Hybrid dual-band satellite communication system

Abstract

A hybrid satellite communication system in which a hub station transmits signals to remote stations through a satellite at a relatively low frequency unaffected by weather effects and in which the remote stations transmit signals to the hub station at a relatively higher frequency which enables use of more economical equipment at remote stations. The hub station senses signal quality or strength received from each remote station and transmits power control signals to remote stations with poor signal strengths to cause such remote stations to increase output power to overcome weather effects. The power control signals are transmitted on the lower frequency to prevent the power control signals from being masked by the weather effects. A communications satellite can the either geostationary or low Earth orbit (LEO). Data can also be transmitted on the relatively low frequency. The communication system can utilize antennae with dish, array and other suitable configurations.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 9,026,106, issued May 5, 2015, and U.S. Pat. No. 9,648,568, issued May 9, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to satellite communication systems and, more particularly, to such a system which communicates from a communication hub to a remote station on one band and from the remote station to the hub on another band.2. Description of the Related Art[0003]Modern telecommunication systems provide means for communicating vocal conversations, email, and various kinds of data from originating sources to destinations over twisted pair landlines, coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, and radio frequency communication links. Satellite communications have become an important mode of communications for large and small entities for both one-way services, such as television signals, and two-way servi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a hybrid satellite communication system where the hub station transmits signals to remote stations through a satellite at a lower frequency that is not affected by weather, while the remote stations transmit signals to the hub station at a higher frequency that allows for the use of more economical equipment. The hub station senses the signal quality or strength received from each remote station and transmits power control signals to remote stations with poor signal strengths to increase their output power. The power control signals are transmitted on the lower frequency to prevent weather effects from masking the power control signals. The invention also provides a technique to send the outbound signals from the hub at a much lower frequency band that is virtually unaffected by weather via the same satellite that is receiving a higher frequency band signal from the remote site. This requires special antennas and specially designed feeds that allow simultaneous transmission of a high band frequency band while receiving a lower band frequency. The invention also employs an antenna configuration enabling the use of a reduced size dish without causing interference effects by receiving signals from or transmitting signals to multiple satellites.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with higher frequency bands with satellite technology is that they tend to be highly susceptible to local rain or weather fade due to the nature of the frequencies used.

This works some of the time quite well, but the same local weather anomaly that causes the problem with the inbound signal to the hub also creates a problem with the outbound power control signal to the remote site.

Eventually, the control signal cannot reach the remote site electronics with sufficient strength and the remote site shuts down until it can receive a valid command.

This drastically reduces reliability and, as a result, the higher frequency band networks are generally designed to be out of service for about 50 hours per year due to weather.

For government, business and customer applications that need to know weather and other critical information, these 50 hours of downtime can be a significant problem.

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