Abstract: A method is presented for communicating data in a multibeam satellite system utilizing frequency re-use. The method comprises establishing uplink service beams and downlink service beams between a satellite and a plurality of subscriber terminals. A plurality of the uplink service beams are transmitted to the satellite by re-using at least one common uplink frequency channel, and a plurality of the downlink service beams are transmitted from the satellite by re-using at least one common downlink frequency channel. The method further comprises establishing at least one uplink service beam and at least one downlink service beam between the satellite and a gateway terminal. The at least one uplink service beam is transmitted to the satellite by further re-using the at least one common uplink frequency channel, and the at least one downlink service beam is transmitted from the satellite by further re-using the at least one common downlink frequency channel.

Abstract: A method is presented for transmitting data in a satellite system having multiple spot beams comprising (1) sending a broadband signal in a forward direction from a gateway terminal to a communications satellite for relay to at least one subscriber terminal, (2) receiving the broadband signal at the communications satellite, wherein the communications satellite comprises a bent pipe repeater having a plurality of satellite-based transmission amplifiers, (3) using one of the plurality of satellite-based transmission amplifiers to amplify the broadband signal and no other broadband signal from the gateway terminal, to produce an amplified broadband signal, (4) sending the amplified broadband signal as one of a plurality of service spot beams to the at least one subscriber terminal, and (5) receiving and retrieving data from the amplified broadband signal at the at least one subscriber terminal.

Abstract: A method is presented for transmitting data in a satellite system having multiple spot beams comprising (1) sending a broadband signal in a forward direction from a gateway terminal to a communications satellite for relay to at least one subscriber terminal, (2) receiving the broadband signal at the communications satellite, wherein the communications satellite comprises a bent pipe repeater having a plurality of satellite-based transmission amplifiers, (3) using one of the plurality of satellite-based transmission amplifiers to amplify the broadband signal and no other broadband signal from the gateway terminal, to produce an amplified broadband signal, (4) sending the amplified broadband signal as one of a plurality of service spot beams to the at least one subscriber terminal, and (5) receiving and retrieving data from the amplified broadband signal at the at least one subscriber terminal.

Abstract: A multi-channel trellis encoder/decoder is disclosed for use with multi-channel data transmission systems. For each data transmission symbol interval, trellis encoding is applied across all available channels, and for each data reception symbol interval trellis decoding is applied across all available channels. In comparision with systems employing independent trellis encoding along each available channel, the present invention reduces data throughput delays by roughly an order of magnitude, and reduces implementation complexity by roughly a factor equal to the number of transmission channels. Further, the multi-channel trellis encoder will permit different data transmission rates as well as permitting variations in signal power and/or noise power from channel to channel.