Abstract: A digital automatic level control system employs delay elements, which enable information about a signal parameter from the past, present and future to be processed to provide an optimal gain that can be used to level rapidly varying signals, such as bursty signals. As digital time samples of a signal are passed through first and second buffers, first and second accumulators maintain running sums that are related to the sum of the samples presently in the first and second buffers, respectively. The sums in the first and second accumulators represent information about the signal parameter for the future and the past, respectively. By choosing the maximum of these two values, the system can anticipate the beginning of a signal burst, and still have enough delay to compensate the end of a signal burst. In one embodiment of the invention, multiple channel signals can be leveled, either individually or in groups.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the performance of a satellite communication system by using a multivariate analysis approach to optimize the pointing of the boresight of a satellite-mounted antenna. Optimizing the pointing of the boresight of the antenna minimizes sidelobe generation, and thus Co-Channel Interference (CCI) in geographic areas served by the system. By minimizing CCI, the overall system performance of the communication system is optimized. To optimize the pointing of the boresight of the antenna, the overall performance of the satellite communication system is determined, and the boresight of the antenna is iteratively repointed in the direction of increasing system performance until the optimized boresight pointing is determined. Alternatively, the frequency re-use plan of the satellite communication system may be analyzed to determine a high density cell region and the boresight may be pointed to the high density cell region.

Abstract: A satellite communication system (10) includes apparatus for exchanging communication data between ground-based user sites (21-24, 41-44 and 51-54) and a ground-based wideband network (60). A communication satellite (30) exchanges user communication data with the user sites. Ground-based hub terminals (27, 35, 47 and 57) exchange the user communication data with the satellite (30) and also exchange the data with the network (60). A communication manager (70) determines the communication requirements between the satellite and the network and identifies more than one hub terminal to exchange user communication data with the satellite in the event that one hub terminal is insufficient to meet the communication requirements.

Abstract: A frequency channel is assigned to each of a plurality of locations. A beam within the assigned channel and having a specified beam width is directed between a satellite and each location, and data is transmitted. A spread spectrum test signal is transmitted to the satellite, received, and processed, and a return test signal is transmitted from the satellite, and processed to determine the quality of operation of the antenna and associated electronics. A radio frequency signal having a first polarization is transmitted to the satellite, received, and processed to provide a first processed signal. The quality of the first processed signal is determined. If the quality is acceptable, the first processed signal is utilized. If the quality is not acceptable, the signal source is notified, and the radio frequency signal is retransmitted with a second polarization, received, processed, and utilized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for closed-loop power threshold leveling for a satellite communication system. An aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of user earth terminals (UET), a satellite and a network control center (NCC). The NCC polls the UETs to obtain power profile information. When polled, the UELTs form power profile responses and send the responses back to the NCC. The NCC forms a power profile database and statistically analyzes the power profile information to determine an uplink power threshold adjustment. The NCC transmits the uplink power threshold adjustment to the satellite, which adjusts an on-board uplink power level threshold in response to the uplink power threshold adjustment. In systems using mutltiple coding levels, the NCC determines uplink power offset values corresponding to the individual coding levels. The NCC delivers the uplink power offset values to the UETs which update their local power offset values.

Abstract: A digital automatic level control system employs delay elements, which enable information about a signal parameter from the past, present and future to be processed to provide an optimal gain that can be used to level rapidly varying signals, such as bursty signals. As digital time samples of a signal are passed through first and second buffers, first and second accumulators maintain running sums that are related to the sum of the samples presently in the first and second buffers, respectively. The sums in the first and second accumulators represent information about the signal parameter for the future and the past, respectively. By choosing the maximum of these two values, the system can anticipate the beginning of a signal burst, and still have enough delay to compensate the end of a signal burst. In one embodiment of the invention, multiple channel signals can be leveled, either individually or in groups.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided coding communications signals 16 carried between transmitting and receiving stations 12 and 14. A data stream from a communications signal is encoded with an outer code 22 to form an outer-coded data stream that is passed to an inner coder 26. The inner coder 26 applies an inner code and punctures the resulting coded data stream by deleting at least one bit from each symbol to achieve a desired data rate and coding level. The system 10 offers multiple levels of puncturing to vary the coding level between heavy and light. The inner code may be a Nordstrom-Robinson code and the outer code may be a Reed-Solomon code.

Abstract: A method and computer program to configure feeds on a satellite (300, 310, 320) to provide for redundant coverage when a satellite (300, 310, 320) fails. Further, this method and computer program can enable the switching of feeds from commands from a ground station (30) to activate certain feeds and deactivate other feeds when demand for service changes. In addition, this method and computer program allow for repositioning of satellites so that when one satellite fails another satellite may take over its area of coverage by switching active feeds without the need for placing another satellite in orbit.

Abstract: A satellite communication system (10) includes apparatus for exchanging communication data between ground-based user sites (21-24, 41-44 and 51-54) and a ground-based wideband network (60). A communication satellite (30) exchanges user communication data with the user sites. Ground-based hub terminals (27, 35, 47 and 57) exchange the user communication data with the satellite (30) and also exchange the data with the network (60). A communication manager (70) determines the communication requirements between the satellite and the network and identifies more than one hub terminal to exchange user communication data with the satellite in the event that one hub terminal is insufficient to meet the communication requirements.

Abstract: A method and computer program to configure feeds on a satellite (300, 310, 320) to provide for redundant coverage when a satellite (300, 310, 320) fails. Further, this method and computer program can enable the switching of feeds from commands from a ground station (30) to activate certain feeds and deactivate other feeds when demand for service changes. In addition, this method and computer program allow for repositioning of satellites so that when one satellite fails another satellite may take over its area of coverage by switching active feeds without the need for placing another satellite in orbit.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling uplink power in a satellite communication system using error leveling is provided. The uplink power control system for a satellite communication system of a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a communication satellite (101) and at least one UET (105). The communication satellite (101) includes an error detector (211) and a comparator (215). The UET (105) includes a receiver (206) for receiving an error indicator signal from the comparator (215), and a power profile processor (216) for controlling the transmit power level of the particular chanslot being used by the UET in response to the error indicator.