Flexible high throughput satellite system using optical gateways

1. A ground based subsystem for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals, the ground based subsystem comprising:

a resource allocator configured to receive a plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals each of which has an RF frequency within an intermediate frequency (IF) range, and configured to encode, modulate, filter and frequency up-convert each of the data modulated RF carrier signals to thereby produce a plurality of bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals;

a plurality of lasers, each of the lasers operable to emit an optical signal having a different peak wavelength within a specified optical wavelength range;

a plurality of electro-optical modulators (EOMs), each of the EOMs configured to receive an optical signal from a respective one of the plurality of lasers, receive a different bandwidth allocated data modulated RF carrier signal from the resource allocator that has been modulated to carry data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams, and output an optical data signal carrying data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams;

a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) multiplexer configured to receive the optical data signals output by the plurality of EOMs, and combine the plurality of optical data signals into a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal;

an optical amplifier configured to amplify the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal to thereby produce an optically amplified wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; and

transmitter optics configured to receive the optically amplified wavelength division multiplexed optical signal and transmit an optical feeder uplink beam to the satellite in dependence thereon;

wherein the resource allocator comprises a plurality of channels each of which includes

an encoder and modulator configured to perform encoding and modulation of one of the data modulated RF carrier signals received by the resource allocator;

a channel filter configured to shape a frequency spectrum of one of the data modulated RF carrier signals after the encoding and modulation thereof to thereby produce a bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signal; and

a frequency up-converter configured to up-convert a frequency of the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signal produced by the channel filter before the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signal is provided to one of the EOMs; and

wherein the channel filters of the resource allocator are configured to selectively allocate any one of a plurality of different amounts of bandwidth within a bandwidth range, between and inclusive of zero amount of bandwidth within the bandwidth range and a maximum amount of bandwidth within the bandwidth range, to any one of the service downlink beams.

2. The subsystem of claim 1 ,

wherein the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals are filtered by further filters, downstream of the frequency up-converts, before being provided to the EOMs, to thereby filter out mixed products that result from the frequency up-conversions.

3. The subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the resource allocator further comprises a radio resource manager (RRM) that is configured to control the channel filters of the resource allocator to ensure that frequencies allocated to adjacent ones of the service downlink beams do not overlap one another.

4. The subsystem of claim 1 , wherein the resource allocator eliminates of any need for the satellite to perform any bandwidth allocation for the plurality of service downlink beams produced and transmitted by the satellite, thereby eliminating any need for the satellite to include an on-board channelizer.

5. The subsystem of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency modulator (RFMs), each of the RFMs configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal and a data signal, and modulate the data signal it receives onto the RF carrier signal it receives to produce one of the data modulated RF carrier signals that are received by the resource allocator; and

one or more oscillators configured to produce the RF carrier signals that are provided to the RFMs.

6. The subsystem of claim 5 , wherein:

the RF carrier signals provided to the RFMs are within the IF frequency range; and

the resource allocator is configured to perform encoding and modulation within the IF frequency range.

7. A ground based subsystem for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals, the ground based subsystem comprising:

a resource allocator configured to receive a plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals each of which has an RF frequency within an intermediate frequency (IF) range, and configured to encode, modulate, filter and frequency up-convert each of the data modulated RF carrier signals to thereby produce a plurality of bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals;

a plurality of lasers, each of the lasers operable to emit an optical signal having a different peak wavelength within a specified optical wavelength range;

a plurality of electro-optical modulators (EOMs), each of the EOMs configured to receive an optical signal from a respective one of the plurality of lasers, receive a different bandwidth allocated data modulated RF carrier signal from the resource allocator that has been modulated to carry data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams, and output an optical data signal carrying data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams;

a wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) multiplexer configured to receive the optical data signals output by the plurality of EOMs, and combine the plurality of optical data signals into a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal;

an optical amplifier configured to amplify the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal to thereby produce an optically amplified wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; and

transmitter optics configured to receive the optically amplified wavelength division multiplexed optical signal and transmit an optical feeder uplink beam to the satellite in dependence thereon;

wherein the optical data signals output by the plurality of EOMs each have an RF frequency within the same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to transmit the plurality of RF service downlink beams; and

wherein because RF frequencies of the optical data signals output by the plurality of EOMs are within the same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to transmit the plurality of RF service downlink beams, there is an elimination of any need for the satellite to perform any frequency conversions when producing the plurality of RF service downlink beams in dependence on the optical feeder uplink beam.

8. A method for enabling a ground based subsystem to produce and transmit an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals, the method for use by the ground based subsystem comprising:

receiving a plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals each of which has an RF frequency within an intermediate frequency (IF) range;

producing a plurality of bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals in dependence on the plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals;

emitting a plurality of optical signals each having a different peak wavelength that is within a specified optical wavelength range;

electro-optically modulating each of the optical signals with one of a plurality of different bandwidth allocated data modulated RF carrier signals, each of which has been modulated to carry data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams, to thereby produce a plurality of optical data signals, each of which carries data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams;

multiplexing the plurality of optical data signals to thereby produce a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal that includes data for the plurality of RF service downlink beams;

producing an optical feeder uplink beam, in dependence on the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; and

transmitting the optical feeder uplink beam through free-space to the satellite;

wherein the producing the plurality of bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals, in dependence on the plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals, comprises:

encoding and modulating each of the received data modulated RF carrier signals;

shaping a frequency spectrum of each of the data modulated RF carrier signals after the encoding and modulating thereof to thereby produce bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals; and

frequency up-converting the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals before the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals are electro-optically modulated with the optical signals that each have the different peak wavelength that is within the specified optical wavelength range; and

wherein the shaping the frequency spectrum of each of the data modulated RF carrier signals is performed to allocate any one of a plurality of different amounts of bandwidth within a bandwidth range, between and inclusive of zero bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth, to any one of the service downlink beams.

9. The method of claim 8 ,

wherein the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals are filtered, downstream of the frequency up-converting, before being electro-optically modulated, to thereby filter out mixed products that result from the frequency up-converting.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the shaping the frequency spectrum of each of the data modulated RF carrier signals is performed in a manner that also ensures that frequencies allocated to adjacent ones of the service downlink beams do not overlap one another.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein because any one of plurality of different amounts of bandwidth within the bandwidth range, between and inclusive of zero bandwidth and the maximum bandwidth, can be allocated to any one of the service downlink beams, there is an elimination of any need for the satellite to include an on-board channelizer.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

producing a plurality of radio frequency (RF) carrier signals within the IF range;

receiving a plurality of data signals; and

modulating each of the plurality of data signals onto one of the RF carrier signals to thereby produce the data modulated RF carrier signals.

13. A method for enabling a ground based subsystem to produce and transmit an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams within a specified RF frequency range to service terminals, the method for use by the ground based subsystem comprising:

receiving a plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals each of which has an RF frequency within an intermediate frequency (IF) range;

producing a plurality of bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals in dependence on the plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals;

emitting a plurality of optical signals each having a different peak wavelength that is within a specified optical wavelength range;

electro-optically modulating each of the optical signals with one of a plurality of different bandwidth allocated data modulated RF carrier signals, each of which has been modulated to carry data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams, to thereby produce a plurality of optical data signals, each of which carries data for at least one of the plurality of RF service downlink beams;

multiplexing the plurality of optical data signals to thereby produce a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal that includes data for the plurality of RF service downlink beams;

producing an optical feeder uplink beam, in dependence on the wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; and

transmitting the optical feeder uplink beam through free-space to the satellite;

wherein each of the plurality of optical data signals resulting from the electro-optically modulating has an RF frequency within the same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to transmit the plurality of RF service downlink beams; and

wherein because RF frequencies of the optical data signals resulting from the electro-optically modulating are within the same specified RF frequency range within which the satellite is configured to transmit the plurality of RF service downlink beams, there is an elimination of any need for the satellite to perform any frequency conversions when producing the plurality of RF service downlink beams in dependence on the optical feeder uplink beam.

14. A resource allocator for inclusion in a ground based subsystem for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams, the recourse allocator including a plurality of channels each of which includes:

an encoder and modulator configured to perform encoding and modulation of one of a plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals received by the resource allocator;

a channel filter configured to shape a frequency spectrum of one of the data modulated RF carrier signals after the encoding and modulation thereof to thereby produce a bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signal; and

a frequency up-converter configured to up-convert a frequency of the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signal produced by the channel filter before the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signal is provided to one of a plurality of electro-optical modulators (EOMs);

wherein the channel filters of the resource allocator are configured to allocate any one of a plurality of different amounts of bandwidth within a bandwidth range, between and inclusive of zero bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth, to any one of the service downlink beams.

15. The resource allocator of claim 14 , further comprising:

a radio resource manager (RRM) configured to control the channel filters of the resource allocator to ensure that frequencies allocated to adjacent ones of the service downlink beams do not overlap one another.

16. The resource allocator of claim 14 , wherein the resource allocator eliminates of any need for the satellite to perform any bandwidth allocation for the plurality of service downlink beams produced and transmitted by the satellite, thereby eliminating any need for the satellite to include an on-board channelizer.

17. A method for use by a resource allocator within in a ground based subsystem for use in transmitting an optical feeder uplink beam to a satellite that is configured to receive the optical feeder uplink beam and in dependence thereon produce and transmit a plurality of RF service downlink beams, the method including:

receiving a plurality of data modulated RF carrier signals;

encoding and modulating each of the received data modulated RF carrier signals;

shaping a frequency spectrum of each of the data modulated RF carrier signals after the encoding and modulating thereof to thereby produce bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals; and

frequency up-converting the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals before the bandwidth allocated data modulated RF signals are electro-optically modulated with optical signals that each have a different peak wavelength that is within a specified optical wavelength range;

wherein the shaping the frequency spectrum of each of the data modulated RF carrier signals includes allocating any one of a plurality of different amounts of bandwidth within a bandwidth range, between and inclusive of zero bandwidth and a maximum bandwidth, to any one of the service downlink beams.

18. The resource allocator of claim 17 , wherein:

the shaping the frequency spectrum of each of the data modulated RF carrier signals also ensures that frequencies allocated to adjacent ones of the service downlink beams do not overlap one another.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method performed by the resource allocator eliminates of any need for the satellite to perform any bandwidth allocation for the plurality of service downlink beams produced and transmitted by the satellite, thereby eliminating any need for the satellite to include an on-board channelizer.