Methods for uplink power control to combat rain fade in wideband satellite systems

1. A method comprising:

monitoring first communication signals transmitted at a first frequency from a satellite to a satellite operations center, at a gateway of a satellite communication system;

determining a downlink attenuation level of the first communication signals, the downlink attenuation resulting, at least in part, from atmospheric conditions;

comparing the downlink attenuation level to an ideal attenuation level;

if the downlink attenuation level exceeds the ideal attenuation level, then performing an uplink compensation by:

determining a corresponding uplink attenuation level for a second frequency used to transmit second communication signals containing user traffic to the satellite,

setting a target uplink power level for reducing and/or cancelling the uplink attenuation level, and

converting the uplink attenuation level to a power control command for adjusting an amplifier gain, the power control command being based on the target uplink power level;

transmitting the second communication signals to the satellite at a compensated power level, if the downlink attenuation level exceeds the ideal attenuation level; and

transmitting the second communication signals to the satellite at a normal power level, if the downlink attenuation level does not exceed the ideal attenuation level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication signals are encrypted telemetry tracking and command signals.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting a predetermined delay level;

performing the uplink compensation if the downlink attenuation level exceeds the ideal attenuation level by the predetermined delay level; and

transmitting the second communication signals to the satellite at the normal power level if the downlink attenuation level does not exceed the ideal attenuation level by the predetermined delay level.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined delay level is based, at least in part, on an end to end forward link signal to noise ratio between the gateway and a user terminal.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising verifying the compensated power level corresponds to the target uplink power level.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the verifying comprises:

measuring the compensated power level;

increasing a value of the power control command if the compensated power level is lower than the target uplink power level; and

decreasing a value of the power control command if the compensated power level is greater than the target uplink power level.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting interference in the first communication signals.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein detecting interference comprises:

determining a signal to noise ratio and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the first communication signals; and

continually measuring a composite noise and interference power based, at least in part, on the signal to noise ratio and RSSI of the first communication signals,

wherein variations in the composite noise and interference power are indicative of interference in the first communication signals.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the uplink compensation is only performed if the composite noise and interference power is less than a predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing a compensation headroom of the amplifier.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the compensation headroom is based, at least in part, on an elevation angle of a transmitter associated with the gateway.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein increasing a compensation headroom comprises dynamically redistributing power allocated to individual beams and/or carriers supported by the amplifier.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein increasing a compensation headroom comprises:

identifying inactive beams and/or carriers supported by the amplifier; and

redistributing power from the amplifier reserved for the inactive beams and/or carriers to active beams and/or carriers.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein increasing a compensation headroom comprises staggering a transmission schedule of beams and/or carriers in the second communication signals to reduce simultaneous transmissions across all beams and/or carriers.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein staggering the transmission schedule comprises:

determining a number of currently active beams and/or carriers supported by the amplifier;

assigning one or more of the active beams and/or carriers to sequential bursts for a transmit frame; and

sequentially utilizing the compensation headroom available to the amplifier for each burst of the transmit frame.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:

the currently active beams and/or carriers are assigned based, at least in part, on traffic load; and

each burst occupies one or more time slots on the transmit frame.

17. A system comprising:

a satellite; and

a gateway for communicating with the satellite and one or more external networks, the gateway including:

at least one processor for controlling various operations of the gateway;

a transceiver unit for transmitting/receiving signals to/from a satellite;

a telemetry receiver for monitoring first communication signals transmitted from the satellite at a first frequency; and

a rain fade estimation unit configured to:

determine a downlink attenuation level of the first communication signals, the downlink attenuation resulting, at least in part, from atmospheric conditions,

determine if the downlink attenuation level exceeds an ideal attenuation level,

determine a corresponding uplink attenuation level for a second frequency used to transmit second communication signals containing user traffic to the satellite,

set a target uplink power level for reducing and/or cancelling the uplink attenuation level, and

convert the uplink attenuation level to a power control command for adjusting an amplifier gain, the power control command being based on the target uplink power level,

wherein the gateway transmits the second communication signals to the satellite at a compensated power level, and

wherein the gateway transmits the second communication signals to the satellite at a normal power level if the downlink attenuation level does not exceed the ideal attenuation level.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first communication signals are encrypted telemetry tracking and command signals.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein:

the rain fade estimation unit is further configured to convert the uplink attenuation level only if the downlink attenuation level exceeds the ideal attenuation level by a predetermined delay level; and

the gateway transmits the second communication signals to the satellite at the normal power level if the downlink attenuation level does not exceed the ideal attenuation level by the predetermined delay level.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the predetermined delay level is based, at least in part, on an end to end forward link signal to noise ratio between the gateway and a user terminal.

21. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:

a power sensor for measuring the compensated power level,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to increase a value of the power control command if the compensated power level is lower than the target uplink power level, and decrease a value of the power control command if the compensated power level is greater than the target uplink power level.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the telemetry receiver is configured to:

determine a signal to noise ratio and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the first communication signals;

continually measure a composite noise and interference power based, at least in part, on the signal to noise ratio and RSSI of the first communication signals; and

identify interference in the first communication signals if variations are detected in the composite noise and interference power.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the rain fade estimation unit is further configured to convert the uplink attenuation level only if the composite noise and interference power is less than a predetermined amount.

24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to increase a compensation headroom of the amplifier.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the compensation headroom is based, at least in part, on an elevation angle of a transmitter associated with the gateway.

26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the compensation headroom is increased by dynamically redistributing power allocated to individual beams and/or carriers supported by the amplifier.

27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to increase the compensation headroom by:

identifying inactive beams and/or carriers supported by the amplifier; and

redistributing power from the amplifier reserved for the inactive beams and/or carriers to active beams and/or carriers.

28. The system of claim 24 , the at least one processor is configured to increase the compensation headroom by staggering a transmission schedule of beams and/or carriers in the second communication signals to reduce simultaneous transmissions across all beams and/or carriers.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to stagger the transmission schedule by:

determining a number of currently active beams and/or carriers supported by the amplifier;

assigning one or more of the active beams and/or carriers to sequential bursts for a transmit frame; and

sequentially utilizing the compensation headroom available to the amplifier for each burst of the transmit frame.

30. The system of claim 28 , wherein:

the currently active beams and/or carriers are assigned based, at least in part, on traffic load; and

each burst occupies one or more time slots on a transmit frame.