Satellite Terrestrial Subsystem Bandwidth Filtering for Interference Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile satellite radio telephone systems face limitations in capacity due to satellite power constraints, frequency spectrum availability, and poor frequency reuse, making it difficult to serve densely populated areas effectively.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a satellite terrestrial communication system that employs filters to vary satellite bandwidth and uses an auxiliary terrestrial component to manage interference, allowing for dynamic frequency assignment and reuse between satellite and terrestrial systems, thereby enhancing capacity and reducing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If satellite power is increased to serve more users, then capacity increases, but system cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidsatellite power

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines satellite communication and terrestrial communication into a single integrated system. The terrestrial component acts as an auxiliary element that works together with the satellite to provide communication services, thereby increasing overall capacity without requiring proportional increases in satellite power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated system can operate in multiple modes: satellite-only mode, terrestrial-only mode, and combined mode. The terrestrial component can serve both as a supplement to satellite coverage and as an independent communication path, providing multi-functionality that increases system capacity without linearly increasing satellite power requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If frequency spectrum is expanded to increase capacity, then more users can be served, but frequency interference and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency spectrum is divided into separate bands for satellite communication and terrestrial communication. This segmentation allows each component to operate on dedicated frequencies, reducing interference while maintaining high capacity. The satellite uses specific frequency bands while the terrestrial component uses other bands, enabling independent optimization of each subsystem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If auxiliary terrestrial component is added to increase capacity, then more users can be served, but interference to satellite system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harmful interference from the terrestrial component into a beneficial effect by using the terrestrial signal to cancel out satellite interference in congested areas. The terrestrial component receives satellite signals, processes them, and retransmits them with improved quality, thereby eliminating the harmful interference problem while maintaining capacity expansion benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Productivity

If frequency reuse is improved to increase capacity, then more users can be served, but signal interference and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidsignal interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments frequency allocation by geographic region and by communication mode. Different frequency sets are assigned to different geographic areas, and satellite frequencies are separated from terrestrial frequencies. This segmentation enables aggressive frequency reuse in both satellite and terrestrial components without causing harmful interference between them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach increases the number of subscribers supported by the satellite system without decreasing its capacity, as the auxiliary terrestrial component's interference is minimized, allowing for a significant expansion of services while maintaining MSS performance.

Implementation Method 1

a satellite that is configured to receive wireless communications from a plurality of radio telephones over a first frequency band and an auxiliary terrestrial component that employs filters to reduce interference from the auxiliary terrestrial component to the satellite over a second frequency band

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS8923849B2System and method for providing an improved terrestrial subsystem for use in mobile satellite systems

Publication Date: 2014.12.30 GLOBALSTAR INC

AI summary

A system or method is disclosed which employs filters on a satellite whose bandwidth is varied by ground command to restrict interference experienced by a satellite as an auxiliary terrestrial component (ATC) system is increased to a multiplicity of cities and markets. Thus there is provided a novel method and system which optimizes overall MSS and ATC traffic.