Abstract: A satellite telecommunications system has a global coverage area and a plurality of user terminals distributed in the global coverage area. The global coverage area is covered by a first set of spots which form a regular cellular mesh, and by at least a second set of local spots, irregularly distributed and superimposed geographically on spots of the first set. The spots of the first set of spots have allocated channels with the same frequency capacity, the same channel being re-used by a plurality of different spots, and the local spots of the second set of spots have a special allocated channel having an increased frequency capacity.

Abstract: A distance measurement system for locating a geostationary satellite equipped with a transponder includes: a central station emitting a distance measurement signal; and at least one measurement station receiving the emitted signal, including means for measuring the time of arrival of the emitted signal, and transmitted via the transponder of the satellite. The central and measurement stations, of known positions, include synchronization means with a common time base. The transponder is that of a satellite telecommunications system, and has a bandwidth B. The central station includes means for emitting a specific distance measurement signal, distinct from the telecommunications signals transmitted via the transponder, with periodic events and with spread spectrum, the bandwidth of which is included in B.

Abstract: A method for transmission of a signal simultaneously including a first stream of binary data and one or more other streams of binary data, the method including, in the following order: dynamic distribution of bits of the data streams between coders, with one coder per data stream; coding the distributed bits using the coders; dynamic distribution of the coded bits between hierarchical levels of a modulator; and hierarchical modulation using the modulator.

Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to transmitting and/or receiving signals representative of data in a communication satellite (SAT) having a fixed frequency bandwidth. This device (D) comprises transmission and/or reception means (MER) responsible for sending and/or receiving signals in multiple beams, and control means (MC) responsible for defining a chosen number of cells of chosen dimensions and positions, and configuring the transmission and/or reception means (MER) so as to define beams each associated with at least one of the defined cells, with a chosen carrier frequency based on the requirements of each of the cells and taking into account the frequency bandwidth available on the satellite (SAT).

Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to data stream processing within a communication satellite of a communication network.

Abstract: A distance measurement system for locating a geostationary satellite equipped with a transponder includes: a central station emitting a distance measurement signal; and at least one measurement station receiving the emitted signal, including means for measuring the time of arrival of the emitted signal, and transmitted via the transponder of the satellite. The central and measurement stations, of known positions, include synchronization means with a common time base. The transponder is that of a satellite telecommunications system, and has a bandwidth B. The central station includes means for emitting a specific distance measurement signal, distinct from the telecommunications signals transmitted via the transponder, with periodic events and with spread spectrum, the bandwidth of which is included in B.

Abstract: A reflector network antenna (A) comprising i) a source (S) delivering wave signals; ii) at least two reflector networks (RR1-RR9) which are different and independent and which both comprise at least two phase shifter cells which selectively phase shift the waves delivered by the source (S) and bring about a selected frequency phase dispersion thereof, said selective phase shifting and selective dispersion varying from one reflector network to another; and iii) a charging device (DC) which is coupled to the reflector networks (RR1-RR9) and which is used to place one of them in a selected position in relation to the source (S) such that the waves that it delivers are phase shifted and phase dispersed at a frequency imposed by said phase shifter cells in order to be reflected in a selected direction.

Abstract: A ground-based beam-forming system includes a satellite and a ground-based processing base equipped with beam-forming means. The satellite is equipped with first transmission/reception means for sending and receiving analog signals with remote terminals, and second transmission/reception means for sending and receiving signals with ground-based third transmission/reception means communicating with the processing base. The satellite includes digitizing means suitable for converting analog signals received by the first transmission/reception means into digital signals, the digitizing means being directly connected to the first transmission/reception means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a digital television decoder comprising—at least one first bi-directional interface with a display device intended to transmit and receive analogue data with the said display device, —at least one second mono-directional interface with the said display device intended to transmit analogue data to the said display device. According to the invention, the decoder comprises: —means to detect the reception of a video stream on the first interface, —means to switch the transmission of the data to the second interface when no video signal is received on the first interface.

Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to transmitting and/or receiving signals representative of data in a communication satellite (SAT) having a fixed frequency bandwidth. This device (D) comprises transmission and/or reception means (MER) responsible for sending and/or receiving signals in multiple beams, and control means (MC) responsible for defining a chosen number of cells of chosen dimensions and positions, and configuring the transmission and/or reception means (MER) so as to define beams each associated with at least one of the defined cells, with a chosen carrier frequency based on the requirements of each of the cells and taking into account the frequency bandwidth available on the satellite (SAT).

Abstract: A device (D) is dedicated to data stream processing within a communication satellite of a communication network.

Abstract: A reflector network antenna (A) comprising i) a source (S) delivering wave signals; ii) at least two reflector networks (RR1-RR9) which are different and independent and which both comprise at least two phase shifter cells which selectively phase shift the waves delivered by the source (S) and bring about a selected frequency phase dispersion thereof, said selective phase shifting and selective dispersion varying from one reflector network to another; and iii) a charging device (DC) which is coupled to the reflector networks (RR1-RR9) and which is used to place one of them in a selected position in relation to the source (S) such that the waves that it delivers are phase shifted and phase dispersed at a frequency imposed by said phase shifter cells in order to be reflected in a selected direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for conveying digital signals inside a space vehicle between a transmitter and a receiver. In the invention, the link between the transmitter and the receiver comprises a first portion made of optical fiber and a second portion in which infrared radiation propagates without guidance. A particular application lies in conveying remote control and telemetry signals within a satellite between a control module and a piece of equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communications backbone interface between at least three members of a communications network for a space vehicle. In the invention, the interface combines various signals received at inlets, which signals may be analog, digital, and optical, coming from two members, and produces a multiplexed optical signal for delivery to a member of the vehicle, such as a piece of equipment. The invention also provides to a communications terminal interface, a communications network having such interfaces, and an optical fiber harness.

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of access of various appliances of an installation which are connected to a telephone line. The appliances have a priority level. There is provision for the dispatching, on the request of an appliance performing a line seizure operation, to the other appliances, of an off-hook signal representative of the priority level of the appliance, when this level is higher than that of at least one other appliance of the installation. The signal is dispatched on the occasion of the line seizure operation and for the duration of the connection of the appliance to the line, if no off-hook signal of a higher priority level is dispatched. There is also provision for a disconnection of the line for any appliance which receives an off-hook signal dispatched for an appliance having a higher priority level.

Abstract: Equipment (20, 20a) includes at least one electronic module (21) for the payload or the platform of a satellite (50) adapted to be supported by a structure (24) of the satellite, the satellite structure including a heat transfer system (44,10) for transporting dissipated heat to a radiator (51). The equipment includes at least transfer devices (22, 30, 31, 34, 341–345) for transferring heat dissipated by the electronic module and connectors (28, 34, 35, 37) for connecting the transfer devices to the heat transfer system (10) of the structure in such a manner as to enable the supply of heat exchange fluid (16) to the transfer devices and the transfer of heat dissipated by the electronic module to the radiator. A satellite structure includes an arrangement of equipments and a communication system for satellites, with particular application to the new generation of satellites with electrical propulsion.

Abstract: A resource manager for a satellite telecommunication system including user terminals sending data to spots via a satellite, all data streams from a given terminal to the same given destination spot constituting a virtual path comprising a set of uplinks from the terminal to the satellite and a set of downlinks from the satellite to the spot, includes a central entity associated with each satellite for receiving requests sent by the user terminals and each expressing a requirement to use resources of the satellite corresponding to the virtual path. The central entity groups the requests into request groups each associated with a set of uplinks from the same spot to the destination spot, the set of uplinks constituting a virtual link, and determines authorized resources for each request group.

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of access of various appliances of an installation which are connected to a telephone line. The appliances have a priority level. There is provision for the dispatching, on the request of an appliance performing a line seizure operation, to the other appliances, of an off-hook signal representative of the priority level of the appliance, when this level is higher than that of at least one other appliance of the installation. The signal is dispatched on the occasion of the line seizure operation and for the duration of the connection of the appliance to the line, if no off-hook signal of a higher priority level is dispatched. There is also provision for a disconnection of the line for any appliance which receives an off-hook signal dispatched for an appliance having a higher priority level.

Abstract: Equipment (20, 20a) includes at least one electronic module (21) for the payload or the platform of a satellite (50) adapted to be supported by a structure (24) of said satellite, the satellite structure including a heat transfer system (44, 10) for transporting dissipated heat to a radiator (51).

Abstract: The system comprises transmitters transmitting programs or multimedia data to a satellite, each program being transmitted on an uplink frequency channel, and program multiplexing means onboard the satellite receiving programs and routing them onto a single downlink frequency channel. A configuration station on the ground comprises means for transmitting system data on an uplink frequency channel and configuration means onboard the satellite selectively associate uplink frequency channels and a downlink frequency channel in response to some of the received system data.