MX2011001201A - Systems, methods and devices for overlaid operation of satellite and terrestrial wireless communications systems. - Google Patents

Abstract

A communications system includes a space-based network (SBN) including a plurality of spotbeams using a first set of frequencies and an ancillary terrestrial network (ATN) including a plurality of base stations using a second set of radio frequencies. In a coverage zone of a given spot beam wherein the SBN and the ATN use at least one frequency from the first and second sets of frequencies in common, the SBN uses a narrower bandwidth than the ATN on both forward and return links, the ATN employs frequency spreading on at least its return link communications, the SBN employs spatial beam nulling directed toward at least one ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) of the ATN, the SBN employs forward link margin control, the ATN employs return link power control, the SBN employs return link power control and base stations of the ATN provide isolation in the direction of at least one satellite of the SBN. Using such a combination of measures, the ATN and the SBN may support completely or partially overlapping use of the first and second sets of radio frequencies.

Description

SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR OPERATION OF COVER OF SATELLITE AND TERRESTRIAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims the benefit of and priority to the Provisional Patent Application United States No. 61 / 086,489 filed on August 6, 2008, entitled "Operation Geographic and Spectrally Cover of Mobile Satellite Services and Auxiliary Earth Component, "the description of which by this means G ' it is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to wireless communication systems, methods and components thereof and more particularly to satellite and terrestrial wireless communication systems, methods and components thereof. v , Systems and methods of radiotelephone communication Te satellites are widely used for radiotelephone communication. Systems and methods of satellite radiotelephone communication generally employ at least one space-based component, such as one or more satellites, which are configured to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of satellite radiotelephones.

A system or method of satellite radiotelephone communication can use a simple satellite antenna pattern (beam or cell) that covers a whole region of service served by the system. Alternatively or in combination with the above, in systems and methods of cellular satellite radiotelephone communication, multiple patterns of satellite antennas (beams or cells) are provided, of which each can serve a substantially different service region in a service region. general, to collectively provide service to the general service region. In this way, a cellular architecture that is similar to that used in conventional terrestrial cellular radiotelephone systems and methods can be implemented in systems and methods based on cellular satellite. The satellite typically communicates with radiotelephones over a bidirectional communication path, with radiotelephone communication signals being communicated from the satellite to the radiotelephone over a return link or non-return link called as a service link with no return) and from the qe radiotelephone to the satellite over an uplink or return link (also referred to as a return service link). In some cases, such as, for example, in diffusion, the satellite can communicate information to one or more radioterminals in a unidirectional manner.

The general design and operation of satellite and cellular radiotelephone systems and methods are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and need not be further described herein. In addition, as used herein, the term "radiotelephone" includes cellular and / or satellite radiotelephones with or without a multiline presentation; Personal Communication System (PCS) terminals that can combine a radiotelephone with data processing, fax capabilities and / or data communication; Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) that may include a radio frequency transceiver and / or a pager, Internet / Intranet access, browser Web, organizer, calendar and / or a receiver of the system of c · global positioning (GPS); and / or conventional laptops and / or palmtop type computers or other devices, including a radio frequency transceiver. A radiotelephone can also be referred to herein as a "radio terminal", a "mobile terminal", a "user device", a "wireless transmitter", a "wireless receiver", a "transceiver", or simply as a "radio". terminal". As used herein, the terms "radioterminal", "radiotelephone", "mobile terminal", "user device", "wireless transmitter", "wireless receiver", "transceiver" and / or "terminal" also include any other radiant user device, equipment and / or source that may have geographical coordinates of time variation or fixed, and / or that may be portable, transportable, installed in a vehicle (aeronautical, maritime or terrestrial) and / or located and / or configured to operate locally and / or in a distributed manner over one or more terrestrial and / or extraterrestrial locations.Also, as used herein, the term "component space-based "or" space-based system "includes one or more satellites in any orbit '(geostationary, substantially geostationary, medium Earth orbit, low Earth orbit, etc.) and / or one or more 10 additional objects and / or platforms (for example, airplanes, ·.;. balloons, unmanned vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, etc.) that have a trajectory above the earth at any altitude.

Terrestrial networks can improve capacity, 15 efficiency and / or economic feasibility of the cellular satellite radiotelephone system when using / reusing terrestrial at least some of the frequencies that are located in cellular satellite radio telephone systems. In particular, it is known that it can be difficult for systems of 20 cellular satellite radiotelephone reliably serve densely populated areas, because satellite signals can be blocked by large structures and / or may not penetrate some buildings. As a result, the satellite spectrum may be underutilized or not used in 25 such areas. The use / terrestrial reuse of at least some of the frequencies of the satellite system can reduce or eliminate this potential problem.

'' | '"J In addition, the capacity of a general hybrid system, : T qiie comprises space-based communication capability (es i: 5 say, satellite) and terrestrial, can be increased by the introduction of terrestrial frequency use / reuse of frequencies authorized for use by the space-based component, use / reuse of terrestrial frequency can be much denser than that of a system only satellite. Of course, capacity can be improved where it may be needed most, that is, in densely populated urban / industrial / commercial areas. As a result, the general system may become economically more viable, since it may be able to serve a larger and more secure subscriber base.

An example of terrestrial reuse of satellite frequencies is described in U.S. Patent 5,937,332 to the inventor Karabinis entitled i Satellite Telecommunications Repeaters and I'l Methods 20 Retransmission, which description is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein. As described herein, repeaters are provided 1 - . 1 - satellite telecommunication receiving, amplifying and locally retransmitting the downlink / link signal;: ascending received from a satellite / radioterminal which therefore increases an effective downlink / uplink margin in the vicinity of the telecommunication repeater satellite and that allows an increase in the penetration of uplink and downlink signals in buildings, foliage, transport vehicles, and other objects that can reduce the link margin. Such portable and non-portable repeaters are provided. See the abstract of U.S. Patent 5,937,332. 10 Satellite radiotelephones for a satellite radiotelephone system or method having a terrestrial communication capability by using / reusing in terrestrial way at least some frequencies of a satellite frequency band and using substantially the same .v.i < | 15 air interface for terrestrial and satellite communication can be more cost effective and / or aesthetically attractive compared to other alternatives. The alternatives of v dual-band radiotelephone / conventional dual mode, such as the well-known Thuraya, Iridium and / or Globalstar dual-mode satellite / terrestrial radio telephones 20, duplicate some components (as a result of different frequency bands and / or interface protocols) aerial f · between satellite and terrestrial communications), which 1: > J.í involves an increased cost, size and / or weight of the radiotelephone. See United States Patent 6,052,560 for? Inventor Karabinis, entitled Satellite System That Uses' has Plurality of Aerial Interface Standards and Method That Uses Himself.

The communication systems and methods -! 5 satellite radioterminal that may employ use and / or terrestrial reuse of satellite frequencies by an Auxiliary Terrestrial Network (ATN) comprising at least one Auxiliary Terrestrial Component (ATC) are also described in U.S. Patent No. 6,684,057 to Karabinis, -gg 10 entitled Systems and Methods for Land Reuse of | Satelite Cellular Frequency Spectrum; 6,785,543 for Karabinis, entitled Filters for Radiotelephone Combined / GPS terminals; 6,856,787 for Karabinis, entitled Systems and Methods of Wireless Communication that 15 Use Remote Terminal Interface Subsystems Link by Satellite; 6,859,652 for Karabinis et al., Entitled System and Integrated or Autonomous Method of Reuse of | I.

Earth Terrestrial frequency that uses attenuation of 30 -. 30 -il S; signaling and / or blocking, Dynamic Frequency Assignment and / or W. 20 Hysteresis; and 6,879,829 for Dutta et al., entitled Systems and Methods for Transference between Communications Based on, i. Space and Terrestrial Radioterminal, and to Monitor Earth-Reused Frequencies in a Radioterminal Way to Reduce Potential Interference, and 25, US Patents 6,892,068, 6,937,857, 6,999,720 and 7,006,789; and published U.S. Patent Applications Nos. 2003/0054761 to Karabinis, entitled Space Ranger for Earth Reuse of | Satellite Frequencies; American 2003/0054814 for 5 Karabinis et al., Entitled Systems and Methods for Monitoring '|| Reutilized Satellite Frequencies in Ways to Reduce Potential Interference; American 2003/0073436 for Karabinis et. al., entitled Additional Systems and Methods to Monitor Satellite Frequencies or Reused in Terrestrial Way to Reduce Potential Interference; American 2003/0054762 for Karabinis, entitled Systems and Methods of Radiotelephonic Communication of Multiple Band / Multiple Mode; American 2002/0041575 for Karabinis et. al., entitled 5 Reuse of Coordinated Earth-Satellite Frequency; US 2003/0068978 for Karabinis et. al., entitled Space-Based Network Architectures for Radiotelephone Systems Satellite; American 2003/0153308 para. Karabinis, r; entitled Staggered Sectorization for Terrestrial Reuse 0 of Satellite Frequencies; and American 2,003 / 0054815 for Karabinis, entitled Methods and Systems for | I < l : · , .. Modify Satelite Antenna Cell Patterns in Response to Terrestrial Frequency Reuse | | Satellite; and U.S. Patent Applications 5 Published Nos. 2004/0121727, 2004/0142660, 2004/0192395, 004/0192200, 2004/0192293, 2004/0203742, 2004/0240525, 2005/0026606, 2005/0037749, 2005/0041619, 2005/0064813, 2005/0079816, 2005/0090256, 2005/0118948, 2005/0136836, 2005/0164700, 2005/0164701, 2005/0170834, 2005/0181786, 2005/0201449, 2005/0208890, 2005/0221757, 2005/0227618, 2005/0239457, 2005/0239403, 2005/0239404, 2005/0239399, 2005/0245192, 2005/0260984, 2005/0260947, 2005/0265273, "005/00272369, 2005/0282542, 2005/0288011, 2006/0040613, '2006/040657 and 2006/0040659; of which all are assigned to the assignee of the present invention, descriptions of which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if they were fully set forth herein.

COMPENDIUM Some embodiments of the present invention provide a communication system that includes a space-based network (SBN) that includes a plurality of concentrated beams that use a first set of frequencies and an auxiliary terrestrial network (ATN) that includes a plurality of base stations that uses a second set of radio frequencies. In a coverage area of at least one concentrated beam, the SBN and the ATN use at least one frequency of the first and second sets of frequencies in common. In the coverage area, the SBN uses a narrower bandwidth than the ATN in both non-return and return links, the ATN uses frequency propagation in at least its return link communications, the SBN employs beam override The SBN uses the no-return link margin control, the ATN employs the return link power control, the SBN employs the link power control of return and ATN base stations provide isolation in the direction of at least one satellite of the SBN. Using such a combination of measurements, the ATN and the SBN can fully or partially support the use of frequency overlap of the first and second sets of radio frequencies.

In some embodiments, the SBN employs the cancellation of fixed and / or adaptive return link spatial beams. For example, the SBN may employ adaptive return partial link bypass cancellation in the form of a hidden wave and / or visible waveform. The SBN may employ, for example, return link beam formation according to a linear restricted average variation algorithm (LC V).

In additional modalities, the base stations of the ATN employ spectral cancellation in frequencies of the first set of radio frequencies. The SBN may also employ non-return link spatial beam reversal to at least one ATC of the ATN.

In some embodiments, the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN may be configured to provide a terminal that communicates with the increased link margin of SBN to override the interference of a nearby ATN base station. In particular, the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN can be configured to provide a terminal that communicates with the increased SBN link margin to override the interference of a nearby ATN base station until the terminal is in a nominal coverage area of the next ATN base station. The non-return link margin control employed by the SBN may include, for example, adaptive power control and / or adaptive information index control.

In additional embodiments, the system also includes a mobility manager configured to support communication transfer of a terminal between the SBN and the ATN according to the proximity to an ATN base station. For example, the mobility manager can support inactive roaming and / or call transfer. The mobility manager can be configured to support terminal communication transfer between the SBN and the ATN using location information from a • location information source other than the SBN or the ATN ,, such as GPS information.

The additional embodiments of the present invention provide methods for operating a communication system including an SBN that includes a plurality of concentrated beams utilizing a first set of frequencies and an ATN that includes a plurality of base stations. Using a second set of radio frequencies, the SBN and the ATN are operated so that, in a given coverage area of at least one concentrated beam, the SBN and the A'TN use at least one frequency of the first and second frequencies. 0 the return and non-return links, the ATN uses frequency propagation over at least its return link communications, the SBN employs cancellation 15 of the spatial beam directed towards at least one ATC of the ATN, the SBN employs the non-return link margin control, the ATN employs the return link power control, the SBN employs return link power control and the ATN base stations provide isolation in the 20 address of at least one satellite of the SBN. The methods may also include managing the mobility of terminals to support the transfer of communications from a terminal between the SBN and the ATN according to a proximity |j. . , '·· | to a base station of the ATN. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating a covered operation of a space-based network (SBN) and an auxiliary terrestrial network (ATN) in the continental United States (CONUS) according to some embodiments of the present invention .

Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating frequency assignments between a space-based network (SBN) and an auxiliary terrestrial network (ATN) according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the formation of spatial return link beams by an SBN according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a communication system and operations thereof according to some embodiments of the present invention.

·, · ,, Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating assignments ti.'1 spectral values of an SBN and ATN of the system of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Exemplary specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this invention can be represented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In fact, these embodiments are provided so that this description is complete and complete, and will bring the scope of the invention fully to those skilled in the art. It will be understood that when an element is termed as being h '"' connected", "coupled" or "sensitive" to another element, can be directly connected, coupled or be sensitive to the other element or intervention elements may be present. In addition, "connected", "coupled" or "sensitive" as used herein may include connected, coupled or sensitive wirelessly.

The terminology used herein is for purposes of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "one", "one" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless otherwise expressly stated. In addition it will be understood that the terms "includes", "comprises", "including" and / or "comprising" when used in this specification, specify the presence of established characteristics, integers, stages, operations, elements and / or components, but do not prevent the presence or addition of one or more additional features, integers, stages, operations, elements, components and / or groups of Unless defined otherwise, all '5 terms (including the technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It will also be understood that terms, such as those defined in the 10 commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as , r having a meaning that is consists with its meaning in the context of the relevant technique and the description in the ,; present, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless it is defined in this way 15 expressly in the present.

It will be understood that although the first and second terms are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by those terms. These terms are only used to distinguish a 20 element of another element. Thus, a first next element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element without departing from the teachings of the present invention. As used herein, the term "and / or" 25 includes any and all combinations of one or more; · Items listed and associated. The symbol "/" is also used as a stenographic notation for "and / or".

The general design and operation of wireless communication systems and methods are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and need not be further described herein. However, as used herein, the term "terminal" includes cellular and / or satellite radiotelephones with or without a multiline display; the terminals of 10 Personal Communication System (PCS) that can combine a radiotelephone with data processing, fax capabilities and / or data communication; Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) that may include a radio frequency transceiver and / or a person search, Internet / Intranet access, browser 15 Web, organizer, calendar and / or a receiver of the global positioning system (GPS), and / or laptop computers and / or conventional palmtop type or other devices, including a radio frequency transceiver. A terminal may also be referred to herein as "radioterminal", a "mobile terminal" or simply "terminal". As used herein, the terms "radioterminal", "radiotelephone", "mobile terminal" and / or "terminal" also include any other < jlispositive / computer / radiant user font that may have 25 coordinates of time variation or fixed geographical and / or ¡: t can be portable, transportable, installed in a vehicle "(aeronautical, maritime or land) and / or adapted and / or configured to operate locally and / or in a distributed manner over one or more terrestrial locations and / or • 5 extraterrestrials. In addition, as used herein, the term "space-based network" (SBN) includes one or more satellites in any orbit (geostationary, substantially geostationary, medium earth orbit, low earth orbit, etc.). An "auxiliary terrestrial network 0 '(ATN)" may include one or more "terrestrial components. \!, ? || ' Auxiliary (ATCs) ", which may each include a plurality of distributed geographic base stations (e.g., in cellular dispositions), which may be terrestrial facilities, facilities carried by 5 vehicles, air installations and / or installations transported by ship.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless communication system in which at least a portion of the spectrum used for 20 mobile satellite communication can be used to deploy auxiliary terrestrial components (ATCs) relatively '·, Broadband of an auxiliary terrestrial network (ATN) in several places in a service area, such as Urban / suburban areas of the Continental United States 25 (CONUS). The concentrated satellite beams of a network based in space (SBN) are covered in this service area, so that the coverage areas in the ATCs and the SBN at least partially overlap. FIGURE 1 illustrates such an arrangement for CONUS, including bundles 10 And 5 satellite concentrates and the ATCs 20.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air interface used by the bundled beams 10 of SBN relatively is narrow band for non-return and return links, while the air interface 10 of ATN is relatively broadband. For example, the SBN can use non-return and return links that have a bandwidth of approximately 1.25 MHz or less, while the ATN air interface can use approximately 10 MHz (or more) of non-return link and 15 return. Such bandwidth may be compatible with the so-called fourth generation ("4G") overhead interfaces, such as iMAX and UMTS LTE.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an example of a spectrum allocation according to some embodiments of the present 20 invention. A first frequency set 31 is used by an ATN, and for example, may have a nominal width of !! H ' ; Y; i, 0 MHz. In some modalities, form a non-return link ax The ATN may have a "thick pipe" structure that occupies substantially all of the frequency set 31, which serves several users by, for example, a multiplexing technique, such as TDM, FDM, CDM; u OFDM. In it return link, multiple access can cause users using techniques such as TDMA, FDMA, CDMA and / or OFDMA. • 5 'For example, in some applications of type 4G, the uplink bandwidth can be assigned on request, depending on the particular transmission requirements of a given terminal. Typically, the bandwidth requirements of a terminal are such that it may be abnormal to allocate the entire bandwidth of the uplink to a terminal, which means that the uplink channel instantaneous bandwidth requirements for the terminals are terminals are likely to be smaller than the allocated bandwidth. However, the 5 systems can propagate by frequency the assignment of the central frequencies of the subband to the terminals and : · Change these assignments over time so that the uplink spectrum occupancy looks broadband with a uniform or less uniform power spectral density. In summary, from an interference point of view, the downlink and uplink spectrum may appear as broadband with an approximate uniform power spectral density, which is averaged over a period of time long enough to reduce the short-term variations caused, for example, by the non-ideal allocation of the traffic-based spectrum. Spectrum occupancy by an ATN may be identical for all ATCs or may be ÍK''| different Still with reference to FIGURE. 2, the respective frequency sets 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 for the respective concentrated beams of an SBM at least partially overlap the frequency set 31 assigned to the ATN. In particular, the frequency set 32 partially overlaps, while the frequency sets 33, 34, 35 and 36 overlap completely.

,? ' G According to some modalities of the present day invention, the SBN can use conformed beams that have null values directed towards the location of sources of interference from a covered ATN, while maintaining adequate gain towards the desired coverage areas. FIGURE 3 illustrates an example of such bundle formation (in a spatial dimension for simplicity). As shown, a shaped beam 30 includes null values near the locations of the main lobes 41, 42 of the transmissions of | > uplink of ATC. As illustrated further, the Beam formation can result in loss of gain with respect to a reference beam 30 'which has no null values allocated.

In embodiments of the present invention, such i: ' Satellite beam formation can be done for all or some of the concentrated beams of an SBN. Beam formation, in general, can be fixed and / or adaptive. In fixed beam formation, the weighting calculation for beamforming can be based for example on an a priori knowledge of the ATC location and the uplink power.

In adaptive beam formation, the weight calculation can be based, for example, on amplitudes and phases 10 of signals received by the satellite antennas of the SBN, which may be termed as adaptive cancellation. In some embodiments, adaptive beam formation may not be based on characteristics of received signals, such as integrated pilot signals. For example, shape techniques 15 'hidden wave can be used to return to the system able to adapt to potential interference of unknown waveform. Known techniques, such as those found in a linearly-minimum minimum covariance algorithm (LMCV), such as the Frost Algorithm, can be used.

• Such an algorithm can be used in fixed and adaptive satellite beam formation in some embodiments of the present invention. For example, beam formation ja can be used as an algorithm to calculate a fixed position using fixed values for the desired beam location and the shape and location of ATC and the uplink power. Adaptive beamforming can use a fixed value for the desired beam location and beam shape, but can rely on additional input parameters that include amplitude and received signal phase, which generally vary in time.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the formation of SBN beams to reduce the return link interference from operations of 0 Beam-forming techniques can be visible waveform and / or hidden waveform. The techniques of hidden waveform can be advantageous since the air interfaces can be changed without affecting the beamformer. However, visible waveform techniques can provide better performance.

According to some modalities, the formation of 0 сáces places null spatial values in the direction of the ATC sites. To the extent permitted by the degrees of freedom |; .. of the satellite antennas, the null values can be placed in the addresses of co-channel satellite users. The degrees of freedom are generally one less than 5 the number of antenna elements in the satellite antenna array. The deepest null values can be placed towards the sources of higher interference, but placing the deep null values too close to the main beam can reduce the uplink margin. i'.V : 5 í Beam formation can be done in the |X satellite and / or terrestrial communication that communicates with it, that is, using earth-based beam formation (GBBF). Terrestrial based beam formation can be advantageous due to an increased capacity to reconfigure and to implement more complex signal processing than may be possible in the satellite due to space calibration and mass limitations.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, such SBN return link beam formation can be used in combination with a bandwidth structure along the lines discussed in the foregoing with reference to FIGURE 2, the use of user terminals with relatively low gain antennas, the use of satellites with antennas of relatively high gain that 20 provide relatively small concentrated beams, the use of relatively low information rates for . SBM services, the use of ATN base stations that have antennas with relatively high isolation to SBN satellites, the use of link margin control 25 no return for the SBN and / or the use of return link power control for the ATN. These combined measures can allow a full or partial frequency overlap operation of the SBN and the ATN in areas of particular coverage, served by both networks.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, measures can be taken to mitigate the return link (uplink) interference from the ATN to the SBN to allow at least one partial frequency overlap operation of the networks. According to some modalities, the ATN broadcasts can be designated to be relatively broadband in the non-return and return links, while the SBN air interface can be designated to be relatively narrow-band in the non-return and return links, as discussed in the foregoing with reference to FIGURE 2.

In particular, with reference to FIGURE 4, a 'i · - ..

SBN 420 may include one or more satellites 422, which provide concentrated beams 426 for communicating with terminals 430. The SBN 420 may also include a terrestrial station 424 that serves as a link port to a terrestrial network infrastructure 440, which may include , for example, mobile switching centers (MSCs), location registers, major networks (e.g., fiber o networks) and other network infrastructure that supports 430 terminal communications through one or more satellites 422. An ATN 410 includes one or more ATCs 412, which are employed in higher density user environments, such as urban and / or suburban areas and which may generally include a plurality of base stations 414, which may '|'5 be distributed to provide land cover cells.

The ATN 410 also communicatively couples with the terrestrial network infrastructure 440. As shown in FIGURE 4, the network infrastructure 440 may also include a mobility administrator 442, which is configured to 10 handle mobility of terminals 430 as it moves with respect to the coverage areas of SBN 410 and ATN 420. The 2. · | The mobility manager 442 can be implemented, for example, by using network hardware and associated software that operate on components of the network infrastructure, such as 15 base station controllers (BSCs), MSCs and the like. It will be further appreciated that some aspects of mobility management may also include operations within terminals 430 themselves.

With reference to FIGURE 5, the ATN 410 can 20 using a TDD air interface over the uplink and downlink bands fUlfd, which are covered over a -: uplink band fu, of an SBN 420. The SBN 420 can use, for example, a TDD interface or one of FDD: In such a provision, liaison communications 25 uplink and downlink of the ATN 410 can produce V, '-' V interference in uplinks of the SBN 420. In cases where the ATN 410 uses a FDD air interface, such interference can only come from the uplinks of the ATN 410. However, some modalities of this 5 invention, using relatively broadband emissions on the uplinks and downlinks of the ATN 410, the net uplink power can propagate over the bandwidth of the ATN channel, thereby reducing. · Interference on the links relatively ascending 10 Narrowband of the SBN 420.

If the non-return links of the ATN 410 could be a source of interference in the uplinks of SBN, the antennas of the base stations 414 of the ATN 410 could be configured to provide a relatively high degree. 15 high insulation (for example, approximately 10 dB a 15 dB) with respect to the satellites of the SBN. The specters ¾ · • The transmission of ATN base stations 414 can also be conformed to create null values near the I|: · .. frequencies used by the SBN 420. This can help reduce interference on SBN uplinks, but may be onal in practical systems.

The interference on SBN uplinks can also be reduced by limiting the deployment of the go. i- ATN 410 towards urban areas. In addition, terminals 430 can i !; 25 to be portable user terminals with relatively low gain antennas. When averaged during the assembly of all the deployed user terminals, such low gain portable user terminals can show an antenna gain towards the satellites 422 of the SBN 420 which is considerably less than the antenna peak gain, for example. example, in the order of 4 dB or less. In addition, in urban areas, it tends to be a considerable blockage of satellite propagation. Such factors can reduce the uplink radiation of the user terminals 430 by as much as 10 dB with respect to propagation of free space of gain terminals of the user.

O dBi.

The SBN 420 can use satellites 422 with relatively high gain antennas, for which 426 concentrates are relatively small. Achieving such a gain may require the use of a relatively large reflector on a geosynchronous satellite. The use of relatively small concentrated beams can reduce the number of ATCs 412 a particular concentrated beam 426. When the ATC interference power spectra can be adaptable on the satellite, have A large reflector satellite antenna can be advantageous. As discussed in the above, SBN uplink bundle formation can further reduce ATN interference from concentrated beams different than desired (ie, the "victim" concentrated beam). i.

The SBN 420 can be restricted by providing only relatively low index information services, so that the signal energy per bit (Eb) can be > 5 relatively large. This can help maintain Eb / (N0 + Jo (in ra-sBN) + IO (ATN)) at a sufficiently high value for practical designs.

The user terminals 430 can use automatic power control when communicating with the ATN 10 410, so that each terminal 430 uses substantially the minimum power necessary to maintain a link with the ATN 410. This can also reduce the interference caused by such transmissions in the uplinks of SBN. The return power link control can also 15 use communications between terminals 430 and SBN 420 ITEM to allow the satellite communication signals to cancel the return link interference caused by the ATN 410.

Modalities of the present invention in addition include interference mitigation associated with the downlink of SBN. At least two interference mechanisms can be at work; from the SBN to the ATN, and from the ATN to the SBN.

.V The interference from SBN to ATN can take the form 25 narrow-band interference in the terminal receiver |: e user. This can be mitigated by creating null values in the downlink spectrum of the ATN 410, so that the subbands used by the SBN 420 are avoided. Another technique for mitigating such interference may be to use a sufficiently wide bandwidth for the downlinks of the downlink propagation of ATN 410 and to employ frequency propagation to mitigate the narrowband interference of the SBN 420. This procedure may suppress the interference spectrum 10 before bit decisions are made by the demodulator of a 430 terminal. The deployment of the 412 ATCs in most urban areas can also mitigate such interference due to block by structure. The annulment of antenna space beam in the downlinks of the SBN 420 of the downlink in the direction of certain ATCs 412 of the ATN 410 can be used to conventionally minimize the SBN radiation in the ATN 410 links. This technique can be suitable in relatively contiguous areas 20 large ATN coverage where the SBN coverage may be of secondary importance.

! The interference from ATN to SBN may take the form of co-channel interoperation (for a full-frequency overlap operation) and / or side-band interference (for an overlapping operation of partial frequency) from a neighboring ATN base station 414 to a terminal 430 communicating with the SBN 420. If the ATN downlink signal has a significantly larger bandwidth compared to the In the downlink of SBN, the interference may take the form of an additive interference power spectral density of the receiving terminal. If the ATN base station 414 is of relatively high power (for example, if it has features along the 4G lines) and operates In a relatively open terrain, the interference contribution may be large enough to damage the SBN downlink outside the nominal coverage area of the ATN base station 414. This could lead to the presence of an annular region in communication, 15 terrestrial or satellite around the coverage area (eg, cell) served by the base station 414.

This problem can be overcome by designing the SBN downlink to take automatic margin control so that the margin can be increased for a terminal 20 determined on request to reduce or eliminate the hidden area 12 cancel. Margin control can be entered using a j e, satellite carrier power control and / or an adaptive information rate control in the downlink of SBN. Such automatic downlink margin control 25 can generally be implemented in the SBN 420, together with operations (e.g., received signal resistance measurements) of the terminals 430.

The measurements can be taken to mitigate interference in the ATN uplink from the SBN. If the terminals communicating with the SBN 420 are co-channel or overlap at least partially by frequency with the ATN 410 and are allowed to get too close to an ATN j-Vase 414 station, they may cause an undesirable elevation in it. background noise received from the ATN base station 414. This can be mitigated by allowing the transfer of the SBN 420 to the ATN 410, that is, by using dual mode terminals and the mobility administrator 442 that supports transfer between the ATN 410 and the SBN 420.

According to some embodiments, the mobility manager 442 can be configured to detect proximity of a terminal 430 to a base station $ 414 of the ATN 410 while in an "inactive" mode (ie, not engaged in an active call), and the transfer of registration from the SBN 420 to the ATN 410 when presence is detected. This can lead to the use of a satellite air interface that allows terminal 430 to periodically detect carriers different from those currently in terminal 430, and synchronize to such carriers and demodulate certain control channels,: as control channels of dissemination, about those;; carriers. Such techniques are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10 / 948,606 to Dutta et. al., filed September 23, 2004 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 5 11 / 548,825 to Dutta et. al., presented on October 12 ; ·.;, .. of 2006, descriptions of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Although roaming in idle mode can help avoid potentially harmful interference from a 430 terminal to the ATN 410, 10 additional mitigation of such interference can * 3 be provided by the transfer on the call. A ':? Alternative or adjacent to roaming inactive mode can be the use of roaming according to a location scheme, such as one that uses GPS, which is independent of the support of the air interface.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the measures can be taken to mitigate the downlink interference from the SBN 420 to the ATN 410 to allow the covered use of frequencies. The interference of the SBN 420 to the ATN 410 generally it can not be a problem, since the propagation distance advantage of the terrestrial cells over the concentrated satellite beams can allow the terrestrial base stations 414 to overcome the disturbances of 25 background caused by satellite transmissions using, for example, control of non-return link power and / or data index control. In applications in which an ATC 412 serves a generally urban area, this propagation distance advantage can improve the obstruction of structures.

· '·. |; In the drawings and specification, typical embodiments of the invention have been described and, although specific terms are employed, are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims .

Claims (42)

1. , '1. A communication system that includes: a space-based network (SBN) comprising at least one satellite that generates a plurality of beams : 5 concentrates using the first set of frequencies; and "an auxiliary terrestrial network (ATN) that uses a second set of radio frequencies, where, in a coverage area of a given concentrated beam where the SBN and the ATN use at least one frequency of the first and second frequency sets in common, the SBN uses a narrower bandwidth than the ATN in both non return and return links, the ATN uses frequency propagation in at least its return link communications, the SBN employs 5 space beam cancellation directed toward at least one auxiliary terrestrial component (ATC) of the ATN, the SBN employs link margin control without return, the ATN employs C '. ' return link power control, the SBN employs return link power control and the base 0 stations of the ATN provide isolation in the direction of at least one satellite of the SBN.
2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the SBN employs fixed and / or adaptive return link spatial beam cancellation.
3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the c ·. SBN employs cancellation of return-link spatial beams of hidden waveform and / or visible waveform.
4. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the SBN employs return link beam formation based on an average linear constraint variation algorithm (LCMV).
5. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the ATN base stations employ spectral cancellation at frequencies of the first set of radio frequencies.
6. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the SBN employs cancellation of non-return link spatial beams towards at least one ATC of the ATN.
7. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the T " The non-return link margin control employed by the SBN is configured to provide a terminal that communicates with the increased link margin of SBN to cancel interference from a nearby ATN base station.
8. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN is configured to provide a terminal that communicates with the increased beam margin of SBN to override the interference of a nearby ATN base station until that the terminal is in a nominal coverage area of the next ATN base station.
9. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN; it comprises adaptive power control and / or adaptive information index control.
10. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising .5 comprises a mobility manager configured to support communications transfer from a terminal i-) between the SBN and the AT according to the proximity of an ATN base station.
11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobility manager supports inactive roaming and / or call transfer.
12. 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the mobility manager is configured to support ^ transfer of terminal communications between the SBN and 15 the ATN using location information from a location information source other than the SBN or the ATN. r '
13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the source of location information other than the SBN or the ATN comprises GPS.
14. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the base stations provide isolation with respect to satellites of the SBN in a range of about 10 dB to · | '·' -| approximately 15 dB. fifteen ??
15. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the ATN and the SBN are configured to support the use of t complete or partial folding of the first and second sets of radio frequencies.
16. 16. A method for operating a communication system comprising an SBN comprising a plurality of concentrated beams using a first set of frequencies and an ATN using a second set of radio frequencies, the method comprising: operate the SBN and the ATN so that, in a given coverage area of a given concentrated beam, 0 the SBN and the ATN use at least one frequency of the first and second sets of frequencies in common and, in the determined coverage area: the SBN uses a narrower bandwidth than the ATN on both non-return and return links; 5 ATN uses frequency propagation in at least its return link communications; the SBN employs space beam cancellation directed towards at least one ATC ATC; 0 · ,, :: SBN employs link margin control without 0 return; ATN employs loopback power control SBN employs link power control of i return; Y 5 ATN base stations provide isolation to the address of at least one satellite of the SBN.
17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cancellation of spatial beams comprises canceling 5 fixed and / or adaptive return link spatial beams.
18. ; 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the cancellation of adaptive return link spatial beams comprises cancellation of return wave spatial beams of hidden wave shape and / or waveform at the view.
19. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cancellation of return link spatial beams ... adaptive comprises cancellation of return link spatial beams based on a linear restricted average variation algorithm (LCMV).
20. 20. The method of claim 16, further comprising ATN base stations employing spectral cancellation at frequencies of the first set of radio frequencies.
21. 21. The method of claim 16, further comprising the SBN employing space beam cancellation 'Y- i': link without return to at least one ATC ATC.
22. 22 The method of claim 16, wherein the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN 25 is configured to provide a communicating terminal. .¾: ·. 39 with the increased link margin of SBN to cancel the interference of a nearby ATN base station.
23. -'- • '23. The method of claim 22, wherein the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN | 5 is configured to provide a terminal that communicates with the increased link margin of SBN to cancel interference from a nearby ATN base station until the terminal is in a near ATN base station nominal coverage area.
24. The method of claim 16, wherein the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN comprises adaptive power control and / or adaptive information index control.
25. 25. The method of claim 16, further comprising operating terminal mobility to support transfer of communications from a terminal between the SBN •1" I ATN according to a proximity of an ATN base station.
26. 26. , The method of claim 25, wherein handling terminal mobility comprises supporting inactive roaming and / or call transfer.
27. 27. The method of claim 25, wherein handling terminal mobility comprises supporting transfer of terminal communications between the SBN and the A ^ TN using location information from a source of 'i|: location information other than the SBN or the ATN.
28. T 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the source of location information other than the SBN or the ATN comprises GPS.
29. 29. The method of claim 16, further comprising the base stations of the ATN providing isolation with respect to satellites of the SBN in a range of about 10 dB to about 15 dB.
30. 30. The method of claim 16, comprising the ATN and the SBN that support the use of full or partial overlap of the first and second sets of Radio frequencies.
31. 31. A communication system that includes: an SBN comprising at least one satellite that generates a plurality of concentrated beams that use a set of frequencies and are configured, in a coverage area of a determined concentrated beam where the SBN and an ATN use at least one frequency in common, to use a narrower bandwidth than the ATN in both non-return or return links, to employ space beam cancellation directed towards at least one auxiliary terrestrial component (ATC) of the ATN, to employ power control of return link and to use link margin control without return.
32. 32. The system of claim 31, wherein the SBN is configured to employ fixed and / or adaptive return link spatial beam cancellation.
33. 33. The system of claim 31, wherein the SBN is configured to employ cancellation of non-return link spatial beams to at least one ATC of the ATN.
34. 34. The system of claim 31, wherein the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN, is configured to provide a terminal that communicates with the increased link margin of SBN, to cancel the interference of an ATN base station next.
35. 35. The system of claim 31, wherein the non-return link margin control employed by the SBN comprises adaptive power control and / or adaptive information index control. . • | • i '<; ';
36. 36. The system of claim 31, further comprising a mobility manager configured to support communications transfers from a terminal between the SBN and the ATN according to a proximity to a base station of the ATN.
37. 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the mobility manager supports inactive roaming and / or call transfer.
38. O- 38. A communication system, comprising:
39. ? G ,. an ATN comprising a plurality of ATCs, each comprising at least one base station, the configured ATN, in a coverage area of a concentrated beam determined between a SBN and the ATN using at least one frequency in common, to use a wider bandwidth than the SBN in both non-return and return links, to employ frequency propagation in at least their return link communications, to employ return link power control to provide isolation of the ATN base stations in the direction of at least one satellite of the SBN. < 39. The system of claim 38, wherein the base stations of the ATN employ spectral cancellation at frequencies used by the SBN.
40. 40. The system of claim 38, further comprising a mobility manager configured to support transfer of communications from a terminal between the SBN and the ATN according to a proximity to a base station of the ATN. p "
41. 41. The system of claim 40, wherein the mobility manager supports inactive roaming and / or call transfer. ; "
42. 42. The system of claim 38, wherein the base stations provide isolation with respect to satellites of the SBN in a range of about 10 dB to about 15 dB. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A communication system includes a space-based network (SBN) that includes a plurality of concentrated beams utilizing a first set of frequencies and '5 an auxiliary terrestrial network (ATN) including a plurality of base stations using a second set of radio frequencies. In a coverage area of a given concentrated beam where the SBN and the ATN use at least one frequency of the first and second sets of 0 frequencies in common, the SBN uses a narrower bandwidth than the ATN in both links without return and return, the ATN uses frequency propagation in order to minus its return link communications, the SBN employs i 'yr space beam cancellation directed towards at least one auxiliary terrestrial component (ATC) of the ATN, the SBN employs no-return link margin control, the ATN employs return link power control, the SBN employs power control of return link and stations The base of the ATN provides isolation in the direction of 0 at least one satellite of the SBN. By using such a combination of measurements, the ATN and the SBN can support the full or partial overlap of the first and second sets of radio frequencies.