Method and system for transmission of identification via metadata for repeating relays using spread-spectrum technology

1. A communication method for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the method comprising:

encoding meta-data using an encoder, the meta-data comprising information that identifies or describes a repeating relay or one or more transponders of the repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

modulating, using a modulator, the encoded meta-data signal;

spreading, using a spreader, the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results;

transmitting, by a transmitting device, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay does not process or modify the spread meta-carrier signal, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of the bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the entire bandwidth for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal;

extracting, by a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay, the spread meta-carrier signal;

routing, by the beacon extraction device, the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device; and

embedding, by the beacon injection device, the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the spread meta-carrier signal by a receiving device;

despreading, using a despreader, the spread meta-carrier signal;

demodulating, using a demodulator, the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

decoding, using a decoder, the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modulating uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spreading uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted at a power level that is at or below a noise floor of the repeating relay.

9. A communication method for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the method comprising:

encoding meta-data using an encoder, the meta-data comprising information that identifies or describes a repeating relay or one or more transponders of the repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

modulating, using a modulator, the encoded meta-data signal;

spreading, using a spreader, the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results;

transmitting, by a transmitting device, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay reroutes the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the entire bandwidth for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal;

extracting, by a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay, the spread meta-carrier signal;

routing, by the beacon extraction device, the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device; and

embedding, by the beacon injection device, the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving the spread meta-carrier signal by a receiving device;

despreading, using a despreader, the spread meta-carrier signal;

demodulating, using a demodulator, the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

decoding, using a decoder, the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

routing, by the beacon extraction device, the meta-carrier signal to a beacon processor; and

processing, by the beacon processor, the meta-carrier signal to form a processed meta-carrier signal.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising storing, by a storage device, meta-data received by the repeating relay.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the processing creates a unique meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the processing creates a substantially identical meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

retaining, by the beacon processor, the processed meta-carrier signal; and

loading, by the beacon processor, the processed meta-carrier signal when the repeating relay is created.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the modulating uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

19. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spreading uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

20. The method of claim 9 , wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

21. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted at a power level that is at or below a noise floor of the repeating relay.

22. A communication method for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the method comprising:

spreading, by a spreading device, a meta-carrier signal containing data stored by a repeating relay and meta-data comprising information that identifies or describes the repeating relay or one or more transponders of the repeating relay; and

transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal to a remote receiver, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the entire bandwidth for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal;

extracting, by a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay, the spread meta-carrier signal;

routing, by the beacon extraction device, the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device; and

embedding, by the beacon injection device, the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the spreading uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted at a power level that is at or below a noise floor of the repeating relay.

28. A communication system for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the system comprising:

an encoder that encodes meta-data, the meta-data comprising information that identifies or describes a repeating relay or one or more transponders of the repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

a modulator that modulates the encoded meta-data signal;

a spreader that spreads the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results;

a transmitting device that transmits the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay does not process or modify the spread meta-carrier signal, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the entire bandwidth for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal; and

a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay that extracts the spread meta-carrier signal and routes the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device that embeds the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

29. The system of claim 28 , further comprising:

a receiving device that receives the spread meta-carrier signal;

a despreader that despreads the spread meta-carrier signal;

a demodulator that demodulates the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

a decoder that decodes, the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

31. The system of claim 28 , wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

32. The system of claim 28 , wherein the modulator uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

33. The system of claim 28 , wherein the spreader uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

34. The system of claim 28 , wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

35. The system of claim 28 , wherein the meta-data further comprises information that identifies a modulator that modulates the spread meta-carrier signal; and

the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted at a power level that is at or below a noise floor of the repeating relay.

36. A communication system for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the system comprising:

an encoder that encodes meta-data, the meta-data comprising information that identifies or describes a repeating relay or one or more transponders of the repeating relay to which a spread meta-carrier signal is to be transmitted;

a modulator that modulates the encoded meta-data signal using a modulator;

a spreader that spreads the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results; and

a transmitting device that transmits, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the repeating relay reroutes the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the entire bandwidth for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal; and

a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay that extracts the spread meta-carrier signal and routes the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device that embeds the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

37. The system of claim 36 , further comprising:

a receiving device that receives the spread meta-carrier signal;

a despreader that despreads the spread meta-carrier signal;

a demodulator that demodulates the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

a decoder that decodes the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

38. The system of claim 36 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

39. The system of claim 36 , wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

40. The system of claim 36 , further comprising:

a beacon processor that receives the meta-carrier signal from the beacon extraction device and processes the meta-carrier signal to form a processed meta-carrier signal.

41. The system of claim 40 , further comprising a storage device that stores meta-data received by the repeating relay.

42. The system of claim 40 , wherein the processor creates a unique meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

43. The system of claim 40 , wherein the processor creates a substantially identical meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

44. The system of claim 40 , wherein the beacon processor retains the processed meta-carrier signal and loads the processed meta-carrier signal when the repeating relay is created.

45. The system of claim 36 , wherein the modulator uses a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

46. The system of claim 36 , wherein the spreader uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

47. The system of claim 36 , wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

48. The system of claim 36 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted at a power level that is at or below a noise floor of the repeating relay.

49. A communication system for transmitting meta-data through a meta-carrier signal, the system comprising:

a spreader that spreads a meta-carrier signal containing data stored by a repeating relay and meta-data comprising information that identifies or describes the repeating relay or one or more transponders of the repeating relay;

a transmitting device that transmits the spread meta-carrier signal to a remote receiver, the spread meta-carrier signal being transmitted over at least a portion of a bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the entire bandwidth for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal; and

a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay that extracts the spread meta-carrier signal and routes the spread meta-carrier signal to a beacon injection device that embeds the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders.

50. The system of claim 49 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

51. The system of claim 49 , wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

52. The system of claim 49 , wherein the spreader uses a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

53. The system of claim 49 , wherein the meta-data further comprises ephemeris data for the repeating relay.

54. The system of claim 49 , wherein the meta-data is stored in a memory device that is programmed before the repeating relay is placed into service.

55. The system of claim 49 , where in the meta-data is transmitted to the repeating relay using a method of electromagnetic or optical transmission.

56. The system of claim 49 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted at a power level that is at or below a noise floor of the repeating relay.