Method and apparatus for synchronizing communications in a satellite based telecommunications system
US5910945A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 30, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 30, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/2125
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided, for maintaining synchronous return and forward communications links between user terminals and earth stations communicating via a common satellite in a satellite based telecommunications system. Each user terminal maintains a closed synchronization loop with its associated earth station based on timing and frequency error offset signals received by the user terminals. The user terminals update their internal timing and frequency generators based on the received error offset signals. In an earth station sharing embodiment, one of the earth stations is designated as a master earth station while the remaining stations are designated as slave earth stations with respect to a common satellite. The slave earth stations monitor a return link between at least one user terminal and the master earth station. The slave earth stations update their internal reference timing and frequency signal generators, in order to remain synchronous with the return link between the monitored user terminal and the master earth station. The slave earth stations maintained synchronous forward links by requesting synchronization update information from the monitored user ter…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.