discriminated upon
reception employing the cross correlation between different PN
sequences and the auto correlation of a PN sequence for all time
shifts other than zero where both have a zero average value.
Although the cross correlations average zero for a short time
interval, such as an information bit time, the cross correlation
follows a binomial distribution since PN signals are not
orthogonal. As such, signals interfere with each other much the
same as if they were wide bandwidth Gaussian noise resulting in
other user signals or mutual interference noise ultimately limiting
the achievable capacity.
[0021] Multipath can provide path diversity to a wide band PN CDMA
system which uses greater than 1 MHz bandwidth if two or more paths
are available with greater than one microsecond differential path
delay. Two or more PN receivers can be employed to separately
receive these signals. These signals typically will exhibit
independence in multipath fading, i.e., they usually do not fade
together, the outputs of the two receivers can be diversity
combined. It is found that a loss in performance in this situation
only occurs when both receivers experience fades at the same time,
hence two or more PN receivers in combination with a diversity
combiner may be employed utilizing a waveform that permits path
diversity combining operations to be performed.
[0022] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307 filed Oct. 17, 1986, issued Feb.
13, 1990, a communication system which accommodates a large number
of users throughout a variety of user environments from high
density urban to very low density rural is provided which results
in a multiple access communication system having high simultaneous
user capacity.
[0023] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,501 filed Nov. 7, 1989, issued Mar.
31, 1992, there is disclosed a CDMA cellular telephone system
wherein the same frequency band is used for all cells employing
CDMA waveform properties that provide processing gains which are
also used to discriminate between signals that occupy the same
frequency band.
[0024] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459 filed Jun. 25, 1990, issued Apr.
7, 1992, there is disclosed spread spectrum communication
techniques, particularly CDMA techniques, in the mobile cellular
telephone environment which provide features to vastly enhance
system reliability and capacity over other communication system
techniques overcoming fading and interference while providing
greater frequency reuse and enabling a substantial increase in the
number of system users.
[0025] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,390 filed Nov. 7, 1989, issued Apr.
28, 1992, there is disclosed a CDMA cellular telephone system where
the same frequency band is used for communication in all cells to
provide a cellular telephone system in which a receiver design
facilitates reception and processing of the strongest signals
transmitted from one or more cell sites, the signals being
multipath signals from a single cell site or signals transmitted by
multiple cell sites.
[0026] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,626 filed May 11, 1992, issued Aug.
3, 1993, there is disclosed a repeater diversity spread spectrum
communication system providing substantially fade free
communications between a transmitter (1) and a receiver (7). A
transmitted signal is relayed through a plurality of linear
communications repeaters (3-6) that produce copies of the
transmitted signal, the copies each arriving through an
independently fading signal path. The receiver processes the
received signal copies to equalize them to one another in delay,
frequency, and phase, and then combines the multiple received and
equalized signal copies to produce a composite signal having a
greatly reduced fading depth.
[0027] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,261 filed Mar. 5, 1992, issued Nov.
30, 1993, there is provided a system for directing handoff in
mobile station communication between base stations which employ
code division multiple access techniques.
[0028] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,262 filed Oct. 8, 1991, issued Nov.
30, 1993, there is disclosed a CDMA cellular mobile telephone
wherein the transmitter power of the mobile units are controlled so
as to produce at the cell site a nominal received signal power from
each and every mobile unit transmitter operating within the cell.
Thus, the transmitter power is controlled in the terrestrial
channel and the cell diversity environment so as to overcome
deleterious fading without causing unnecessary system
interference.
[0029] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,286 filed Mar. 29, 1991, issued Apr.
12, 1994, there is disclosed a radio communication system capable
of servicing a roaming user or the like outside the range of
terrestrial relay stations including a packet switched network and
database of roaming users, a satellite communications system having
at least one, but usually a plurality of orbiting satellites over a
terrestrial satellite service area, a satellite control center and
a plurality of terrestrial communication links wherein call setup
is controlled by processors and databases onboard the orbiting
satellites and wherein only after the satellite link for the
communication channels is completed, does control and switching
rely on ground base system such that the orbiting satellites are
integrated into a ground based telephone network and tariff
structure.
[0030] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,474 filed Mar. 27, 1992, issued May
3, 1994, there is disclosed spread spectrum communication
techniques, particularly CDMA, in a mobile cellular telephone
environment which provides features to vastly enhance system
reliability and capacity over other communication system
techniques.
[0031] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,797 filed Jan. 24, 1992, issued May
16, 1995, there is disclosed a system for constructing PN sequences
that provide orthogonality between the users so that mutual
interference will be reduced allowing higher capacity and better
link performance, employing spread spectrum communication
techniques, particularly CDMA, in a mobile cellular telephone
environment.
[0032] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,297 filed Sep. 15, 1995, issued Feb.
3, 1998, there is disclosed a radio communication system capable of
servicing a roaming user or the like outside the range of
terrestrial relay stations which includes a packet switched network
and database of roaming users, a satellite communications system
having at least one, but usually a plurality of orbiting satellites
over a terrestrial satellite service area, a satellite control
center and a plurality of terrestrial communication links, wherein
call setup is controlled by processors and databases onboard the
orbiting satellites and wherein only after the satellite link for
the communication channels is completed, does control and switching
rely on ground based equipment such that the orbiting satellites
are integrated to a ground based telephone network and tariff
structure.
[0033] In U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,837 filed Sep. 22, 1997, issued May
11, 1999, there is disclosed a radio communication system capable
of servicing a roaming user or the like outside the range of
terrestrial relay stations which includes a packet switched network
and database of roaming users, a satellite communications system
having at least one, but usually a plurality of orbiting satellites
over a terrestrial satellite service area, a satellite control
center and a plurality of terrestrial communication links wherein
call setup is controlled by processors and databases onboard the
orbiting satellites and wherein only after the satellite link for
the communication channel is completed, does control and switching
rely on ground based equipment such that the orbiting satellites
are integrated into a ground based telephone network and tariff
structure.
[0034] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,768 filed Sep. 4, 1996, issued Jun.
6, 2000, there is disclosed a communication system having a
satellite communication component comprising at least one satellite
and at least one terrestrial gateway and also a wireless
terrestrial communication component comprising at least one
repeater and at least one mobile switching center, the gateway and
switching center coupled together by a first mobile applications
part network, the gateway and the mobile switching center further
coupled to a terrestrial communication network, further, including
at least one dual mode or higher tri-mode user terminal comprising
a first transceiver for bidirectionally communicating with the
gateway through the satellite, a second transceiver for
bidirectionally communicating with the mobile switching center
through the repeater and a controller responsive to one of a user
selected or a gateway selected protocol for selectively enabling
either the first or the second transceiver for conveying a user
communication to a terrestrial communication network.
[0035] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,485 filed Oct. 20, 1998, issued Mar.
4, 2003, there is disclosed a method for generating a Doppler-free
local clock in a communications network having a master reference
terminal (400) and a terminal (200) exchanging references and
management bursts, includes steps for determining a transmit timing
correction value responsive to the management burst received by the
master reference terminal (400), determining a receive timing
correction value responsive to the reference burst received by the
terminal (200), and adjusting the frequency of a clock responsive
to both the transmit timing correction value and the receive timing
correction value to thereby generate the Doppler-free local
clock.
[0036] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,236 filed Aug. 31, 1999, issued Oct.
28, 2003, there disclosed an apparatus for generating a PN sequence
with an arbitrary number of bits where the number of bits is
provided in parallel with each clock pulse, allowing the sequences
to be generated at high speed when needed and allowing parallel
processing in the acquisition and demodulation processes.
[0037] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,693,951 filed Jul. 23, 1999, issued Feb.
17, 2004, there is disclosed implementation of-spread spectrum
communication techniques, particularly CDMA, in a mobile cellular
telephone environment which provides features that vastly enhance
system reliability and capacity over other communication system
techniques, overcoming, for example, fading and interference while
promoting greater frequency reuse, enabling a substantial increase
in the number of system users.
[0038] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,714,780 filed Jun. 12, 2001, issued Mar.
30, 2004, there is disclosed a multibeam communication system
having a user terminal, a communications station for transmitting
information to and receiving information from the user terminal and
a plurality of beam sources where each beam source projects a
plurality of beams and where a communication link between the user
terminal and the communications station is established on one or
more beams, providing a system and method for reducing call
dropping rates while maintaining a desired level of beam source
diversity.
[0039] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,259 filed Jul. 15, 1998, issued Nov.
2, 2004, there is disclosed a method and apparatus for providing a
low 2-point Cell delay variation (CDV) for cell or packet
transmissions via a TDMA or TDM network, where the cells or packets
are assembled in bursts or slots for transmission. In order to
permit a TDMA or TDM network that carries cells or packets between
source and destination pairs to guarantee that a desired 2-point
CDV will be met, for example, a 3 ms CDV required for Class 1
traffic, each cell is associated with a transmitted TDMA or TDM
frame. Using a time counter and a frame counter in a transmitter
interface, the cell or packet has appended to it a time count and a
frame count that is sent across the network and made available to
the receiving TDMA/TDM terminal. The receiving terminal uses this
timing information to perform traffic shaping of the cell or packet
stream, thereby reducing the impact of the 2-point CDV as well as
the effect of cell clumping prior to distribution on a terrestrial
network.
[0040] In U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,007 filed Sep. 9, 2002, issued Jan.
4, 2005, there is disclosed embodiments which address the need for
reliable transmission of higher priority data within a frame
wherein an inner code is applied to one or more partial segments of
a transmitted data frame, in addition to an outer code applied to
the entire frame, the inner code segment being retained when the
inner decoding decodes without error providing the benefit of
reducing the number of retransmissions of higher priority data, as
well as reducing delay for time sensitive segments of the
frame.
[0041] Various satellite telephone systems have been proposed,
including those as depicted in the FCC filing for "Authority to
Launch and Operate a Satellite System to Provide Mobile Satellite
Services in the 2 GHz Bands" dated Nov. 3, 2000, relating to the
Globalstar.RTM. system, which is hereby incorporated by reference;
the FCC filing in the matter of Mobile Satellite Ventures
Subsidiary, LLC for "Minor Amendment of Application to Launch and
Operate a Replacement L Band Mobile Service Satellite at
101.degree. West" dated Nov. 18, 2003; and the FCC filing by
Thoraya which depicts a one GEO satellite system to provide a
satellite telephone service.
[0042] Thus, it can be seen from the inception of the telephone
through its various phases of improvement, cellular to satellite
cellular telephony, a vast number of advances have been made which
provide a modern, efficient and affordable telephone system which
today, in many cases, supplants the existing telephone system and
may in the future do so on an increasing basis.
[0043] There is, however, a continuing demonstrated need to provide
improved satellite constellation systems, preferably LEO systems,
which provide multiple beams to a plurality of users and employ at
least one gateway connected to a PSTN communicating with a user
over the constellation where each of the users within a given
frequency band is distinguished from another employing orthogonal
codes.
[0044] Although previous patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307
describe or reference a multi-beam satellite system, these beams
are considered to cover fixed regions on the ground, which requires
a GEO satellite. In this case, the same sort of hand-off of a user
terminal from beam to beam can be used as is used in a terrestrial
cellular system. However, the '307 patent does not address the case
where the beams and satellites are rapidly moving as they are in a
MEO or LEO system, since it was written in an era that preceded the
satellite technology that enabled large numbers of relatively
smaller satellites (such as Globalstar's.RTM.) to be economically
and reliably launched and controlled. Therefore, the hand-off
issues described in the '307 patent are much simpler than those
encountered in the Globalstar.RTM. system or similar LEO or MEO
systems, or even those encountered in GEO systems which have
dynamically varying beam shapes, which is another technological
advance that is now feasible in satellite systems. That patent also
does not address packet data services, since those were not widely
used in the time frame of the patent. Other patents that address
packet data services also do not address the LEO, MEO or dynamic
beam GEO systems. The present invention describes a multi-beam LEO,
MEO or GEO satellite system that can be used to provide packet data
services (in addition to voice) for mobile users, that can be
either initiating or receiving packet data calls over the system,
while communicating with either a fixed or mobile user anywhere in
the world.
III. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0045] It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an
improved satellite communication system comprising at least one
satellite employing multiple beams to a plurality of users where
each of the users within a given frequency band is distinguished
from another employing a combination of time division multiplexing
(TDM) and non-orthogonal pseudorandom noise (NOPN) codes and time
slots.
[0046] A further object of this invention is to provide an improved
LEO satellite system which provides multiple beams to a plurality
of users employing at least one gateway connected to a PSTN wherein
each of said UTs within a given frequency band is distinguished
from another of said UTs employing a combination of TDM and NOPN
codes.
[0047] Still another object of this invention is to provide an
improved satellite communication system which provides multiple
beams to a plurality of users employing at least one gateway
connected to an Internet wherein each of said users within a given
frequency band is distinguished from another of said UTs employing
a combination of TDM and NOPN codes wherein each of said users
within a given frequency band is distinguished from another of said
users employing a combination of NOPN codes and time slots.
[0048] Again another object of this invention is to provide an
improved MEO satellite system providing multiple beams to a
plurality of users employing at least one gateway connected to a
PSTN or the Internet wherein each of said users within a given
frequency band is distinguished from another of said users
employing a combination of NOPN codes and time slots.
[0049] Yet again another object of this invention is to provide an
improved satellite communication system which provides multiple
beams to a plurality of users employing at least one gateway
connected to either a PSTN or the Internet wherein the users within
a given frequency band are distinguished one from the other
employing a combination of NOPN codes and time slots.
IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0050] These and other objects of the instant invention are
accomplished, generally speaking, by providing an improved
satellite communication system employing at least one satellite
using multiple beams to a plurality of user terminals wherein a
gateway is employed to connect to either a PSTN or an Internet,
communicating with a user terminal over the constellation so that
the users within a given frequency range are distinguished one from
the other employing a combination of NOPN codes and time slots.
[0051] Thus, for example, in a preferred embodiment an improved LEO
satellite constellation system is provided comprising approximately
40 to 48 satellites as presently employed in the Globalstar.RTM.
system, employing multiple beams which may reach a plurality of
user terminals. This is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,272,325 which is incorporated herein. A gateway is employed
connected to either a PSTN or the Internet and communicating with a
user terminal over the constellation so that each user within a
given frequency band is distinguished from another of said users
employing a combination of TDM and NOPN codes.
[0052] The system described herein employs NOPN codes to serve
fixed terminals. The system includes TDM on the forward link from a
gateway through the satellite to the UT. The forward link
transmission is divided into data frames with multiple slots per
frame. Each slot is assigned to a separate UT so that users are
distinguished from each other by means of the time slots in each
frame. Based on the location of the user, the gateway can assign a
specific beam of a separate satellite. In order to minimize
interference between two users who are assigned the same time slot
in adjacent beams, each transmission is further modulated by a
scrambling code that is a PN, or pseudorandom noise, sequence
uniquely assigned to each beam. Cross-correlation between any two
of these PN sequences is minimal, so as to reduce interference
between beams. If a user's location is covered by two different
satellites, the gateway transmits to that UT on both satellites,
and diversity combining is used in the UT to combine these two
signals and improve bit error rate (BER) performance.
[0053] The power allocated to each UT in each time slot is
predetermined by the gateway and is used to vary the data rate to
the UT as its propagation environment changes. This technique is
also referred to in the art as HSDPA, or high speed digital packet
access in the terrestrial WCDMA standard, or wideband CDMA. An
alternative is to use power control similar to what is employed in
the current generation of Globalstar.RTM. where the UT data rate is
kept constant and the power transmitted to the UT is varied
according to propagation environment.
[0054] The center frequency of the signal transmitted to each UT is
adjusted to pre-compensate for Doppler between the gateway and
satellite, thus minimizing the search time and window that the UT
needs to lock on to the signal. This technique is currently used in
the Globalstar.RTM. system. Similarly, the timing of signals in
each time slot transmitted to each UT is adjusted by the gateway
based on a calculated position of each UT; this calculation may be
done either by incorporating GPS into each UT, which informs the
gateway of its coordinates, or by other known methods of position
location, such as the techniques currently employed in the
Globalstar.RTM. system which is predicated on triangulation using
multiple different delays from different satellites.
[0055] A separate narrowband control signal is transmitted from the
gateway to each UT having a fixed frequency for all UTs and is
employed to inform the UTs as to the center frequency to be used in
transmitting forward link signals in that gateway service area.
[0056] In the reverse link from UT to satellite to gateway, each
user is assigned a different phase shift of a long PN code. These
phase shifts ensure that the cross-correlation between different
user signals at the gateway is minimal. This technique is referred
to as NOPN in this invention since these PN codes are not
orthogonal, although they have low cross-correlation. Transmissions
through multiple satellites are combined at the gateway as in the
current Globalstar.RTM. system. Each transmission from a UT
consists of a short preamble which is used to reduce burst
acquisition complexity at the gateway. Each preamble identifies all
users transmitting at a unique data rate. Reverse link power
control may be performed as in the current Globalstar.RTM. system,
where data rate is fixed and power is varied as needed to meet the
link budget, or by varying the data rate and keeping UT power
fixed, as was mentioned for the forward link recited above.
Typically, this presents a tradeoff which needs to be made between
allowing a greater number of UT data rates to improve granularity
of power utilization versus hardware complexity at the gateway.
[0057] In this system, the gateway receiver compensates for the
gateway to satellite Doppler based on accurately known satellite
positions and for the less precisely known UT locations.
[0058] Typically, for the forward link each user is assigned a
fixed time slot of a frame such as 5 ms slot in a 40 ms frame and
different users are time division multiplexed, or TDM, onto a
single frequency carrier. In the return direction, the data from
the different UTs is distinguished using different time slots which
may typically be 10 MS long; a group of users assigned a particular
time slot and a particular phase shift of a very long pseudorandom
code, or PN code. Different phase shifts of such a code are used to
increase the number of users supported since the number of time
slots of a single code would limit the number of users that can be
supported. This describes the conventional technique referred to as
NOPN, or non-orthogonal PN code usage.
[0059] Any suitable satellite may be employed in the system of the
instant invention. Typical satellites include bent pipe repeaters,
satellites equipped with low end processing power to those that
include high processing systems.
[0060] Any suitable gateway may be employed in the system of the
instant invention. Typical gateways include the Globalstar.RTM.
gateway which is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,514,
FIG. 2B.
[0061] The gateway consists of the following major subsystems:
[0062] a) Transceivers and associated RF antennas, which transmit
RF signals to the satellite constellation and receive RF signals
from the satellite constellation. A typical gateway for a satellite
system has two or more antennas each of which is able to track one
of the two or more satellites visible to the gateway. [0063] b) A
TDM/NOPN code subsystem that modulates/demodulates and
spreads/despreads the COMA signals that are being
transmitted/received by the transceivers. [0064] c) A Gateway
Controller (GC) that is used to control the operation of all the
gateway subsystems. [0065] d) A Baseband Processing Subsystem (BPS)
that processes and transmits the baseband signals between the CDMA
subsystem and an IS-41 switch and/or a GSM switch, both of which
connect to the PSTN and enable the mobile satellite users' calls to
be routed to and from terrestrial callers on the PSTN. [0066] e) A
Call Control Processor (CCP) that generally handles radio setup and
channel assignments, along with other call related functions. The
CCP may include the gateway Visitor Location Register (VLR) that
enables roaming between gateways. [0067] f) Current gateways
comprise a Global Mobile System Interface (GSMI) or a router which
connects to the Internet. The router routes data packets to/from
the Internet or other packet data network. The GSMI detects the
presence of a GSM call and routes it to the GSM switch and enables
GSM roaming. Optimal systems would not have a GSMI.
[0068] The signal is received at the MSS Gateway and, after
downconverting, demodulating in transceivers and CDMA system, and
otherwise being processed, is delivered to a BPS. The signal after
processing by the BPS is provided as an output. This output signal
may be sent to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), such as an IS-41
switch or a GSM switch (that contains the GSM VLR), or to a Router,
or it may be provided directly to the HS/LS Interface in the High
Speed System. Depending on the means chosen, the signal is either
routed via an internal or external network to the Operations Center
(also referred to herein as the User Control Center). The signal is
then processed by the Operations Center and, depending on the
nature of the call setup desired, is routed to the external network
for interaction with the Media provider, or is used otherwise in
the Operations Center. The Operations Center may be collocated with
the Gateway, or it may be at a remote location and connected though
the external network.
[0069] Further components of the MSS Gateway include a Call Control
Processor (CCP) that generally handles radio setup and channel
assignments, among other call-related functions. The CCP can
include the Gateway VLR. A GSMI detects the presence of a GSM call
and routes the call to the GSM switch, enabling the possibility of
GSM roaming. These various components can be included with or
within a signaling system seven (SS-7) server unit. If present, the
HLR could be part of the SS-7 server.
[0070] The Gateway Controller (GC) provides overall control of the
Gateway, and that provides an interface to and controls the
operation of the set of High Speed Equipment.
[0071] It should be noted that if the media or data flowing towards
the user is low speed data, the signal after processing by the
Operations Center is sent to the MSS system for delivery via the
satellites to the UT in the normal manner of the MSS system. The
decision logic or point of which path (LS or HS) to use may be
located in the Operations Center, or may be located in the HS/LS
Interface.
[0072] The UT can be used for the delivery of tracking and terminal
control signals, as well as for low speed (MSS) data delivery and
transmission. The MSS system receives supervision and control
signals from the Operations Control Center or from any external
facility. Alternatively, the UT and the Dual Terminal can be
controlled from the HS Data System collocated with the MSS Gateway.
Commands and other signals are sent via the MSS low speed data
system over Control and Supervision Links. In an alternative
embodiment, the commands and other signals may be sent over the
High Speed system. As was mentioned above, a packet data modem
could also be used, as could more than one UT.
[0073] Tracking signals are important when the Dual Terminal is
fitted with tracking antennas. A MSS Ground Operations Control
Center (GOCC) provides information over a Ground Data Network (GDN)
as to which satellite(s) of the constellation to use and for other
transmission parameters, such as power at which to transmit,
frequencies to use, which RF antenna(s) are to be used, etc.
Antenna pointing information is sent to the Operations Center,
which is preferably also connected to the GDN. The tracking and
other information is sent over the Control and Supervision links to
the UT and, after processing, to the baseband unit of the Dual
Terminal: The baseband unit converts the information to control
signals used by a Track Information unit to point and track the
antenna or antennas of the Dual Terminal.
[0074] Also located in the High Speed Equipment System of the Dual
Gateway is a Control and Billing Management system. The Billing and
Management system is preferably connected to the GOCC via the GDN,
but may instead be connected to the Gateway Management System (GMS)
of the MSS Gateway. The Billing and Management system accounts for
system usage and provides Call Detail Records and other information
such that the user can be charged appropriately, and so that the
air time used can be correctly charged to the system provider.
[0075] System control is exercised so that priorities of
transmission are accounted for. For example, High Speed Data may be
restricted during certain periods of time in order to allow maximum
MSS voice circuit usage during high voice traffic periods.
Conversely, more of the MSS bandwidth can be allocated to the High
Speed Data Services during periods of lower MSS voice/data traffic
demand. In this case the high speed data can be spread over a wider
bandwidth, enabling higher data rates. It should be noted that in
some embodiments it may not be necessary to share the in-band
spectrum between the LS/HS services, as adjacent spectrum may be
employed for providing the HS services (and/or for providing the LS
services). Gateway provider control can be used for these purposes,
or the control may be dictated by the GOCC under the direction of
the system operator.
[0076] Any suitable satellite constellation may be employed to
practice the system of the instant invention. Typical satellite
constellations include LEO, MEO and GEO. Preferred of these is the
LEO satellite which provides the requisite signal reception,
reliability and clarity.
[0077] Any suitable user terminal may be employed in the system of
the instant invention. Typical user terminals include mobile
phones, PDAs, laptops, fixed phones, satellite data modem, car
kits, airplane phones, and any devices or sensors that can be
interfaced to any of the above. Preferable of these is the
Globalstar.RTM. satellite phone GSP 1600, Iridium satellite phone,
and the like.
[0078] Any suitable gateway may be employed in the system of the
instant invention. Typical gateways include those described in
assignee Globalstar's.RTM. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,775,251, 6,735,440,
6,661,996, 6,253,080, 6,134,423, 6,067,442, 5,918,157, 5,884,142,
5,812,538, 5,758,261, 5,634,190 and 5,592,481. A preferable one of
these is the gateway as described in FIG. 2B of U.S. Pat. No.
6,804,514.
IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0079] The above set forth and other features of the invention are
made more apparent in the ensuing Detailed Description of the
Invention when read in conjunction with the attached drawings,
wherein:
[0080] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a satellite communication
system that is constructed and operated in accordance with a
presently preferred embodiment of this invention;
[0081] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one of the gateways of FIG.
1;
[0082] FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the communications payload of
one of the satellites of FIG. 1;
[0083] FIG. 3B illustrates a portion of a beam pattern that is
associated with one of the satellites of FIG. 1; and
[0084] FIG. 4 is a block diagram that depicts the ground equipment
support of satellite telemetry and control functions.
VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0085] FIG. 1 illustrates a presently preferred embodiment of a
satellite communication system 10 that is suitable for use with the
presently preferred embodiment of this invention. Before describing
this invention in detail, a description will first be made of the
communication system 10 so that a more complete understanding may
be had of the present invention.
[0086] The communication system 10 may be conceptually sub-divided
into a plurality of segments 1, 2, 3 and 4. Segment 1 is referred
to herein as a space segment, segment 2 as a user segment, segment
3 as a ground (terrestrial) segment, and segment 4 as a terrestrial
system infrastructure segment; e.g., a telephone
infrastructure.
[0087] In the presently preferred embodiment of this invention
there are a total of 48 satellites in, by example, a 1414 km Low
Earth Orbit (LEO). The satellites 12 are distributed in eight
orbital planes with six equally-spaced satellites per plane (Walker
constellation). The orbital planes are inclined at 52 degrees with
respect to the equator and each satellite completes an orbit once
every 114 minutes. This approach provides approximately full-earth
coverage with, preferably, at least two satellites in view at any
given time from a particular user location between about 70 degree
south latitude and about 70 degree north latitude. As such, a user
is enabled to communicate to or from nearly any point on the
earth's surface within a gateway (GW) 18 coverage area to or from
other points on the earth's surface (by way of the PSTN), via one
or more gateways 18 and one or more of the satellites 12, possibly
also using a portion of the terrestrial infrastructure segment
4.
[0088] It is noted at this point that the foregoing and ensuing
description of the system 10 represents but one suitable embodiment
of a communication system within which the teaching of this
invention may find use. That is, the specific details of the
communication system are not to be read or construed in a limiting
sense upon the practice of this invention.
[0089] Continuing now with a description of the system 10, a soft
transfer (handoff) process between satellites 12, and also between
individual ones of 16 spot beams transmitted by each satellite
(FIG. 3B), provides unbroken communications via a combination of
time division and phase shifts of long PN codes.
[0090] The low earth orbits permit low-powered fixed or mobile user
terminals 13 to communicate via the satellites 12, each of which
functions, in a presently preferred embodiment of this invention,
solely as a "bent pipe" repeater to receive a communications
traffic signal (such as speech and/or data) from a user terminal 13
or from a gateway 18, convert the received communications traffic
signal to another frequency band, and to then re-transmit the
converted signal. That is, no on-board signal processing of a
received communications traffic signal occurs, and the satellite 12
does not become aware of any intelligence that a received or
transmitted communications traffic signal may be conveying.
[0091] Furthermore, there need be no direct communication link or
links between the satellites 12. That is, each of the satellites 12
receives a signal only from a transmitter located in the user
segment 2 or from a transmitter located in the ground segment 3,
and transmits a signal only to a receiver located in the user
segment 2 or to a receiver located in the ground segment 3.
[0092] The user segment 2 may include a plurality of types of user
terminals 13 that are adapted for communication with the satellites
12. The user terminals 13 include, by example, a plurality of
different types of fixed and mobile user terminals including, but
not limited to, handheld mobile radio-telephones 14, vehicle
mounted mobile radio-telephones 15, paging/messaging-type devices
16, and fixed radio-telephones 14a. The user terminals 13 are
preferably provided with omnidirectional antennas 13a for
bidirectional communication via one or more of the satellites
12.
[0093] It is noted that the fixed radio-telephones 14a may employ a
directional antenna. This is advantageous in that it enables a
reduction in interference with a consequent increase in the number
of users that can be simultaneously serviced with one or more of
the satellites 12.
[0094] It is further noted that the user terminals 13 may be dual
use devices that include circuitry for also communicating in a
conventional manner with a terrestrial cellular system.
[0095] Referring also to FIG. 3A, the user terminals 13 may be
capable of operating in a full duplex mode and communicate via, by
example, L-band RF links (uplink or return link 17b) and S-band RF
links (downlink or forward link 17a) through return and forward
satellite transponders 12a and 12b, respectively. The return L-band
RF links 17b may operate within a frequency range of 1.61 GHz to
1.625 GHz, a bandwidth of 16.5 MHz, and are modulated with
packetized digital voice signals and/or data signals in accordance
with the preferred spread spectrum technique. The forward S-band RF
links 17a may operate within a frequency range of 2.485 GHz to 2.5
GHz, a bandwidth of 16.5 MHz. The forward RF links 17a are also
modulated at a gateway 18 with packetized digital voice signals
and/or data signals in accordance with the spread spectrum
technique.
[0096] The 16.5 MHz bandwidth of the forward link is partitioned
into 13 channels with up to, by example, 128 users being assigned
per channel. The return link may have various bandwidths, and a
given user terminal 13 may or may not be assigned a different
channel than the channel assigned on the forward link. However,
when operating in the diversity reception mode on the return link
(receiving from two or more satellites 12), the user is assigned
the same forward and return link RF channel for each of the
satellites.
[0097] The ground segment 3 includes at least one but generally a
plurality of the gateways 18 that communicate with the satellites
12 via, by example, a full duplex C-band RF link 19 (forward link
19a to the satellite), (return link 19b from the satellite) that
operates within a range of frequencies generally above 3 GHz and
preferably in the C-band. The C-band RF links bidirectionally
convey the communication feeder links, and also convey satellite
commands to the satellites and telemetry information from the
satellites. The forward feeder link 19a may operate in the band of
5 GHz to 5.25 GHz, while the return feeder link 19b may operate in
the band of 6.875 GHz to 7.075 GHz.
[0098] The satellite feeder link antennas 12g and 12h are
preferably wide coverage antennas that subtend a maximum earth
coverage area as seen from the LEO satellite 12. In the presently
preferred embodiment of the communication system 10 the angle
subtended from a given LEO satellite 12 (assuming 10.degree.
elevation angles from the earth's surface) is approximately
110.degree.. This yields a coverage zone that is approximately 3600
miles in diameter.
[0099] The L-band and the S-band antennas are multiple beam
antennas that provide coverage within an associated terrestrial
service region. The L-band and S-band antennas 12c and 12d,
respectively, are preferably congruent with one another, as
depicted in FIG. 3B. That is, the transmit and receive beams from
the spacecraft cover the same are on the earth's surface, although
this feature is not critical to the operation of the system 10.
[0100] As an example, several thousand full duplex communications
may occur through a given one of the satellites 12. In accordance
with a feature of the system 10, two or more satellites 12 may each
convey the same communication between a given user terminal 13 and
one of the gateways 18. This mode of operation, as described in
detail below, thus provides for diversity combining at the
respective receivers, leading to an increased resistance to fading
and facilitating the implementation of a soft handoff
procedure.
[0101] It is pointed out that all of the frequencies, bandwidths
and the like that are described herein are representative of but
one particular system. Other frequencies and bands of frequencies
may be used with no change in the principles being discussed. As
but one example, the feeder links between the gateways and the
satellites may use frequencies in a band other than the C-band
(approximately 3 GHz to approximately 7 GHz), for example the Ku
band (approximately 10 GHz to approximately 15 GHz) or the Ka band
(above approximately 15 GHz).
[0102] The gateways 18 function to couple the communications
payload or transponders 12a and 12b (FIG. 3A) of the satellites 12
to the terrestrial infrastructure segment 4. The transponders 12a
and 12b include an L-band receive antenna 12c, S-band transmit
antenna 12d, C-band power amplifier 12e, C-band low noise amplifier
12f, C-band antennas 12g and 12h, L-band to C-band frequency
conversion section 12i, and C-band to S-band frequency conversion
section 12j. The satellite 12 also includes a master frequency
generator 12k and command and telemetry equipment 12l.
[0103] Reference in this regard may also be had to U.S. Pat. No.
5,422,647, by E. Hirshfield and C. A. Tsao, entitled "Mobile
Communications Satellite "Payload", which discloses one type of
communications satellite payload that is suitable for use with the
teaching of this invention.
[0104] The terrestrial infrastructure segment 4 is comprised of
existing terrestrial systems and includes Public Land Mobile
Network (PLMN) gateways 20, local telephone exchanges such as
regional public telephone networks (RPTN) 22 or other local
telephone service providers, domestic long distance networks 24,
international networks 26, Internet 28 and other RPTNs 30. The
communication system 10 operates to provide bidirectional voice
and/or data communication between the user segment 2 and Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telephones 32 and non-PSTN
telephones 32 of the terrestrial infrastructure segment 4, or other
user terminals of various types, which may be private networks.
[0105] Also shown in FIG. 1 (and also in FIG. 4), as a portion of
the ground segment 3, is a Satellite Operations Control Center
(SOCC) 36, and a Ground Operations Control Center (GOCC) 38. A
communication path, which includes a Ground Data Network (GDN) 39
(see FIG. 2), is provided for interconnecting the gateways 18 and
TCUs 18a, SOCC 36 and GOCC 38 of the ground segment 3. This portion
of the communication system 10 provides overall system control
functions.
[0106] FIG. 2 shows one of the gateways 18 in greater detail. Each
gateway 18 includes up to four dual polarization RF C-band
subsystems each comprising a dish antenna 40, antenna drive 42 and
pedestal 42a, low noise receivers 44, and high power amplifiers 46.
All of these components may be located within a radome structure to
provide environmental protection.
[0107] The gateway 18 further includes down converters 48 and up
converters 50 for processing the received and transmitted RF
carrier signals, respectively.
[0108] The down converters 48 and the up converters 50 are
connected to a baseband subsystem 52 which, in turn, is coupled to
the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) through a PSTN
interface 54. As an option, the PSTN could be bypassed by using
satellite-to-satellite links.
[0109] The baseband subsystem 52 includes a signal summer/switch
unit 52a, a Gateway Transceiver Subsystem (GTS) 52b, a GTSC
controller 52c, and a baseband processor 52d. It also includes the
required frequency synthesizer 52g and a GPS receiver 52h.
[0110] The PSTN interface 54 includes a PSTN Service Switch Point
(SSP) 54a, a Call Control Processor (CCP) 54b, a Visitor Location
Register (VLR) 54c, and a protocol interface 54d to a Home Location
Register (HLR). The HLR may be located in the cellular gateway 20
(FIG. 1) or, optionally, in the PSTN interface 54.
[0111] The gateway 18 is connected to telecommunication networks
through a standard interface made through the SSP 54a. The gateway
18 provides an interface, and connects to the PSTN via Primary Rate
Interface (PRI), or other suitable means. The gateway 18 is further
capable of providing a direct connection to a Mobile Switching
Center (MSC).
[0112] The gateway 18 provides SS-7 ISDN fixed signaling to the CCP
54b. On the gateway side of this interface, the CCP 54b interfaces
with the baseband processor 52d and hence to the baseband subsystem
52. The CCP 54b provides protocol translation functions for the
system Air Interface (Al).
[0113] Blocks 54c and 54d generally provide an interface between
the gateway 18 and an external cellular telephone network that is
compatible, for example, with the IS-41 (North American Standard,
AMPS) or the GSM (European Standard, MAP) cellular systems and, in
particular, to the specified methods for handling roamers, that is,
users who place calls outside of their home system. The gateway 18
supports user terminal authentication for system 10/AMPS phones and
for system 10/GSM phones. In service areas where there is no
existing telecommunications infrastructure, an HLR can be added to
the gateway 18 and interfaced with the SS-7 signaling
interface.
[0114] A user making a call out of the user's normal service area
(a roamer) is accommodated by the system 10 if authorized. In that
a roamer may be found in any environment, a user may employ the
same terminal equipment to make a call from anywhere in the world,
and the necessary protocol conversions are made transparently by
the gateway 18. The protocol interface 54d is bypassed when not
required to convert, by example, GSM to AMPS.
[0115] It is within the scope of the teaching of this invention to
provide a dedicated universal interface to the cellular gateways
20, in addition to or in place of the conventional "A" interface
specified for GSM mobile switching centers and vendor-proprietary
interfaces to IS-41 mobile switching centers. It is further within
the scope of this invention to provide an interface directly to the
PSTN, as indicated in FIG. 1 as the signal path designated
PSTN-INT.
[0116] Overall gateway control is provided by the gateway
controller 56 which includes an interface 56a to the
above-mentioned Ground Data Network (GDN) 39 and an interface 56b
to a Service Provider Control Center (SPCC) 60. The gateway
controller 56 is generally interconnected to the gateway 18 through
the BSM 52f and through RF controllers 43 associated with each of
the antennas 40. The gateway controller 56 is further coupled to a
database 62, such as a database of users, satellite ephemeris data,
etc., and to an I/O unit 64 that enables service personnel to gain
access to the gateway controller 56. The GDN 39 is also
bidirectionally interfaced to a Telemetry and Command Unit (TCU)
18A (FIGS. 1 and 4).
[0117] Referring to FIG. 4, the function of the GOCC 38 is to plan
and control satellite utilization by the gateways 18, and to
coordinate this utilization with the SOCC 36. In general, the GOCC
38 analyses trends, generates traffic plans, allocates satellite 12
and system resources (such as, but not limited to, power and
channel allocations), monitors the performance of the overall
system 10, and issues utilization instructions, via the GDN 39, to
the gateways 18 in real time or in advance.
[0118] The SOCC 36 operates to maintain and monitor orbits, to
relay satellite usage information to the gateway for input to the
GOCC 38 via the GDN 39, to monitor the overall functioning of each
satellite 12, including the state of the satellite batteries, to
set the gain for the RF signal paths within the satellite 12, to
ensure optimum satellite orientation with respect to the surface of
the earth, in addition to other functions.
[0119] As described above, each gateway 18 functions to connect a
given user to the PSTN for both signaling, voice and/or data
communications and also to generate date, via database 62 (FIG. 2),
for billing purposes. Selected gateways 18 include a Telemetry and
Command Unit (TCU) 18a for receiving telemetry data that is
transmitted by the satellites 12 over the return link 19b and for
transmitting commands up to the satellites 12 via the forward link
19a. The GDN 39 operates to interconnect the gateways 18, GOCC 38
and the SOCC 36.
[0120] In general, each satellite 12 of the LEO constellation
operates to relay information from the gateways 18 to the users (C
band forward link 19a to S band forward link 17a), and to relay
information from the users to the gateways 18 (L band return link
17b to C band return link 19b). Satellite ephemeris update data is
also communicated to each of the user terminals 13, from the
gateway 18, via the satellites 12. The satellites 12 also function
to relay signaling information from the user terminals 13 to the
gateway 18, including access requests, power change requests, and
registration requests. The satellites 12 also relay communication
signals between the users and the gateways 18, and may apply
security to mitigate unauthorized use.
[0121] In operation, the satellites 12 transmit spacecraft
telemetry data that includes measurements of satellite operational
status. The telemetry stream from the satellites, the commands from
the SOCC 36, and the communications feeder links 19 all share the C
band antennas 12g and 12h. For those gateways 18 that include a TCU
18a, the received satellite telemetry data may be forwarded
immediately to the SOCC 36, or the telemetry data may be stored and
subsequently forwarded to the SOCC 36 at a later time, typically
upon SOCC request. The telemetry data, whether transmitted
immediately or stored and subsequently forwarded, is sent over the
GDN 39 as packet messages, each packet message containing a single
minor telemetry frame. Should more than one SOCC 36 be providing
satellite support, the telemetry data is routed to all of the
SOCCs.
[0122] The SOCC 36 has several interface functions with the GOCC
38. One interface function is orbit position information, wherein
the SOCC 36 provides orbital information to the GOCC 38 such that
each gateway 18 can accurately track up to four satellites that may
be in view of the gateway. This data includes data tables that are
sufficient to allow the gateways 18 to develop their own satellite
contact lists, using known algorithms. The SOCC 36 is not required
to know the gateway tracking schedules. The TCU 18a searches the
downlink telemetry band and uniquely identifies the satellite being
tracked by each antenna prior to the propagation of commands.
[0123] Another interface function is satellite status information
that is reported from the SOCC 36 to the GOCC 38. The satellite
status information includes both satellite/transponder
availability, battery status and orbital information and
incorporates, in general, any satellite-related limitations that
would preclude the use of all or a portion of a satellite 12 for
communications purposes.
[0124] Thus, for example, in a preferred embodiment an improved LEO
satellite constellation system is provided comprising approximately
40 to 48 satellites as presently employed in the Globalstar.RTM.
system, employing multiple beams which may reach a plurality of
user terminals. This is more fully described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,272,325 which is incorporated herein. A gateway is employed
connected to either a PSTN or the Internet and communicating with a
user terminal over the constellation so that each user within a
given frequency band is distinguished from another of said users
employing a combination of TDM and NOPN codes.
[0125] The system described herein employs NOPN codes to serve
fixed terminals. The system includes TDM on the forward link from a
gateway through the satellite to the UT. The forward link
transmission is divided into data frames with multiple slots per
frame. Each slot is assigned to a separate UT so that users are
distinguished from each other by means of the time slots in each
frame. Based on the location of the user, the gateway can assign a
specific beam of a separate satellite. In order to minimize
interference between two users who are assigned the same time slot
in adjacent beams, each transmission is further modulated by a
scrambling code that is a PN, or pseudorandom noise, sequence
uniquely assigned to each beam. Cross-correlation between any two
of these PN sequences is minimal, so as to reduce interference
between beams. If a user's location is covered by two different
satellites, the gateway transmits to that UT on both satellites,
and diversity combining is used in the UT to combine these two
signals and improve bit error rate (BER) performance.
[0126] The power allocated to each UT in each time slot is
predetermined by the gateway and is used to vary the data rate to
the UT as its propagation environment changes. This technique is
also referred to in the art as HSDPA, or high speed digital packet
access in the terrestrial WCDMA standard, or wideband CDMA. An
alternative is to use power control similar to what is employed in
the current generation of Globalstar.RTM. where the UT data rate is
kept constant and the power transmitted to the UT is varied
according to propagation environment.
[0127] The center frequency of the signal transmitted to each UT is
adjusted to pre-compensate for Doppler between the gateway and
satellite, thus minimizing the search time and window that the UT
needs to lock on to the signal. This technique is currently used in
the Globalstar.RTM. system. Similarly, the timing of signals in
each time slot transmitted to each UT is adjusted by the gateway
based on a calculated position of each UT; this calculation may be
done either by incorporating GPS into each UT, which informs the
gateway of its coordinates, or by other known methods of position
location, such as the techniques currently employed in the
Globalstar.RTM. system which is predicated on triangulation using
multiple different delays from different satellites.
[0128] A separate narrowband control signal is transmitted from the
gateway to each UT having a fixed frequency for all UTs and is
employed to inform the UTs as to the center frequency to be used in
transmitting forward link signals in that gateway service area.
[0129] In the reverse link from UT to satellite to gateway, each
user is assigned a different phase shift of a long PN code. These
phase shifts ensure that the cross-correlation between different
user signals at the gateway is minimal. This technique is referred
to as NOPN in this invention since these PN codes are not
orthogonal, although they have low cross-correlation. Transmissions
through multiple satellites are combined at the gateway as in the
current Globalstar.RTM. system. Each transmission from a UT
consists of a short preamble which is used to reduce burst
acquisition complexity at the gateway. Each preamble identifies all
users transmitting at a unique data rate. Reverse link power
control may be performed as in the current Globalstar.RTM. system,
where data rate is fixed and power is varied as needed to meet the
link budget, or by varying the data rate and keeping UT power
fixed, as was mentioned for the forward link recited above.
Typically, this presents a tradeoff which needs to be made between
allowing a greater number of UT data rates to improve granularity
of power utilization versus hardware complexity at the gateway.
[0130] In this system, the gateway receiver compensates for the
gateway to satellite Doppler based on accurately known satellite
positions and for the less precisely known UT locations.
[0131] Typically, for the forward link each user is assigned a
fixed time slot of a frame such as 5 ms slot in a 40 ms frame and
different users are time division multiplexed, or TDM, onto a
single frequency carrier. In the return direction, the data from
the different UTs is distinguished using different time slots which
may typically be 10 MS long; a group of users assigned a particular
time slot and a particular phase shift of a very long pseudorandom
code, or PN code. Different phase shifts of such a code are used to
increase the number of users supported since the number of time
slots of a single code would limit the number of users that can be
supported. This describes the conventional technique referred to as
NOPN, or non-orthogonal PN code usage.
[0132] While the present invention has been particularly described
with respect to certain components in its preferred embodiment, it
will be understood that the invention is not limited to these
particular components described in the preferred embodiments, or
the sequence in employing or methods of processing the components.
On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit
and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.
[0133] In addition, other components may be employed in the system
of the instant invention as claimed as well as variations and
alternatives to the components disclosed and claimed with similar
results with regard to the operation and function of the system of
the instant invention. In particular, the scope of the invention is
intended to include, for example GEO satellites equipped with
dynamic beam forming which further enhances the performance of the
system, or equipped with a Digital Channelizer Router (DCR) or
employing virtual gateway techniques as set out in U.S. Pat. No.
6,735,440, especially in FIGS. 15B-C.
[0134] This may be combined with reconfigurable beam forming or
dynamic beam forming.
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