Apparatus and method for grouping carriers to minimize the occurrence of call blocking in a satellite-based communications network
US6332069A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/18539
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method, for use in a satellite-based communications network, for minimizing blocking of communication between the network and access terminals resulting from differences in the signal propagation delays for the access terminals due to their different locations within a coverage area serviced by a spot beam generated by a satellite in the network. The apparatus includes a spot beam segregator which segregates a coverage area of the spot beam into at least one coverage zone based on the maximum and minimum propagation delay experienced by access terminals within the coverage area of the spot beam. The apparatus further includes a carrier grouper which groups the carrier into a number of groups corresponding to the number of offset zones, and assigns each carrier group to a respective one of the coverage zones. The number of carriers assigned to each carrier group is proportional to the estimated number of access terminals located in the respective coverage zone to which the carrier group is assigned. The apparatus assigns a respective burst offset to each respective coverage zone so that signals being transmitted by the satellite and access terminals within the cover…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.