IP Library Granted Patent US 10,305,646
Granted Patent B2
US 10,305,646 · App. 15/163,465 · Granted May 28, 2019

Protected overlay of assigned frequency channels

Inventors: William Hreha (San Jose, CA); David Grybos (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Space Systems/Loral LLC
H04L5/0023H04B1/7136H04B7/18513H04B7/2041H04W4/08H04W16/10H04W72/0453H04W84/06H04B2201/71307
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,305,646
App. No.
15/163,465
Granted
May 28, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A communication platform such as a spacecraft, airborne platform, or terrestrial line of site wireless platform is provided with adaptive digital beamforming. The satellite digitizes a full spectrum allocation for digital channelization. A channelization engine can determine a particular user or user group associated with an uplink signal. In this manner, the communication platform can apply different processing based on the user or group associated with a signal. For example, the communication platform receives uplink signals associated with a first user group and a second user group in one embodiment. The platform dynamically generates one or more spot beams for the first user group and the second group. The platform discriminates the uplink signals to apply frequency hopping for the downlink frequency channel assignments to the second user group while the downlink frequency channel assignments for the first user group remain fixed.

Claims (72)

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving at a communication relay platform a plurality of uplink signals associated with a first user group and a second user group;

generating one or more spot beams for the first user group;

generating one or more spot beams for the second user group;

assigning the one or more spot beams generated for the first user group to a first subset of frequency channels, the assignment of the first subset of frequency channels to the first user group being fixed during a period of time, the first subset of channels being one or more of a plurality of orthogonal frequency channels within a continuous frequency spectrum allocation for the one or more spot beams; and

dynamically assigning the one or more spot beams generated for the second user group to a second subset of the frequency channels during the period of time, the second subset of channels being one or more of the plurality of orthogonal channels, the second subset of channels being distinct from the first subset of channels.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein dynamically assigning to the second user group a second subset of the channels comprises:

frequency hopping the second user group around the fixed frequency channel assignments of the first user group during the period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

converting a first continuous frequency spectrum allocation comprising the plurality of uplink signals into a plurality of orthogonal digitized channels; and

determining a user group associated with each of the plurality of digitized channels.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

applying dynamic beamforming to a first subset of the plurality of digitized channels that are associated with the first user group; and

applying fixed beamforming to a second subset of the plurality of digitized channels that are associated with the second user group.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating one or more spot beams for the first user group and the second user group includes:

detecting interference associated with a first downlink signal to the second user group; and

generating the one or more spot beams to include one or more nulls associated with the first downlink signal.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein generating the one or more spot beams includes:

generating a first spot beam associated with the first user group, the first spot beam including the fixed channel assignments associated with the first user group; and

generating a second spot beam associated with the second user group, the second spot beam including the dynamic channel assignments associated with the second user group.

7. A wireless communication platform, comprising:

a feeder link antenna configured to receive a plurality of uplink signals associated with a first user group and a second user group;

an adaptive beamformer configured to generate one or more spot beams for the first user group and one or more spot beams for the second user group; and

a digital channelization engine configured to convert a first continuous frequency spectrum allocation comprising the plurality of uplink signals into a plurality of digitized channels, the digital channelization engine assigns to the first user group in the one or more spot beams a first subset of frequency channels, the assignment of the first subset of channels to the first user group being fixed during a period of time, the first subset of channels being one or more of a plurality of orthogonal frequency channels within a second frequency continuous spectrum allocation for the one or more spot beams, the digital channelization engine dynamically assigns to the second user group in the one or more spot beams a second subset of the frequency channels during the period of time, the second subset of channels being one or more of the plurality of orthogonal channels, the second subset of channels being distinct from the first subset of channels.

8. The wireless communication platform of claim 7 , further comprising:

a frequency hop engine configured to frequency hop the second user group around the fixed frequency channel assignments of the first user group during the period of time.

9. The wireless communication platform of claim 8 , wherein:

the digital channelization engine includes an input channelization engine that generates a plurality of digitized input channels; and

the digital channelization engine includes an output channelization engine coupled to the frequency hop engine to generate the dynamic frequency channel assignments for the second user group and the fixed frequency channel assignments for the first user group based on the plurality of digitized input channels.

10. The wireless communication platform of claim 9 , wherein:

the adaptive beamformer includes a dynamic beamformer coupled between the input channelization engine and the frequency hop engine to generate one or more downlink signals for the one or more spot beams that are associated with the second user group.

11. The wireless communication platform of claim 10 , wherein:

the adaptive beamformer includes a fixed beamformer coupled between the input channelization engine and the output channelization engine to generate one or more downlink signals for the one or more spot beams that are associated with the first user group.

12. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving at a communication platform a plurality of uplink signals;

converting a first continuous spectrum allocation comprising the plurality of uplink signals into a plurality of input channels; and

applying fixed beamforming for a first subset of the input channels, the fixed beamforming including assigning a first, fixed subset of one or more frequency channels from a plurality of orthogonal frequency channels within a second continuous spectrum allocation;

concurrently with applying fixed beamforming to the first subset of the input channels, applying dynamic beamforming for a second subset of the input channels, the dynamic beamforming including dynamically assigning a second subset of one or more frequency channels from the plurality of orthogonal frequency channels within the second continuous spectrum allocation, the second subset of channels being distinct from the first subset of channels; and

generating one or more spot beams based on the fixed beamforming and the dynamic beamforming.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the one or more spot beams include a first set of one or more spot beams based on the fixed beamforming; and

the one or more spot beams include a second set of one or more spot beams based on the dynamic beamforming.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the one or more spot beams include a first set of one or more spot beams based on the fixed beamforming and the dynamic beamforming, the first set of spot beams including the fixed output channel assignments and the dynamic output channel assignments.

15. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining a plurality of input channels associated with one or more uplink signals;

applying to a first subset of the input channels fixed beamforming to generate a plurality of fixed output channels within a continuous frequency spectrum for each of the first subset of input channels;

concurrently with generating the plurality of fixed output channels, applying to a second subset of the input channels dynamic beamforming to generate a plurality of dynamic output channels within the continuous frequency spectrum for each of the second subset of input channels, wherein the fixed output channels and the dynamic output channels being distinct subsets of a plurality of orthogonal frequency channels within the continuous frequency spectrum; and

generating one or more spot beams including the plurality of dynamic output channels and the plurality of fixed output channels.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the one or more uplink signals include a first set of uplink signals including the first subset of input channels associated with a first user group and a second set of uplink signals including the second subset of input channels associated with a second user group.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first set of uplink signals are received from a first terminal and the second set of uplink signals are received from a second terminal.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:

said applying to the second subset of the input channels dynamic beamforming includes frequency hopping the plurality of dynamic output channels of the second user group around the plurality of fixed output channels of the first user group.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein generating the one or more spot beams includes:

generating a first set of one or more spot beams based on the fixed beamforming, the first set of spot beams including the plurality of fixed output channels; and

generating a second set of one or more spot beams based on the dynamic beamforming, the second set of spot beams including the plurality of dynamic output channels.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein generating the second set of one or more spot beams includes:

detecting interference associated with a first spot beam of the second set; and

dynamically generating the first spot beam to include one or more nulls to mitigate the effects of the interference.

21. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving at a communication platform a plurality of uplink signals;

converting a first continuous spectrum allocation comprising the plurality of uplink signals into a plurality of digitized input channels; and

generating a first set of one or more downlink signals including a second continuous spectrum allocation for one or more spot beams, wherein the one or more downlink signals include a set of fixed output channels for a first subset of the plurality of digitized channels,

wherein generating the first set of one or more downlink signals includes frequency hopping a second subset of the plurality of digitized channels concurrently with generating the set of fixed output channels for the first subset of the plurality of digitized channels, the first subset and the second subset being distinct subsets of a plurality of orthogonal digitized channels within a second continuous frequency spectrum.

22. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving at a communication platform a plurality of uplink signals associated with a first user group and a second user group;

converting a first continuous spectrum allocation comprising the plurality of uplink signals into a plurality of digitized channels;

determining a user group associated with the plurality of digitized channels;

generating one or more spot beams for the first user group and the second user group;

frequency hopping a first user group using a first frequency hopping pattern within a second continuous spectrum allocation for the one or more spot beams during a period of time; and

frequency hopping a second user group using a second frequency hopping pattern within the second continuous spectrum allocation for the one or more spot beams during the period of time, the second frequency hopping pattern is orthogonal to the first frequency hopping pattern.

Assignments (16)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 7, 2026
From: MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: LANTERIS SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 074270/0351 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 6, 2025
From: MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: LANTERIS SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 073512/0398 →
RELEASE (REEL 060389/FRAME 0720) Recorded May 12, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063633/0431 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 5, 2023
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC. (F/K/A DIGITALGLOBE, INC.); AURORA INSIGHT INC.; MAXAR MISSION SOLUTIONS INC. ((F/K/A RADIANT MISSION SOLUTIONS INC. (F/K/A THE RADIANT GROUP, INC.)); MAXAR SPACE LLC (F/K/A SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC); SPATIAL ENERGY, LLC; MAXAR SPACE ROBOTICS LLC ((F/K/A SSL ROBOTICS LLC) (F/K/A MDA US SYSTEMS LLC)); MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS INC.
To: SIXTH STREET LENDING PARTNERS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 063660/0138 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 060389/0782 Recorded May 4, 2023
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063544/0074 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS - RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 044167/0396 Recorded May 4, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS AGENT
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063543/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS - RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 051258/0720 Recorded May 4, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS AGENT
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063542/0543 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: DIGITALGLOBE, INC.; SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC; RADIANT GEOSPATIAL SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 060390/0282 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 17, 2022
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060389/0782 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2022
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 060389/0720 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2021
From: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
To: MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 054960/0466 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 23, 2020
From: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053866/0810 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Dec 12, 2019
From: DIGITALGLOBE, INC.; RADIANT GEOSPATIAL SOLUTIONS LLC; SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC (F/K/A SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL INC.)
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, - AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051262/0824 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 11, 2019
From: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051258/0720 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2017
From: DIGITALGLOBE, INC.; MACDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD.; MACDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES CORPORATION; MACDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES INC.; MDA GEOSPATIAL SERVICES INC.; SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC; MDA INFORMATION SYSTEMS LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044167/0396 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2016
From: HREHA, WILLIAM; GRYBOS, DAVID
To: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL LLC
Reel/Frame 038708/0637 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62286154 · Jan 22, 2016
Related Publication 20170214500A1 · Jul 27, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,463,710