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 configured for use by an earth station to identify at least one repeating relay 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, the information comprising at least one of a name of a repeating relay, a name of a transponder, a transponder center frequency, a transponder polarization, and an ephemeris;

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; and

transmitting, by a transmitting device, the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over at least a portion of the bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the at least a portion of the bandwidth solely for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal and at a signal power level that is embedded into the noise floor of the repeating relay.

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 , further comprising:

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.

8 . The method of claim 7 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.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the processing creates a unique meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the processing creates a substantially identical meta-carrier signal for each transponder.

11 . The method of claim 8 , 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.

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

an encoder configured to encode meta-data that is configured for use by an earth station to identify at least one repeating relay, 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, the information comprising at least one of a name of a repeating relay, a name of a transponder, a transponder center frequency, a transponder polarization, and an ephemeris;

a modulator configured to modulate the encoded meta-data signal;

a spreader configured to spread, the modulated meta-carrier such that the spread meta-carrier signal results; and

a transmitting device configured to transmit the spread meta-carrier signal to the repeating relay wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over at least a portion of the bandwidth of the repeating relay without reserving the at least a portion of the bandwidth solely for transmitting the spread meta-carrier signal and at a signal power level that is embedded into the noise floor of the repeating relay.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a receiving device configured to receive the spread meta-carrier signal;

a despreader configured to despread the spread meta-carrier signal;

a demodulator configured to demodulate the de-spread meta-carrier signal; and

a decoder configured to decode the demodulated meta-carrier signal.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the spread meta-carrier signal is transmitted over substantially the entire bandwidth of the repeating relay.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the repeating relay is located on a satellite.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the modulator is further configured to use a phase shift keying (PSK) technique.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the spreader is configured to spread using a predetermined pseudo-random-noise (PRN) sequence.

18 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a beacon extraction device within the repeating relay that is configured to extract the spread meta-carrier signal; and

a beacon injection device configured to embed the spread meta-carrier signal to one or more transponders after receiving the spread meta-carrier signal as routed by the beacon extraction device.

19 . The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a beacon processor configured to receive the meta carrier signal as routed by the beacon extraction device and process the meta-carrier signal to form a processed meta-carrier signal.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the beacon processor is further configured to create a unique meta-carrier signal for each transponder.