ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD FOR OPTIMAL TRACKING OF MULTIPLE BROADBAND SATELLITE TERMINALS IN SUPPORT OF IN THEATRE AND RAPID DEPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

Abstract

An antenna communication architecture and a method for simultaneous optimal tracking of multiple broadband satellite terminals in support of in theatre operations and rapid deployment applications, and methods in relation therewith. This communication architecture is especially suitable for implementation as a hosted payload configuration on a host spacecraft.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A method for optimal tracking of multiple moving broadband satellite terminals in support of in theatre operations and rapid deployment applications, said method comprising the steps of: steering a reflector of an antenna system mounted on a spacecraft toward a selected theatre of operation defined on a ground surface; providing for a plurality of signal beams within the theater for tracking at least one electromagnetic signal corresponding to a respective satellite terminal; communicating said at least one electromagnetic signal of the signal beams to a ground gateway via a signal feeder link assembly connected to a feed array of the antenna system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing for a plurality of signal beams includes generating said plurality of signal beams using an agile beam forming technology.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating said plurality of signal beams using an agile beam forming technology includes generating said plurality of signal beams using a ground based beam forming process.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating said plurality of signal beams includes optimizing a link performance of each said plurality of signal beams for the tracking of said at least one electromagnetic signal corresponding to a respective satellite terminal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of optimizing a link performance includes performing a traffic jamming /interference cancellation around the at least one electromagnetic signal corresponding said respective satellite terminal being tracked.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of optimizing a link performance includes centering at least one said plurality of signal beams over said at least one electromagnetic signal corresponding said respective satellite terminal being tracked.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating said plurality of signal beams using an agile beam forming technology further includes transmitting said signal beams to the antenna system via the signal feeder link assembly.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of generating said plurality of signal beams using an agile beam forming technology includes allocating at least one said signal beam to a respective satellite terminal.

17. The method of claim 9, further including the step of interfacing with a ground network hub linked to at least one traffic user via the ground gateway so as to transfer a corresponding said at least one electromagnetic signal therewith.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating said plurality of signal beams using an agile beam forming technology further includes generating said plurality of signal beams at least partially using an on-board beam forming process.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the description in association with the following Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar components, wherein:

[0045] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an RF communication architecture for simultaneous optimal tracking of multiple broadband satellite terminals in support of in theatre operations and rapid deployment applications, in accordance with the present invention; and

[0046] FIG. 2 is a flowchart diagram of an embodiment of a method of an RF communication architecture for simultaneous optimal tracking of multiple broadband satellite terminals in support of in theatre operations and rapid deployment applications, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of an embodiment 10 of an RF communication architecture for optimal tracking of multiple moving (as depicted by arrows 12′) broadband satellite terminals 12 in support of in theatre 14 operations and rapid deployment applications, in accordance with the present invention.

[0049] The architecture 10 includes a spacecraft antenna system 20 having a feed array 22 fixedly mounted on an antenna structure 24 of a spacecraft 11 or the like and operably connected to a reflector 26 movably, as depicted by arrow 26′, mounted on the antenna structure 24 for transmitting and receiving at least one electromagnetic signal 28 to and from the movable (as depicted by arrows 14′) theatre 14 of operation defined on a ground surface (the Earth surface—not shown). The feed array 22, including N feeds 32, and typically seven (7), generates a plurality of corresponding element beams 30 substantially adjacent from one another within the theater 14 for the tracking of each electromagnetic signal(s) 28 corresponding to a respective satellite terminal 12. The formed beams 30, or ground spots, clusters or cells, are typically slightly overlapping one another, although they could be also spaced from one another without departing from the scope of the present invention, and are typically generated using an agile beam forming technology 34 that also provides for the traffic jamming/interference cancellation around the terminals 12 being tracked. A signal feeder link assembly 36 connects to the feed array 22 for communication of the electromagnetic signal(s) 28 of the signal beams 30 to a ground gateway 38 that could also be mobile (as depicted by arrow 38′) on the ground surface.

[0050] As seen in FIG. 1, each satellite terminal 12, that could be fixed or mobile on the ground surface, or nearby (as a flying vehicle or aircraft), may cross over more than one beam 30 when moving, or even move in-between two adjacent beams, without compromising RF communication therewith. The quantity of terminals 12 that can be simultaneously tracked typically depends on the frequency bandwidth of the antenna system 20 and the carrier per user, the larger the bandwidth the larger the number of simultaneous live terminals.

[0051] The signal feeder link assembly 36 typically includes a multiple uplink signal acquisition 40 connected to the feed array 22 and communicating with the ground based gateway 38 via a gateway beam, as represented by arrow 40′, where extensive agile ground based beam forming (GBBF) 42 of the agile beam forming technology 34 is performed for the optimized link performance for the multiple moving terminals 12, along with jamming /interference signal cancellation for enhanced performance of the communication architecture 10.

[0052] With the agile beam forming technology, each signal beam 30 is typically generated in such a way to be generally centered over a corresponding satellite terminal 12.

[0053] Optionally, whenever required depending on the type of operation and/or application, a portion of the beam forming can be performed on-board of the spacecraft (or satellite) by the signal feeder link assembly 36 via an agile on-board beam forming (OBBF) 44 connected to the multiple uplink signal acquisition 40 and communicating with the ground based gateway 38 as a link for hybrid OBBF and GBBF gateway beam, as represented by arrow 44′. This hybrid OBBF and GBBF increases the capabilities of the present communication architecture 10 towards the networking connection, whether star or mesh, and/or the type of carrier multiple access scheme, whether TDMA, FDMA, CDMA or some combination thereof.

[0054] Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the present invention also refers to a method for optimal tracking of multiple moving broadband satellite terminals 12 in support of in theatre 14 operations and rapid deployment applications. The method comprising the general steps of: [0055] steering a reflector of an antenna system toward a selected theatre 14 of operation defined on a ground surface; [0056] providing for a plurality of signal beams 30 substantially adjacent from one another within the theater 14 for tracking at least one electromagnetic signal 28 corresponding to a respective satellite terminal 12 using an agile beam forming technology 34; [0057] communicating the electromagnetic signal(s) 28 of the signal beams 30 to a ground gateway 38 on the ground surface via a signal feeder link assembly 36 connected to a feed array 22 of the antenna system 20.

[0058] Also, the present invention provides for a method of flexibly forming, allocating and steering the signal beams within the theatre coverage according to, but not limited to, the following operating parameters: [0059] plurality of satellite terminal requests for connections; [0060] the near real-time location of the satellite terminals; [0061] the amount of bandwidth allocated; [0062] type of carrier access scheme, whether TDMA, FDMA, CDMA or some combination thereof; [0063] type of networking connection, whether star or mesh; and [0064] the duration of the connections.

[0065] Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.