Abstract: The invention includes methods and systems for use in a wireless communications system, such as a CDMA mobile communications system. A communications device transmits a wireless signal. A repeater system receives a first version of the wireless signal using a first receiver system and receives a second version of the wireless signal using a second receiver system. The repeater system switches between the first version of the wireless signal and the second version of the wireless signal to generate a third version of the wireless signal. The repeater system transmits the third version of the wireless signal and a base station system receives the third version of the wireless signal. In some embodiments of the invention, the wireless signals are Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) signals. In some embodiments of the invention, the switching occurs at a rate of 4 MHz.

Abstract: An onboard DAMA protocol for use in connection with a processing satellite communications network, where multiple users are assigned to a common transmission resource as part of a sharing set. A media access controller (30) on the satellite maintains a reservation log which identifies the frequencies and number of uplink time slots in the resource that are currently reserved by one or more members of the sharing set. To reserve a time-frequency slot on the transmission resource for a non-contentious transmission of data, a user of the sharing set will transmit a reservation request to the satellite on a contentious uplink resource. If a return message is not received, the user knows that the reservation request collided with another reservation request, and a retransmission strategy of the reservation request is employed.

Abstract: A dynamic repeater configuration for satellite systems is disclosed that allows for multiple broadcast of channel information and multiple subchannel allocations on uplink and downlink beam signals. The apparatus comprises an input multiplexer, a subchannel routing switch matrix, a channel routing switch matrix, and an output multiplexer. The input multiplexer receives the uplink signal and produces at least a first channel signal therefrom. The subchannel routing switch matrix receives the uplink signal, separates at least one channel signal into at least one subchannel, routes the subchannel from a selected uplink subchannel into a selected downlink subchannel, and recombines the selected downlink subchannels into a second channel signal. The channel routing switch matrix routes the first channel signal into a first downlink channel signal and the second channel signal into a second downlink channel signal. The output multiplexer combines the first and second downlink channels into the downlink signal.

Abstract: Integrated multispot satellite communication system in a multimedia broadcasting network, mainly in digital video broadcasting (DVB) applications. The system employs the DVB-RCS mode in the uplink direction of the communication, i.e. towards the satellite, and multiplexes said signals into a DVB-S type signal in the downlink direction, i.e. the signal leaving the satellite, permitting a user to request broadband interactive services using standard stations both on the transmission side and on the reception side. A regenerator means on board the satellite serves to perform the multiplexing of said downlink signal.

Abstract: Redundancy ring communication apparatus having a plurality of communication channels, that comprises normally used and redundant amplifier channels that are interconnected using selectively controllable switches. Pairs of amplifier channels may be selectively coupled together using controllable switches and hybrid couplers.

Abstract: A system for switching radio frequency signals from an input side (5, FIG. 1 ) to an output side (6) can be used to combine multiple input signals to form a single output and to distribute a single input signal to form multiple outputs. Gain correction amplifiers (20, 25) are employed to adjust the overall gain of a particular column and row of the switch matrix which minimizes the effect of variations in the gain of the amplified switching elements (30) which perform the switching function. Resistive matching units (70, FIG. 2) provide coupling to and from the amplified switching elements (30) without substantially changing the characteristic impedance of the input and output paths.

Abstract: A satellite direct audio broadcast system includes a plurality of fixed-rate, uniform, frequency division multiple access (“FDMA”) uplinks and a time division multiplexed (“TDM”) downlink. Source audio channels may be divided among and transmitted through a selectable number of fixed-rate uplinks so as to have selectable audio quality at the receiver. Fixed-rate FDMA uplinks include information designating related channels as containing related source information. On-board the satellite baseband processing selects uplink information channels for inclusion into none, one or multiple TDM downlinks. Transmitted audio information may be scrambled, and authorization downloaded to receivers to permit descrambling for paid subscription service.

Abstract: A multi-beam DBS satellite system capable of providing spectrally efficient regional programming is disclosed. The inventive system includes at least one DBS satellite having a repeater connected between multiple uplink antennas and multiple downlink antennas. The repeater has a switching processor and a formatting processor. The switching processor includes circuitry for filtering individual channels of information from the uplink frequency division multiplexed (FDM) beams received at the uplink antennas, and also includes circuitry for switching the channels of information to form a set of switched channels. These switched channels are then combined and routed to the formatting processor. The formatting processor converts the switched FDM information into a combined digital TDM signal that preferably corresponds to the DVB standard.

Abstract: An exchange constituting an ATM network administers the number of UBR connections for every line port included in the exchange. Upon receiving a request for setting a UBR connection, the exchange determines the route of the UBR connection on the basis of the number of the UBR connections administered for every line port included in the exchange.

Abstract: An analog transponder processor for use in a multibeam satellite receiving input beam signals and transmitting output beam signals has an input switch matrix, channel processors, and an output switch matrix. The input switch matrix power divides input beam signals into sets of input beam signals. The channel processors each receive at least one input beam signal from the input switch matrix. The channel processors filter the input beam signals into channel signals. Each of the channel signals corresponds to a respective channel of the input beam signals. The channel processors change the frequency of at least one channel signal such that the at least one channel signal corresponds to a different channel than the respective channel of the input beam signals. The output switch matrix combines the channel signals into output beam signals.

Abstract: In a LEO satellite system with the implementation of a virtual network, a method and a system are proposed for arranging an optimal route for data packets to travel. The method and system will diversify the traffic between satellites, and accordingly enhance the efficient use of the entire satellite system. An intermediary satellite is first selected between a source satellite and a destination satellite. Further, an optimal route is found among a plurality of shortest paths between the source satellite and the intermediary satellite, and subsequently another optimal route is found between the intermediary satellite and the destination satellite. Once an optimal route is determined, the route information can be encoded in the header segment of data packets.

Abstract: A data message routing and delivery system for an air traffic control system includes a communications network with one or more ground processing nodes, one or more satellite processing nodes, and one or more avionics processing nodes each configured to send and receive data packets to and from others network processing nodes in the communications network. One or more transmission prioritizing controllers are provided to determine the locations of each of network processing node, and to control access to communication channels and routing of data messages in order of priority between the network processing nodes. An application executing on one network processing node is send to an application executing on another network processing node under the control of the transmission prioritizing controllers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining and separating groups of signals starts by a transmitter (500) receiving a number of CDMA-encoded signals from data sources (510). The CDMA-encoded signals are sorted (502) based on their intended destinations. Those CDMA-encoded signals which are intended for a common destination are multiplexed (504) together into a group. The group is further CDMA encoded (506) using a group code and the encoded group is transmitted (508) to an intermediate transceiver (600) or a destination transceiver (700). The intermediate or destination transceiver decodes (604, 704) the group using the appropriate group code and routes the resulting group of signals accordingly.

Abstract: A system and method for improving communication between two user terminals in a telecommunication system is disclosed. When two user terminals, such as in a satellite-based system with a terrestrial network interface, switch from a double-hop connection with the network to a single-hop connection with each other, communication is established according to the present invention by synchronizing the protocol parameters between the two user terminals, which in the double-hop connection were separately synchronized with the network.

Abstract: Each of the communications satellites going around the earth is equipped with a plurality of transmitters and receivers including receiving antennas in order to be able to transmit and receive signals in a plurality of directions, and a transmitter and a receiver in order to be able to transmit and receive signals between the closest terrestrial communications equipment. Each communications satellite is equipped with a cross-connect equipment, and has a function of transmitting signals that are received from each of the receivers toward other directions by utilizing the cross-connect equipment. The communications satellites and the terrestrial communications equipment have respectively a function of transmitting and receiving signals consisting of communications frames having at their head address signals that indicate to which terrestrial communications equipment of the transmission destination they are intended for every time slot.

Abstract: The invention provides a dynamic traffic shaping apparatus which allows dynamic shaping processing wherein the shaping cell rate is varied dynamically in response to a rate variation of a terminal acquired from a network. The dynamic traffic shaping apparatus includes a rate information processing section for predicting a sending rate of a transmission terminal in response to rate control information detected from a cell directed from a reception terminal side toward a transmission terminal side and successively storing the sending rate in an updating manner as sending rate information of an arrival cell for each virtual path and each virtual channel.

Abstract: In satellite based communication systems (30), real time monitoring of communication links (23-25) and the subsequent adaptations to overcome problems with certain links (23,25) provides the communication system (30) with the ability to adapt to changing conditions. A satellite-based communication system (30) can be adapted to provide an improved method for establishing communication links (23,25) between ground stations (14) and space-based satellite switches (11). Common earth-based termination nodes are replaced by intelligent switches (14). Alternate links are established using links (20,21) between intelligent space-based switches (11), links (24) between intelligent earth-based switches (14), and links (23,25) between intelligent space-based switches (11) and intelligent earth-based switches (14). The controller (54) in the intelligent earth-based switch (14) allows the system to automatically adapt to failure, overload, and other conditions.

Abstract: A repeater for a multibeam communications satellite combines the features of coaxial channel interbeam switching and subchannelization of some of the channels. In one embodiment described, the input radio-frequency signals from the input beams are fed through the input multiplexers to form channels. Some, but not all, channels are subsequently subchannelized for interbeam switching. In another embodiment of the invention, a portion of the incoming radio frequency signals bypasses the input demultiplexer and is filtered for noise-limiting reasons, converted down to an intermediate frequency and then subchannelized using SAW filters. The specification also teaches that digital techniques can be used to obtain the same results.

Abstract: Switching of traffic channels within spread spectrum beams is performed in a satellite without buffering of the individual signals. Individual satellite beams carrying spread spectrum user RF signals from a plurality of customer premise equipments are received by radio receivers of a satellite switch and downconverted to IF signals. Traffic channel recovery is performed immediately after the down conversion, and digital encoding and decoding is performed to route each channel to an appropriate outbound satellite beam. Traffic channel recovery is by despreading and filtering followed by respreading to uniquely identify each user signal so it may be recovered at its end destination. Further spreading uniquely identifies the user signal with an outbound satellite beam going to the intended destination of the user signal.

Abstract: A communications network (10) includes nodes (18) in which switched channelizers (32) decompose wideband signals into narrowband signals and route the narrowband signals to specified demodulators (34). The switched channelizers (32) serve as building blocks which may be coupled together in parallel and in series. Switch portions (28) of switched channelizers (32) may couple together so that the switched channelizers (32) form interconnected switched channelizer groups (54). Within an interconnected switched channelizer group (54), any channel from any wideband signal may be routed to any demodulator (34).

Abstract: A system for wireless communication between at least one first station and a plurality of second stations using a relay station is disclosed. The relay station contains, among other features, an antenna array and a multi-channel transponder. The antenna array has a plurality of antenna elements which are divided into two sets. The first set is used to provide transmission or reception using beams having a first beamwidth and the second set is used to provide transmission or reception using beams having a second beamwidth. The multi-channel transponder, which is connected to the antenna array and a feeder link antenna, receives feeder link signals from at least one of the first stations and converts the signals into drive signals for the antenna array elements. The multi-channel transponder has a first channel bandwidth for channels transponding signals for transmissions having the first beamwidth and a second channel bandwidth for channels transponding signals for transmissions having said second beamwidth.