Communication device, artificial satellite, communication method, and program

Abstract

To provide a communication device and the like that can stably acquire information of a target signal that is the target of information extraction and included in an input signal.SOLUTION: A communication device includes a received signal receiving unit that receives a received signal received by an antenna, a branching unit that branches the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal, an information extraction signal amplification unit that amplifies the information extraction signal at an information extraction signal amplification ratio that is an amplification ratio of the information extraction signal that is set independently of a command extraction signal amplification ratio that is an amplification ratio of the command extraction signal, and an extracted information output unit that outputs extracted information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication device, a satellite, a communication method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the utilization of satellites has expanded, and due to large-scale LEO (Low Earth Orbit) constellations of private companies, the number of satellites launched from various countries has been increasing. As a result, there has been a problem that radio waves from surrounding satellites or ground stations operating them interfere with the operating bands of other satellites.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a method for reducing envelope feedback interference and maximizing data throughput. The method of Patent Document 1 processes an input signal in the frequency and time domains, characterizes an interference signal without specific prior knowledge of the interference signal, and uses the characterized interference signal to generate a clean copy of the carrier of the input signal. The method of Patent Document 1 inverts the clean copy of the carrier to correct the gain and phase, and adds the determined clean copy of the carrier to the input signal to generate an output signal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As a countermeasure against interference waves that interfere with the operating band of a satellite, in an artificial satellite in orbit, it is possible to monitor the radio wave environment using the received signal. At that time, for example, information on interference waves is extracted from the received signal. Generally, the intensity of the signal received by an artificial satellite orbiting the Earth varies due to factors such as fluctuations in the distance between the artificial satellite and the ground station. An artificial satellite is equipped with an AGC (Auto Gain Control) function that adjusts the gain of the receiving system according to the received signal level so that the signal level at the end of the receiving system remains constant. In such a case, information such as the intensity of the interference wave that can be obtained from the received signal will vary due to the AGC. In other words, even if the interference wave is constant, the information on the interference wave obtained may not be stable due to the influence of the AGC.

[0006] In the technology of Patent Document 1, an output signal with reduced influence of interference waves can be obtained. However, in the technology of Patent Document 1, information on interference waves cannot be obtained.

[0007] One of the objectives of the present disclosure is to provide a communication device, an artificial satellite, a communication method, and a program that can stably acquire information on a target signal that is the target of information extraction and is included in an input signal.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0008] A communication device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a received signal receiving unit that receives a received signal received by an antenna, a splitting unit that splits the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal, and an information extraction signal amplification unit that amplifies the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal, and an extraction information output unit that outputs extraction information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal.

[0009] A communication method according to an aspect of the present disclosure receives a received signal received by an antenna, demultiplexes the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal, and independently of a command extraction signal amplification factor that is an amplification factor of the command extraction signal, amplifies the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification factor that is an amplification factor of the information extraction signal, and outputs extraction information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal.

[0010] A program according to an aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to execute a received signal reception process of receiving a received signal received by an antenna, a demultiplexing process of demultiplexing the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal, an information extraction signal amplification process of amplifying the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification factor that is independently set from a command extraction signal amplification factor that is an amplification factor of the command extraction signal, and an extraction information output process of outputting extraction information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal. An aspect of the present disclosure is also realized by a storage medium storing the above-described program.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] The present disclosure has an effect that information of a target signal that is a target of information extraction included in an input signal can be stably acquired.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 7C

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

[0013] Hereinafter, before describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, a comparative example of the present disclosure will be described.

[0014] <Comparative Example> FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the deteriorating radio wave environment of a satellite.

[0015] As described above, in recent years, there has been a problem that radio waves from surrounding satellites or ground stations operating them interfere with the operating bands of other satellites. There have also been cases where intentional interference wave transmissions from the ground to specific satellites have occurred. Due to the deterioration of the on-orbit radio wave environment as shown in, for example, Fig. 3, it is becoming difficult to predict the frequency, timing, and intensity of interference waves in advance. When interference waves interfere and cause problems in the satellite-side command signal reception, it is not possible to easily distinguish whether it is a problem with the satellite reception system or the influence of interference waves (the frequency, timing, intensity, etc. of the interference waves cannot be specified), and there is a concern that it will take time to investigate the cause and normal operation cannot be carried out for a long time.

[0016] As a countermeasure, monitoring of the radio wave environment by an on-orbit spectrum monitor can be mentioned. In recent years, a satellite-mounted transponder (satellite-mounted transceiver) capable of simultaneously performing both the reception of command signals and the spectrum monitoring of interference waves has been considered.

[0017] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a satellite-mounted transceiver according to the present disclosure.

[0018] Hereinafter, the satellite-mounted transceiver according to this comparative example will be described with reference to Fig. 4.

[0019] In the example shown in Fig. 4, the satellite-mounted transceiver 910 includes a reception system high-frequency section 911, an AGC 912, a spectrum monitor / demodulation section 913, a modulation section 916, and a transmission section 917. The satellite-mounted transceiver 910 is connected to a satellite-mounted antenna 920 and a satellite-mounted computer 930.

[0020] The reception system high-frequency section 911 receives an RF (Radio Frequency) reception signal from the satellite-mounted antenna 920. The reception system high-frequency section 911 performs RF signal processing such as LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) amplification and down-conversion on the RF reception signal. A signal generated by performing RF signal processing on the RF reception signal is referred to as a processed signal. The reception system high-frequency section 911 outputs the processed signal. The processed signal is input to the AGC 912.

[0021] In the description of the present disclosure, the RF reception signal output from the satellite-mounted antenna 920 and the processed signal generated by performing RF signal processing on the RF reception signal are collectively referred to as the reception signal.

[0022] The AGC 912 amplifies the processed signal with an amplification factor corresponding to the level of the processed signal indicated by the AGC control signal so that the level of the amplified signal approaches a predetermined level. The signal generated by the AGC 912 amplifying the processed signal is referred to as the amplified signal. The AGC 912 outputs the amplified signal. The amplified signal is input to the spectrum monitor / demodulation unit 913.

[0023] The spectrum monitor / demodulation unit 913 generates a spectrum of the amplified signal (hereinafter also referred to as the received spectrum) from the amplified signal. Further, the spectrum monitor / demodulation unit 913 extracts a command from the amplified signal by performing demodulation processing on the amplified signal. The spectrum monitor / demodulation unit 913 transmits a command signal indicating the extracted command and data of the received spectrum (hereinafter also referred to as received spectrum data) to the satellite-mounted computer 930. The spectrum monitor / demodulation unit 913 further determines an amplification factor corresponding to the level of the processed signal (for example, an amplification factor at which the level of the amplified signal becomes a predetermined level) from the level of the amplified signal. Then, the spectrum monitor / demodulation unit 913 transmits an AGC control signal indicating the determined amplification factor to the AGC 912.

[0024] In this comparative example, the received spectrum data is sent to, for example, a ground station via the satellite-mounted computer. The satellite-mounted computer transmits the received received spectrum data together with telemetry data (hereinafter also referred to as transmitted telemetry data) that the satellite-mounted computer transmits to the ground station as downlink data to the satellite-mounted transceiver 910.

[0025] The modulation unit 916 generates a transmission signal by performing modulation processing on the transmission telemetry data and the received spectrum data from the satellite-mounted computer.

[0026] The transmission unit 917 transmits the transmission signal via the satellite-mounted antenna 920 by transmitting the transmission signal to the satellite-mounted antenna 920.

[0027] The satellite-mounted antenna 920 transmits the transmitted transmission signal to, for example, a ground station.

[0028] In the configuration of the satellite-mounted transceiver of this comparative example, a command is extracted from an amplified signal obtained by the AGC 912 amplifying a processed signal at an amplification factor (i.e., gain) corresponding to the intensity (i.e., level) of the processed signal. Then, a spectrum is generated from the same amplified signal. Therefore, the amplification factor of the amplification by the AGC 912 depends on the intensity of the command signal included in the received signal. In other words, the amplification factor varies according to the variation in the intensity of the command signal. Also, when there are interfering waves outside the monitoring target (for example, interfering waves in a frequency band not used for generating the received spectrum), the amplification factor of the amplification by the AGC 912 depends on the intensities of the command signal and the interfering waves outside the monitoring target received as the received signal. In other words, the amplification factor varies according to the variation in the intensities of the command signal and the interfering waves outside the monitoring target received as the received signal.

[0029] Therefore, information such as the intensity of the interference wave to be monitored obtained from the amplified signal (for example, the interference wave in the frequency band where the received spectrum is generated) varies due to fluctuations in the intensity of signals other than the interference wave to be monitored included in the amplified signal. In this case, for example, the information on the change in the intensity of the interference wave to be monitored obtained from the amplified signal is different from the actual change in the intensity of the interference wave to be monitored when the intensity of the signals other than the interference wave to be monitored included in the amplified signal changes. Information on the change in the intensity of the interference wave to be monitored cannot be stably obtained from the amplified signal. Also, for example, when the intensity of the signals other than the interference wave to be monitored included in the amplified signal changes, information on the spectrum when the intensity of the interference wave to be monitored is constant cannot be obtained. In other words, in this comparative example, information on the interference wave to be monitored cannot be stably obtained.

[0030] In the description of the present disclosure, the interference wave to be monitored is, as described above, for example, a signal in a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band is the frequency band of the signal in which the received spectrum is generated. The interference wave outside the object to be monitored is not a command signal but a signal whose frequency is not included in the predetermined frequency band.

[0031] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a satellite-mounted transceiver according to the present disclosure.

[0033] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 includes a reception system high-frequency unit 11, a gain controller 12, a spectrum monitor unit 13, an AGC 14, a demodulation unit 15, a modulation unit 16, a transmission unit 17, and a wavelength division unit 18. The satellite-mounted transceiver 10 is connected to a satellite-mounted antenna 20 and a satellite-mounted computer 30. The satellite-mounted transceiver 10, the satellite-mounted antenna 20, and the satellite-mounted computer 30 are mounted on an artificial satellite.

[0034] <Satellite-mounted Antenna 20> The satellite-mounted antenna 20 receives a signal including a command signal transmitted from a ground station, and outputs an RF reception signal indicating the received signal toward a satellite-mounted transceiver (also referred to as a satellite-mounted transponder) 10. The RF reception signal is input to the satellite-mounted transceiver 10.

[0035] <RF reception high-frequency section 11> The RF reception high-frequency section 11 generates a processed signal by performing RF signal processing such as LNA amplification and down-conversion on the input RF reception signal. As described above, the processed signal is a signal generated by performing RF signal processing on the RF reception signal. The RF reception high-frequency section 11 outputs the processed signal.

[0036] <Splitter 18> The output processed signal is split into two signals. One of the two signals is input to the gain controller 12. The signal input to the gain controller 12 is referred to as an information extraction signal. The other of the two signals is input to the AGC 14. The signal input to the AGC 14 is referred to as a command extraction signal.

[0037] This splitting is to branch the processed signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal. The splitting may be performed so as to separate the processed signal into a command extraction signal, which is a signal in a frequency band (command extraction signal frequency band) including the frequency of the command signal, and an information extraction signal, which is a signal in a frequency band different from the command extraction signal frequency band. The frequency band different from the command extraction signal frequency band is, for example, a frequency band that does not include the command extraction signal frequency band. The circuit that performs the splitting is the splitter 18.

[0038] As described above, in the description of the present disclosure, the RF reception signal output from the satellite-mounted antenna 920 and the processed signal generated by performing RF signal processing on the RF reception signal are collectively also referred to as a reception signal.

[0039] <Gain controller 12> The gain controller 12 receives an information extraction signal. The gain controller 12 also receives, from the spectrum monitor unit, a gain control signal indicating an information extraction signal amplification factor, which is the amplification factor of the information extraction signal. Then, the gain controller 12 amplifies the information extraction signal according to the information extraction signal amplification factor indicated by the gain control signal. The gain controller 12 outputs the amplified information extraction signal.

[0040] The information extraction signal amplification factor is, for example, a fixed amplification factor. The information extraction signal amplification factor will be described in detail later. Note that the gain controller 12 may be configured to determine the information extraction signal amplification factor according to the intensity of the information extraction signal from the level of the amplified signal. In this case, for example, the gain control signal may indicate an instruction to determine the information extraction signal amplification factor. When the gain controller 12 receives a gain control signal indicating an instruction to determine the information extraction signal amplification factor, the gain controller 12 may determine the information extraction signal amplification factor (specifically, the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor). The gain controller 12 may use a signal in a predetermined frequency band of the information extraction signal to determine the information extraction signal amplification factor. Then, the gain controller 12 may fix the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor to the determined value of the information extraction signal amplification factor.

[0041] <Spectrum monitor unit 13> The spectrum monitor unit 13 receives the amplified information extraction signal (also referred to as the amplified signal).

[0042] The spectrum monitor unit 13 extracts information on interference waves to be monitored from the amplified information extraction signal.

[0043] The spectrum monitor unit 13 also transmits a gain control signal indicating the information extraction signal amplification factor (specifically, the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor) to the gain controller 12.

[0044] As described above, the signal amplification factor for information extraction may be a fixed amplification factor set by, for example, the spectrum monitor unit 13. The fixed amplification factor is an amplification factor whose value does not change even when the level of the signal to be amplified fluctuates. In this case, the spectrum monitor unit 13 transmits a gain control signal indicating the signal amplification factor for information extraction, which is the set fixed amplification factor, to the gain controller 12. The gain controller 12 receives the gain control signal and sets the signal amplification factor for information extraction to the value of the signal amplification factor for information extraction indicated by the gain control signal.

[0045] The spectrum monitor unit 13 may determine the signal amplification factor for information extraction (in other words, the gain) according to the intensity of the information extraction signal from the level of the amplified signal. In this case, the spectrum monitor unit 13 determines the signal amplification factor for information extraction so that, for example, the intensity of the information extraction signal after amplification (that is, the amplified signal) becomes a predetermined intensity. The spectrum monitor unit 13 may control the signal amplification factor for information extraction so that, for example, the intensity of the signal whose frequency is included in a predetermined frequency band among the information extraction signals after amplification becomes a predetermined intensity. The spectrum monitor unit 13 transmits a gain control signal indicating the determined signal amplification factor for information extraction to the gain controller 12. Also in this case, the gain controller 12 receives the gain control signal and sets the signal amplification factor for information extraction to the value of the signal amplification factor for information extraction indicated by the gain control signal.

[0046] Further, the spectrum monitor unit 13 extracts information such as, for example, the spectrum (hereinafter also referred to as the received spectrum) as information on the interference wave to be monitored. The information on the interference wave to be monitored may be information on the intensity of the interference wave to be monitored. The spectrum monitor unit 13 transmits information on the interference wave to be monitored, such as the information on the received spectrum, to the satellite-mounted computer 30.

[0047] Note that the interference wave to be monitored is, for example, a signal whose wavelength is included in a predetermined frequency band (the above-mentioned predetermined frequency band).

[0048] The spectrum monitor unit 13 may extract information on the spectrum of the amplified signal in a preset frequency band. This frequency band may be the same as the frequency band in which the gain controller 12 uses a signal to determine the signal amplification factor for information extraction when the gain controller 12 is configured to determine the signal amplification factor for information extraction. This frequency band may be different from the frequency band in which the gain controller 12 uses a signal to determine the signal amplification factor for information extraction.

[0049] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams schematically showing examples of the information on the extracted interference wave. FIG. 6A shows the transition of the information on the reception spectrum of the interference wave, specifically, the transition of the range of the frequency distribution of the target wave and the interference wave. FIG. 6B shows the information on the reception spectrum at a certain point in time, specifically, the range of the frequency distribution of the target wave and the interference wave. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the target wave represents a command signal. The interference wave represents the interference wave to be monitored.

[0050] <agc14> AGC 14 receives a signal for command extraction.

[0051] AGC 14 amplifies the signal for command extraction so that the level of the signal for command extraction (hereinafter also referred to as the amplification factor for the command signal) becomes a predetermined level (in other words, a predetermined intensity), for example, at the amplification factor indicated by the AGC control signal from the demodulation unit 15 described later.

[0052] AGC 14 amplifies the signal for command extraction at the determined amplification factor for the signal for command extraction.

[0053] <Demodulation unit 15> The demodulation unit 15 extracts a command (also referred to as a received command) from the signal for command extraction by performing demodulation processing on the signal for command extraction amplified by AGC 14 (also referred to as the amplified signal for command extraction). The demodulation unit 15 transmits the received command (specifically, the information representing the received command) to the satellite-mounted computer 30.

[0054] In addition, the demodulation unit 15 determines an amplification factor (that is, the amplification factor for the signal for command extraction) according to the intensity (also referred to as the level) of the signal for command extraction. The demodulation unit 15 may determine the amplification factor for the signal for command extraction so that the level of the signal for command extraction becomes a predetermined level (in other words, a predetermined intensity). The demodulation unit 15 may determine the amplification factor for the signal for command extraction so that the level of the signal for command extraction in the frequency band used for transmitting the command becomes a predetermined level. The frequency band used for transmitting the command may be set in advance and given to the demodulation unit 15.

[0055] The demodulation unit 15 transmits an AGC control signal indicating the determined amplification factor for the signal for command extraction to AGC 14.

[0056] <Satellite-mounted computer 30> The satellite-mounted computer receives information on the interfering wave to be monitored from the spectrum monitor unit 13. The satellite-mounted computer 30 receives the received command from the demodulation unit 15.

[0057] <<Received command>> The received command may be, for example, an instruction for gain control (e.g., an instruction for the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction, or an instruction for AGC). The instruction for AGC is also denoted as an amplification factor instruction. The instruction for AGC is an instruction to set the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction to an amplification factor corresponding to the level of the signal for information extraction. In this case, the satellite-mounted computer 30 transmits an instruction for gain control to the spectrum monitor unit 13. When the spectrum monitor unit 13 receives the instruction for gain control, it generates a gain control signal representing the instruction for gain control, and sends the generated gain control signal to the gain controller 12.

[0058] When the instruction for gain control is an instruction to specify the amplification factor (i.e., the gain), the spectrum monitor unit 13 sends the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction indicated by the instruction for gain control to the gain controller 12 by means of the gain control signal. The gain controller 12 receives the gain control signal indicating the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction, and sets the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction for amplifying the signal for information extraction to the value indicated by the received gain control signal. In other words, when the instruction for gain control is an instruction to specify the amplification factor (i.e., the gain), the gain controller 12 sets the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction to the value specified by the instruction for gain control. When the received command is transmitted from the ground station (i.e., when the signal of the received command included in the RF received signal is a signal sent from the ground station), the gain of the gain controller 12 becomes the value specified by the ground station.

[0059] When the instruction for gain control is an instruction to set the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction to an amplification factor corresponding to the level of the signal for information extraction, the spectrum monitor unit 13 controls the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction using the intensity of the signal for information extraction as described above. In other words, the spectrum monitor unit 13 determines the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction corresponding to the intensity of the signal for information extraction as described above. Then, the spectrum monitor unit 13 sends a gain control signal indicating the determined value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction to the gain controller 12.

[0060] As described above, the gain controller 12 may be configured to determine the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor. In this case, the received command may be, for example, a command that instructs the frequency band of the information extraction signal for which the intensity of the signal used by the gain controller 12 to determine the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor is calculated. In this case, the satellite-mounted computer 30 transmits the frequency band indicated by the command to the gain controller 12 via, for example, the spectrum monitor unit 13.

[0061] The received command may be, for example, a command that instructs the frequency band of the information extraction signal for which the spectrum monitor unit 13 extracts interference wave information. In this case, the satellite-mounted computer 30 transmits the frequency band indicated by the command to the spectrum monitor unit 13, for example.

[0062] The received command may be other commands. The received command may be, for example, a command that instructs observations by sensors connected to the satellite-mounted computer 30. In this case, the satellite-mounted computer 30 performs observations using the sensors connected to the satellite-mounted computer 30. Then, the satellite-mounted computer 30 generates telemetry data (also referred to as telemetry) indicating the results of the observations.

[0063] The satellite-mounted computer 30 transmits data including information on the received spectrum (also referred to as received spectrum data) to the modulation unit 16 as downlink data. When the telemetry data is generated, the satellite-mounted computer 30 transmits data including the telemetry data (also referred to as transmitted telemetry data) to the modulation unit 16 as downlink data. In the description of this embodiment, when the telemetry data is generated, the satellite-mounted computer 30 transmits downlink data including the received spectrum data and the transmitted telemetry data to the modulation unit 16. The satellite-mounted computer 30 may transmit data including at least one of the received spectrum data and the transmitted telemetry data to the modulation unit 16 as downlink data.

[0064] <Modulation Unit 16> The modulation unit 16 receives downlink data including received spectrum data. The modulation unit 16 generates a transmission signal by performing modulation processing on the downlink data.

[0065] <Transmission Unit 17> The transmission unit 17 transmits the generated transmission signal to the satellite-mounted antenna 20.

[0066] <Satellite-mounted Antenna 20> The satellite-mounted antenna 20 transmits the transmission signal received from the transmission unit 17, for example, toward a ground station.

[0067] <Effect> In this embodiment, there is an effect that the information of the target signal, which is the target of information extraction included in the input signal, can be stably acquired. The reason is that the gain controller 12 amplifies the information extraction signal, which is one of the two signals demultiplexed from the received signal (in this case, the processed signal) including the command signal and the interference wave, at an amplification factor independently set from the amplification factor of the command extraction signal. Then, the spectrum monitor unit 13 extracts the information of the target signal from the amplified information extraction signal. Note that the target signal is, for example, among the interference waves, the signal to be monitored (in other words, the interference wave to be monitored).

[0068] As described above, the distance between the ground station and the artificial satellite varies according to the movement of the artificial satellite. Therefore, the intensity of the command signal also varies. For this reason, generally, the received signal is amplified at an amplification rate corresponding to the level of the received signal. The amplification rate corresponding to the level of the received signal varies according to the variation in the level of the command signal or interference waves other than the monitored waves included in the received signal. When extracting information on interference waves from the amplified signal obtained by amplifying the received signal at an amplification rate corresponding to the level of the received signal, the extracted information is affected by the amplification rate corresponding to the level of the received signal. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the amplification rate of the signal for information extraction is set independently of the amplification rate of the signal for command extraction. Thereby, the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 of the present embodiment can suppress the influence of the variation in the level of the command signal or interference waves other than the monitored waves on the amplification rate of the signal for information extraction. That is, the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 can extract information on interference waves (targeted for monitoring) without being affected by the variation in the level of the command signal or interference waves other than the monitored waves included in the received signal, as compared with the case of extracting information on interference waves from the signal amplified for extracting commands.

[0069] Specifically, the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 of the present embodiment can monitor the spectrum without the observed received intensity of the interference waves targeted for monitoring varying due to the influence of the received intensity of the command signal or interference waves other than the monitored waves. Further, the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 of the present embodiment can monitor the spectrum by focusing on various received levels within a wide received dynamic range. Thereby, the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 of the present embodiment can realize spectrum monitoring of interference waves of various intensities while performing normal satellite operation.

[0070] FIG. 7A is a diagram schematically showing an example of a signal and a gain.

[0071] For example, the upper graph in FIG. 7A shows the transition of the intensity of a signal not to be monitored and the intensity of a signal to be monitored when the intensity of the signal not to be monitored fluctuates significantly compared to the intensity of the signal to be monitored. In the graph of FIG. 7A, the intensity of the signal not to be monitored (e.g., a command signal and interference waves other than the signal to be monitored) fluctuates in a pulsed manner. The intensity of the signal to be monitored (e.g., interference waves to be monitored) is constant. The intensity of the received signal is the sum of the intensity of the signal not to be monitored and the intensity of the signal to be monitored. When the intensity of the received signal increases, the AGC decreases the gain. When the intensity of the received signal decreases, the AGC increases the gain. The lower graph in FIG. 7A shows the fluctuation of the amplification factor (i.e., gain) by the AGC in such a case. In FIG. 7A, time point A is the time point when the intensity of the received signal is decreasing. Time point B is the time point when the intensity of the received signal is increasing.

[0072] FIG. 7B is a diagram showing an example of received spectra at time point A and time point B by a satellite-mounted transceiver of a comparative example of the present disclosure. In this example, the intensity of the signal with the greater intensity among the signal not to be monitored and the signal to be monitored approaches a predetermined intensity. The intensity of the signal to be monitored is constant as shown in FIG. 7A. However, in the example of FIG. 7B, the intensity of the signal to be monitored obtained as interference wave information is significantly different between time point A and time point B.

[0073] FIG. 7C is a diagram showing an example of received spectra at time point A and time point B by a satellite-mounted transceiver according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, the signal amplification factor for information extraction is maintained at a predetermined value (fixed value). Also, as described above, the intensity of the signal to be monitored is constant between time point A and time point B as shown in FIG. 7A. In the example of FIG. 7C, the intensity of the signal to be monitored obtained as interference wave information is the same between time point A and time point B.

[0074] <Second Embodiment> Next, the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0075] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a communication system according to the present disclosure.

[0076] In the example shown in FIG. 8, the communication system 1 includes a communication device 100, an antenna 200, and an information processing device 300. The communication device 100 is communicably connected to the antenna 200 and the information processing device 300. The communication system 1 is mounted on, for example, an artificial satellite.

[0077] This embodiment schematically represents the first embodiment. The communication device 100 corresponds to the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 of the first embodiment. The communication device 100 operates in the same manner as the satellite-mounted transceiver 10 of the first embodiment. The antenna 200 corresponds to the satellite-mounted antenna 20 of the first embodiment. The antenna 200 operates in the same manner as the satellite-mounted antenna 20 of the first embodiment. The information processing device 300 corresponds to the satellite-mounted computer 30 of the first embodiment. The information processing device 300 operates in the same manner as the satellite-mounted computer 30 of the first embodiment.

[0078] <Communication device 100> The communication device 100 includes a received signal receiving unit 110, a demultiplexing unit 120, an information extraction signal amplification unit 131, a command extraction signal amplification unit 132, an information extraction unit 141, a command extraction unit 142, an extracted information output unit 151, a command output unit 152, a transmitted information receiving unit 160, a transmitted signal generation unit 170, a transmitted signal transmitting unit 180, and an instruction receiving unit 190.

[0079] <Antenna 200> The antenna 200 receives a received signal (in this case an RF received signal) including a command signal transmitted by a ground station. The received signal may include signals other than the command signal (also referred to as interference waves).

[0080] <Received signal receiving unit 110> The received signal receiving unit 110 receives the received signal (in this case, the RF received signal) received by the antenna 200 from the antenna 200. The received signal receiving unit 110 corresponds to the receiving system high-frequency unit 11 of the first embodiment. The received signal receiving unit 110 operates in the same manner as the receiving system high-frequency unit 11 of the first embodiment. That is, the received signal receiving unit 110 generates a processed signal by performing RF signal processing on the RF received signal received from the antenna. The received signal receiving unit 110 outputs the received signal (in this case, the processed signal).

[0081] <Splitter unit 120> The splitter unit 120 splits the received signal into a command extraction signal used for command extraction and an information extraction signal used for information extraction. The splitter unit 120 corresponds to the splitter unit of the first embodiment. The splitter unit 120 operates in the same manner as the splitter unit of the first embodiment.

[0082] <Command extraction signal amplifier 132> The command extraction signal amplifier 132 receives the command extraction signal. The command extraction signal amplifier 132 determines the command extraction signal amplification factor, which is the amplification factor of the command extraction signal, such that the intensity of the amplified command extraction signal becomes a predetermined intensity. The command extraction signal amplifier 132 amplifies the command extraction signal with the determined command extraction signal amplification factor. The command extraction signal amplifier 132 outputs the amplified command extraction signal, which is the amplified command extraction signal.

[0083] The command extraction signal amplifier 132 corresponds to the part of the AGC 14 and the demodulation unit 15 of the first embodiment that determines the command extraction signal amplification factor.

[0084] <Command extraction unit 142> The command extraction unit 142 receives the amplified command extraction signal. The command extraction unit 142 extracts a command (that is, the received command) from the received amplified command extraction signal. The command extraction unit 142 sends the extracted command (specifically, the information of the extracted command) to the command output unit 152.

[0085] The command extraction unit 142 corresponds to the part of the demodulation unit 15 in the first embodiment that extracts received commands.

[0086] <Command output unit 152> The command output unit 152 receives the extracted commands (specifically, the information of the extracted commands) from the command extraction unit 142. The command output unit 152 outputs the received commands (the information of the extracted commands) to the information processing apparatus 300.

[0087] The command output unit 152 corresponds to the part of the demodulation unit 15 in the first embodiment that outputs the extracted received commands to the satellite-mounted computer 30.

[0088] <Signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction> The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction receives an information extraction signal. The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction amplifies the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate, which is an amplification rate used for amplifying the information extraction signal. The information extraction signal amplification rate is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal. The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction outputs an amplified information extraction signal, which is the amplified information extraction signal.

[0089] The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction receives a gain control signal (also referred to as amplification rate indication) that indicates the information extraction signal amplification rate. The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction amplifies the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate corresponding to the received gain control signal.

[0090] Specifically, the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction receives, for example, a value of the signal amplification rate for information extraction (also referred to as a specified value) as a gain control signal from the instruction receiving unit 190. In other words, the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction receives a gain control signal indicating the value of the signal amplification rate for information extraction from the instruction receiving unit 190. When the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction receives the value of the signal amplification rate for information extraction, it amplifies the signal for information extraction at the received signal amplification rate for information extraction. The signal amplification rate for information extraction in this case does not change depending on the intensity of the signal for information extraction. That is, the value of the signal amplification rate for information extraction in this case is a fixed value.

[0091] The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction may receive, for example, a gain control signal indicating an instruction to control the value of the signal amplification rate for information extraction from the instruction receiving unit 190. In this case, the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction controls the signal amplification rate for information extraction, which is the amplification rate of the signal for information extraction, so that the intensity of the amplified signal for information extraction becomes a predetermined intensity. The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction amplifies the signal for information extraction at the determined signal amplification rate for information extraction.

[0092] The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction may control the signal amplification rate for information extraction so that, for example, the intensity of a signal whose frequency is included in a predetermined frequency band among the signals for information extraction after amplification becomes a predetermined intensity. The intensity of the signal whose frequency is included in the predetermined frequency band is, for example, the average of the intensities of the signals whose frequencies are included in the predetermined frequency band. The intensity of the signal whose frequency is included in the predetermined frequency band may be, for example, the maximum value of the intensities of the signals whose frequencies are included in the predetermined frequency band. Also in this case, the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction amplifies the signal for information extraction at the determined signal amplification rate for information extraction.

[0093] The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction may receive information on a predetermined frequency band from the instruction receiving unit 190.

[0094] The signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction corresponds to the gain controller 12 of the first embodiment and the part that determines the signal amplification rate of the spectrum monitor unit 13 of the first embodiment.

[0095] <Information extraction unit 141> The information extraction unit 141 receives an amplified information extraction signal, which is an amplified signal for information extraction. The information extraction unit 141 extracts information on a target signal (in other words, the target signal to be monitored), which is the object of information extraction, from the received amplified information extraction signal. The information extraction unit 141 sends the extracted information on the target signal (also referred to as extracted information) to the extracted information output unit 151.

[0096] The target signal is, for example, a signal having a frequency included in a predetermined frequency band in the amplified information extraction signal. The information to be extracted is, for example, spectrum information. The information to be extracted may be intensity information (for example, the frequency having the highest signal intensity among the frequencies included in the predetermined frequency band, and the highest intensity, etc.). This predetermined frequency band (target signal frequency band) is the same as the above-mentioned predetermined frequency band (hereinafter referred to as the amplification rate determination frequency band) in which the signal for which intensity is used in the determination of the information extraction signal amplification rate by the above-mentioned information extraction signal amplification unit 131 is included. Note that this target signal frequency band may be different from the above-mentioned amplification rate determination frequency band in which the signal for which intensity is used in the determination of the information extraction signal amplification rate by the above-mentioned information extraction signal amplification unit 131 is included.

[0097] The information extraction unit 141 may receive information on the frequency band of the target signal (that is, the above-mentioned predetermined frequency band. In other words, the target signal frequency band) from the instruction receiving unit 190.

[0098] The information extraction unit 141 corresponds to the part of the spectrum monitor unit 13 of the first embodiment that extracts information on the target signal from the information extraction signal.

[0099] <Extracted information output unit 151> The extracted information output unit 151 receives information on the target signal from the information extraction unit 141. The extracted information output unit 151 outputs the received information on the target signal (that is, the above-mentioned extracted information) to the information processing device 300.

[0100] The extraction information output unit 151 corresponds to the part of the spectrum monitor unit 13 of the first embodiment that transmits the extracted signal to the satellite-mounted computer 30.

[0101] <Instruction receiving unit 190> The instruction receiving unit 190 receives the value of the signal amplification factor for information extraction from the information processing apparatus 300. When the instruction receiving unit 190 receives the value of the signal amplification factor for information extraction, the instruction receiving unit 190 transmits a gain control signal indicating the value of the signal amplification factor for information extraction to the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction.

[0102] The instruction receiving unit 190 may receive an instruction from the information processing apparatus 300 to set the signal amplification factor for information extraction to an amplification factor corresponding to the level of the information extraction signal (i.e., an AGC instruction). When the instruction receiving unit 190 receives the AGC instruction, the instruction receiving unit 190 sends a gain control signal indicating the instruction to set the signal amplification factor for information extraction to an amplification factor corresponding to the level of the information extraction signal to the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction.

[0103] The instruction receiving unit 190 may receive information on the target signal frequency band from the information processing apparatus 300. When the instruction receiving unit 190 receives the information on the target signal frequency band, the instruction receiving unit 190 sends the information on the target signal frequency band to the information extraction unit 141.

[0104] The instruction receiving unit 190 may receive information on the frequency band for amplification factor determination from the information processing apparatus 300. When the instruction receiving unit 190 receives the information on the frequency band for amplification factor determination, the instruction receiving unit 190 transmits a gain control signal indicating the information on the frequency band for amplification factor determination to the signal amplification unit 131 for information extraction.

[0105] The instruction receiving unit 190 corresponds to the part of the spectrum monitor unit 13 of the first embodiment that receives the instruction indicated by the reception command from the satellite-mounted computer 30, and the part that transmits the gain control signal indicating the gain control instruction. The instruction indicated by the reception command is, for example, a gain control instruction and a frequency band instruction. The gain control instruction is, for example, an instruction of the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction or an AGC instruction. The frequency band instruction is an instruction of the frequency band of the signal for information extraction (that is, the instruction of the frequency band for determining the amplification factor and the instruction of the target signal frequency band described above).

[0106] <Information processing apparatus 300> The information processing apparatus 300 receives the command information from the command output unit 152.

[0107] When the command is an instruction of the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction, the information processing apparatus 300 transmits the instruction of the value of the amplification factor of the signal for information extraction to the instruction receiving unit 190.

[0108] When the command is an AGC instruction, the information processing apparatus 300 transmits the AGC instruction to the instruction receiving unit 190.

[0109] When the command is an instruction of the frequency band of the signal for information extraction (that is, the instruction of the frequency band for determining the amplification factor or the instruction of the target signal frequency band described above), the information processing apparatus 300 transmits the instruction of the frequency band of the signal for information extraction to the instruction receiving unit 190.

[0110] When the command is an observation instruction, the information processing apparatus 300 performs observation using the sensor connected to the information processing apparatus 300.

[0111] In addition, the information processing apparatus 300 receives the information of the target signal, such as the information of the spectrum of the monitor target signal, from the extraction information output unit 151.

[0112] When the information processing apparatus 300 receives information on a target signal (for example, information on the spectrum of the signal to be monitored), it generates transmission information including the information on the target signal. When the information processing apparatus 300 performs an observation, it generates transmission information including the result of the observation (that is, telemetry data).

[0113] The information processing apparatus 300 transmits the generated transmission information to the transmission information receiving unit 160. The transmission information is the same as the downlink data in the first embodiment.

[0114] The information processing apparatus 300 corresponds to the satellite-mounted computer 30 in the first embodiment. The information processing apparatus 300 operates in the same manner as the satellite-mounted computer 30 in the first embodiment.

[0115] <transmission information receiving unit 160> The transmission information receiving unit 160 receives the transmission information from the information processing apparatus 300. The transmission information receiving unit 160 sends the received transmission information to the transmission signal generating unit 170.

[0116] The transmission information receiving unit 160 corresponds to the part of the modulation unit 16 in the first embodiment that receives the downlink data from the satellite-mounted computer 30.

[0117] <transmission signal generating unit 170> The transmission signal generating unit 170 receives the transmission information from the transmission information receiving unit 160. The transmission signal generating unit 170 generates a transmission signal from the received transmission information. In other words, the transmission signal generating unit 170 converts the transmission information into a transmission signal. The transmission signal generating unit 170 sends the transmission signal to the transmission signal transmitting unit 180.

[0118] The transmission signal generating unit 170 corresponds to the part of the modulation unit 16 in the first embodiment that generates a transmission signal by performing modulation processing on the downlink data.

[0119] <transmission signal transmitting unit 180> The transmission signal transmitting unit 180 receives a transmission signal from the transmission signal generating unit 170. The transmission signal transmitting unit 180 transmits the transmission signal to the antenna 200. In other words, the transmission signal transmitting unit 180 transmits the transmission signal via the antenna 200.

[0120] The transmission signal transmitting unit 180 corresponds to the transmission unit 17 of the first embodiment.

[0121] <antenna 200> The antenna 200 receives a transmission signal from the transmission signal transmitting unit 180. The antenna 200 transmits the received transmission signal.

[0122] The antenna 200 corresponds to the satellite-mounted antenna 20 of the first embodiment.

[0123] <Operation> Next, the operation of the communication device according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0124] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the communication device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0125] The operation of the communication device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 9.

[0126] In the example shown in FIG. 9, first, the received signal receiving unit 110 receives a received signal (step S101). Next, the demultiplexing unit 120 demultiplexes the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal (step S102).

[0127] Next, the command extraction signal amplifying unit 132 amplifies the command extraction signal (step S103). The command extraction signal amplifying unit 132 amplifies the command extraction signal at an amplification rate (i.e., the above-described command extraction signal amplification rate) determined so that the intensity of the amplified command extraction signal becomes a predetermined intensity.

[0128] Further, the information extraction signal amplification unit 131 amplifies the information extraction signal at an amplification rate set independently of the amplification rate of the command extraction signal (step S104). The amplification rate of the information extraction signal (i.e., the above-mentioned information extraction signal amplification rate) is, for example, a fixed amplification rate.

[0129] The command extraction unit 142 extracts a command from the amplified command extraction signal (step S105).

[0130] The information extraction unit 141 extracts extraction information from the amplified information extraction signal (step S106). The extraction information is, for example, information on the spectrum of a target signal that is a signal to be monitored.

[0131] Next, the communication device 100 outputs the command and the extraction information (step S107). Specifically, the command output unit 152 outputs the extracted command. Then, the extraction information output unit 151 outputs the extracted extraction information.

[0132] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of operations when a gain control signal of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is received.

[0133] The operations when the communication device 100 according to the present embodiment receives a gain control signal (also referred to as an amplification rate instruction as described above) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10.

[0134] First, the instruction receiving unit 190 receives a gain control signal (step S111). The information extraction signal amplifier 131 sets the amplification factor of the information extraction signal according to the gain control signal (step S112). As described above, the amplification factor of the information extraction signal is denoted as the information extraction signal amplification factor. For example, when the gain control signal indicates the information extraction signal amplification factor (specifically, the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor), the information extraction signal amplifier 131 sets the information extraction signal amplification factor to the information extraction signal amplification factor indicated by the gain control signal. Specifically, the information extraction signal amplifier 131 sets the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor for amplifying the information extraction signal to the value of the information extraction signal amplification factor indicated by the gain control signal.

[0135] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation when transmitting transmission information of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0136] The operation when transmitting the transmission information of the communication device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 11.

[0137] First, the transmission information receiving unit 160 receives transmission information (step S121). Next, the transmission signal generation unit 170 generates a transmission signal from the transmission information (step S122). Then, the transmission signal transmission unit 180 transmits the transmission signal (step S123).

[0138] <Effect> The present disclosure has the same effect as the effect of the first embodiment. The reason is the same as the reason for the effect of the first embodiment. That is, the information extraction signal amplifier 131 amplifies the information extraction signal, which is one of the two signals demultiplexed from the received signal (in this case, the processing signal) including the command signal and the interference wave, with an amplification factor independently set from the amplification factor of the command extraction signal, which is the other of the two signals. And the information extraction unit 141 extracts the information of the target signal from the amplified information extraction signal. Note that the target signal is, for example, a signal to be monitored among the interference waves (in other words, the interference wave to be monitored).

[0139] <Third Embodiment> Next, the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment corresponds to the main part of the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0140] <Configuration> First, the configuration of the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0141] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0142] Hereinafter, the configuration of the communication device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

[0143] The communication device 101 according to this embodiment includes a reception signal receiving unit 110, a demultiplexing unit 120, an information extraction signal amplification unit 131, and an extracted information output unit 151.

[0144] The reception signal receiving unit 110 receives the reception signal received by the antenna.

[0145] The demultiplexing unit 120 demultiplexes the reception signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal.

[0146] The information extraction signal amplification unit 131 amplifies the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal.

[0147] The extracted information output unit 151 outputs the extracted information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal.

[0148] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0149] Hereinafter, the operation of the communication device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[0150] In the example shown in FIG. 2, first, the received signal receiving unit 110 receives a received signal (step S11). Next, the demultiplexing unit 120 demultiplexes the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal (step S12). Next, the information extraction signal amplification unit 131 amplifies the information extraction signal at an amplification rate set independently of the amplification rate of the command extraction signal (step S13). Then, the extracted information output unit 151 outputs the extracted information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal (step S14).

[0151] <Effect> The present embodiment described above has the same effects as the effects of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The reason is the same as the reason for the effects of the second embodiment to occur.

[0152] <Other Embodiments> The satellite-mounted transceiver and the communication device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be realized by a computer including a memory loaded with a program read from a storage medium and a processor that executes the program. The satellite-mounted transceiver and the communication device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can also be realized by dedicated hardware. The satellite-mounted transceiver and the communication device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can also be realized by a combination of the aforementioned computer and dedicated hardware.

[0153] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a computer 1000 that can implement a satellite-mounted transceiver and a communication device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the computer 1000 includes a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage device 1003, and an I / O (Input / Output) interface 1004. Further, the computer 1000 can access a storage medium 1005. The memory 1002 and the storage device 1003 are storage devices such as, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a hard disk. The storage medium 1005 is a storage device such as, for example, a RAM, a hard disk, a ROM (Read Only Memory), or a portable storage medium. The storage device 1003 may be the storage medium 1005. The processor 1001 can read and write data and programs to and from the memory 1002 and the storage device 1003. The processor 1001 can access, via the I / O interface 1004, at least any one of, for example, a satellite-mounted antenna 20, a satellite-mounted computer 30, an antenna 200, and an information processing device 300. The processor 1001 can access the storage medium 1005. A program for operating the computer 1000 as a communication device 100 (that is, a satellite-mounted transceiver 10) is stored in the storage medium 1005.

[0154] The processor 1001 loads, into the memory 1002, a program for operating the computer 1000 as a communication device 100 (that is, a satellite-mounted transceiver 10) stored in the storage medium 1005. Then, by executing the program loaded into the memory 1002, the computer 1000 operates as a communication device 100 (that is, a satellite-mounted transceiver 10).

[0155] The reception system high-frequency unit 11, gain controller 12, spectrum monitor unit 13, AGC 14, demodulation unit 15, modulation unit 16, and transmission unit 17 can be realized, for example, by a processor 1001 that executes a program loaded in a memory 1002. The reception signal receiving unit 110, branching unit 120, information extraction signal amplification unit 131, command extraction signal amplification unit 132, information extraction unit 141, command extraction unit 142, extracted information output unit 151, command output unit 152, transmission information receiving unit 160, transmission signal generation unit 170, transmission signal transmission unit 180, and instruction receiving unit 190 can be realized, for example, by a processor 1001 that executes a program loaded in a memory 1002.

[0156] Part or all of the reception system high-frequency unit 11, gain controller 12, spectrum monitor unit 13, AGC 14, demodulation unit 15, modulation unit 16, transmission unit 17, and branching unit 18 can be realized by dedicated circuits that implement the functions of each unit. Part or all of the reception signal receiving unit 110, branching unit 120, information extraction signal amplification unit 131, command extraction signal amplification unit 132, information extraction unit 141, command extraction unit 142, extracted information output unit 151, command output unit 152, transmission information receiving unit 160, transmission signal generation unit 170, transmission signal transmission unit 180, and instruction receiving unit 190 can be realized by dedicated circuits that implement the functions of each unit.

[0157] Also, part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as follows in the appended claims, but are not limited thereto.

[0158] (Appended Claim 1) A reception signal receiving unit that receives a reception signal received by an antenna, A branching unit that branches the reception signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal, An information extraction signal amplification unit that amplifies the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal, An extracted information output unit that outputs extracted information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal, A communication device comprising the above.

[0159] (Appendix 2) An information extraction unit that extracts the extraction information from the information extraction signal amplified by the information extraction signal amplification factor The communication device according to Appendix 1, comprising the same

[0160] (Appendix 3) The information extraction unit generates a spectrum of the information extraction signal as the extraction information from the information extraction signal amplified by the information extraction signal amplification factor The communication device according to Appendix 2

[0161] (Appendix 4) The information extraction signal amplification factor is fixed The command extraction signal amplification factor is set based on the strength of the command extraction signal The communication device according to Appendix 1 or 2

[0162] (Appendix 5) The information extraction signal amplification unit receives an amplification factor instruction that instructs the information extraction signal amplification factor. When the amplification factor instruction is an instruction that specifies a specified value of the information extraction signal amplification factor, the information extraction signal amplification factor is set to the specified value. When the amplification factor instruction is an instruction that controls the information extraction signal amplification factor, the information extraction signal amplification factor is controlled according to the strength of the received information extraction signal The communication device according to Appendix 1 or 2

[0163] (Appendix 6) The received signal receiving unit receives the received signal representing the command that is the amplification factor instruction The information extraction signal amplification unit is an information processing device that receives the command extracted from the command extraction signal. When the command is the amplification factor instruction, the information extraction signal amplification unit receives the amplification factor instruction from the information processing device that transmits the amplification factor instruction The communication device according to Appendix 5

[0164] (Appendix 7) The extraction information output unit transmits the extraction information to the information processing device, a command extraction signal amplification unit that amplifies the command extraction signal with the command extraction signal amplification rate, a command extraction unit that extracts a command from the amplified command extraction signal, a command output unit that outputs the command to the information processing device, a transmission information receiving unit that receives transmission information from the information processing device, a transmission signal generation unit that generates a transmission signal to be transmitted from the transmission information, a transmission signal transmission unit that transmits the transmission signal via the antenna, The communication device according to Appendix 1 or 2, comprising:

[0165] (Appendix 8) the antenna, an information processing device that receives the extraction information, the communication device according to Appendix 1 or 2, and an artificial satellite including the same.

[0166] (Appendix 9) receiving a received signal received by the antenna, splitting the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal, amplifying the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal, outputting the extraction information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal, A communication method.

[0167] (Appendix 10) extracting the extraction information from the information extraction signal amplified with the information extraction signal amplification rate The communication method according to Appendix 9.

[0168] (Appendix 11) From the information extraction signal amplified by the information extraction signal amplification factor, generate the spectrum of the information extraction signal as the extraction information The communication method according to Supplementary Note 10

[0169] (Supplementary Note 12) The information extraction signal amplification factor is fixed The command extraction signal amplification factor is set based on the strength of the command extraction signal The communication method according to Supplementary Note 9 or 10

[0170] (Supplementary Note 13) Receive an amplification factor instruction for instructing the information extraction signal amplification factor. When the amplification factor instruction is an instruction for specifying a specified value of the information extraction signal amplification factor, set the information extraction signal amplification factor to the specified value. When the amplification factor instruction is an instruction for controlling the information extraction signal amplification factor, control the information extraction signal amplification factor according to the strength of the received information extraction signal The communication method according to Supplementary Note 9 or 10

[0171] (Supplementary Note 14) Receive the received signal representing the command that is the amplification factor instruction An information processing apparatus that receives the command extracted from the command extraction signal, and receives the amplification factor instruction from the information processing apparatus that transmits the amplification factor instruction when the command is the amplification factor instruction The communication method according to Supplementary Note 13

[0172] (Supplementary Note 15) Transmit the extraction information to an information processing apparatus Amplify the command extraction signal with the command extraction signal amplification factor Extract a command from the amplified command extraction signal Output the command to an information processing apparatus Receive transmission information from the information processing apparatus Generate a transmission signal to be transmitted from the transmission information Transmitting the transmission signal via the antenna The communication method according to appended note 9 or 10.

[0173] (Appended note 16) A communication device mounted on an artificial satellite, including the antenna and an information processing device that receives the extracted information, executes the communication method according to appended note 9 or 10. Artificial satellite control method.

[0174] (Appended note 17) A received signal receiving process for receiving a received signal received by the antenna, A demultiplexing process for demultiplexing the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal, An information extraction signal amplification process for amplifying the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal, An extracted information output process for outputting the extracted information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal, A program for causing a computer to execute the above.

[0175] (Appended note 18) An information extraction process for extracting the extracted information from the information extraction signal amplified with the information extraction signal amplification rate The program according to appended note 17 for causing a computer to execute the above.

[0176] (Appended note 19) The information extraction process generates a spectrum of the information extraction signal as the extracted information from the information extraction signal amplified with the information extraction signal amplification rate The program according to appended note 18.

[0177] (Appended note 20) The information extraction signal amplification rate is fixed, The command extraction signal amplification rate is set based on the strength of the command extraction signal The program according to appended note 17 or 18.

[0178] (Appendix 21) The signal amplification process for information extraction receives an amplification rate instruction that indicates the signal amplification rate for information extraction. When the amplification rate instruction is an instruction specifying a specified value of the signal amplification rate for information extraction, the signal amplification rate for information extraction is set to the specified value. When the amplification rate instruction is an instruction for controlling the signal amplification rate for information extraction, the signal amplification rate for information extraction is controlled according to the strength of the received signal for information extraction. The program according to Appendix 17 or 18.

[0179] (Appendix 22) The received signal reception process receives the received signal representing the command that is the amplification rate instruction. The signal amplification process for information extraction is an information processing device that receives the command extracted from the command extraction signal. The information processing device receives the amplification rate instruction from the information processing device that transmits the amplification rate instruction when the command is the amplification rate instruction. The program according to Appendix 21.

[0180] (Appendix 23) The extracted information output process transmits the extracted information to an information processing device. The command extraction signal amplification process that amplifies the command extraction signal with the command extraction signal amplification rate, The command extraction process that extracts a command from the amplified command extraction signal, The command output process that outputs the command to an information processing device, The transmitted information reception process that receives transmitted information from the information processing device, The transmitted signal generation process that generates a transmitted signal to be transmitted from the transmitted information, The transmitted signal transmission process that transmits the transmitted signal via the antenna, The program according to Appendix 17 or 18 that causes a computer to execute.

[0181] (Appendix 24) The computer is mounted on a satellite including the antenna and an information processing apparatus that receives the extracted information. The program according to Appendix 17 or 18.

[0182] As described above, the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure within the scope of the present disclosure.

Explanation of Signs

[0183] 1 Communication system 10 Satellite-mounted transceiver 11 Receiver high-frequency section 12 Gain controller 13 Spectrum monitor section 14 AGC 15 Demodulation section 16 Modulation section 17 Transmission section 18 Demultiplexing section 20 Satellite-mounted antenna 30 Satellite-mounted computer 100 Communication device 101 Communication device 110 Received signal receiving section 120 Demultiplexing section 131 Signal amplification section for information extraction 132 Signal amplification section for command extraction 141 Information extraction section 142 Command extraction section 151 Extracted information output section 152 Command output section 160 Transmitted information receiving section 170 Transmitted signal generation section 180 Transmitted signal transmission section 190 Instruction receiving section 200 Antenna 300 Information processing apparatus 910 Satellite-mounted transceiver 911 Receiver high-frequency section 913 Demodulation section 916 Modulation section 917 Transmission unit 920 Satellite-mounted antenna 930 Satellite-mounted computer 1000 Computer 1001 Processor 1002 Memory 1003 Storage device 1004 I / O interface 1005 Storage medium

Claims

1. A receiving signal receiving unit that receives a received signal received by an antenna; A branching unit that branches the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal; An information extraction signal amplification unit that amplifies the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal; An extraction information output unit that outputs extraction information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal; A communication device comprising the above.

2. An information extraction unit that extracts the extraction information from the information extraction signal amplified with the information extraction signal amplification rate; The communication device according to claim 1, comprising the above.

3. The information extraction unit generates a spectrum of the information extraction signal as the extraction information from the information extraction signal amplified with the information extraction signal amplification rate; The communication device according to claim 2.

4. The information extraction signal amplification rate is fixed; The command extraction signal amplification rate is set based on the strength of the command extraction signal; The communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The information extraction signal amplification unit receives an amplification rate instruction that indicates the information extraction signal amplification rate. When the amplification rate instruction is an instruction that designates a specified value of the information extraction signal amplification rate, the information extraction signal amplification unit sets the information extraction signal amplification rate to the specified value. When the amplification rate instruction is an instruction that controls the information extraction signal amplification rate, the information extraction signal amplification unit controls the information extraction signal amplification rate according to the strength of the received information extraction signal; The communication device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The receiving signal receiving unit receives the received signal that represents the command, which is the amplification rate instruction; The information extraction signal amplification unit is an information processing device that receives the command extracted from the command extraction signal. When the command is the amplification rate instruction, the information extraction signal amplification unit receives the amplification rate instruction from the information processing device that transmits the amplification rate instruction; The communication device according to claim 5.

7. The extraction information output unit transmits the extraction information to an information processing device; A command extraction signal amplification unit that amplifies the command extraction signal with the command extraction signal amplification rate; A command extraction unit that extracts a command from the amplified command extraction signal; A command output unit that outputs the command to an information processing device; A transmission information receiving unit that receives transmission information from the information processing device; A transmission signal generation unit that generates a transmission signal to be transmitted from the transmission information; A transmission signal transmission unit that transmits the transmission signal via the antenna; The communication device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the above.

8. The antenna; An information processing device that receives the extracted information; The communication device according to claim 1 or 2; An artificial satellite including the above.

9. Receiving a received signal received by the antenna; Demultiplexing the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal; Amplifying the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal; Outputting the extracted information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal; A communication method.

10. A received signal reception process for receiving a received signal received by the antenna; A demultiplexing process for demultiplexing the received signal into a command extraction signal and an information extraction signal; An information extraction signal amplification process for amplifying the information extraction signal with an information extraction signal amplification rate that is set independently of the command extraction signal amplification rate, which is the amplification rate of the command extraction signal; An extracted information output process for outputting the extracted information extracted from the amplified information extraction signal; A program for causing a computer to execute the above.

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