A method for suppressing uplink interference signals generated between satellite access stations that are geographically neighboring and form part of a multi-spot space communication system, the method comprising:
- during a first phase before launch of a satellite, a first step comprising permanently installing an opposition matrix in a first repeater channel of N repeater channels, wherein the opposition matrix comprises N input rows, a first input row of the N input rows being a direct input row connected directly to an output of a first divider of N dividers, and each of the remaining N-1 input rows being a derived opposition row connected respectively to a corresponding one of the remaining N dividers at one output, wherein each derived opposition row comprises a different remotely controllable attenuator or phase shifter, wherein the opposition matrix comprises a single output terminal connected to an input terminal of a frequency transposition converter, and wherein the opposition matrix comprises a combiner with N combiner inputs and one combiner output, the combiner supplied at each of its N combiner inputs by a corresponding one of the N input rows, and the one combiner output connected to the single output terminal of the opposition matrix;
- during a second phase after the launch of the satellite and after N satellite access stations have been brought into service, a second step comprising:
- selecting a first transmission source from N transmission sources, wherein the first transmission source corresponds to a first neighboring transmission spot of N neighboring transmission spots, the first neighboring transmission spot covering a first satellite access station of the N satellite access stations, the first satellite access station comprising a communication spectrum monitoring device, wherein the single output terminal of the opposition matrix is connected to the first transmission source and each of the remaining N transmission sources are disconnected from a corresponding repeater channel of the N repeater channels, and
- configuring switches of an output selection ring, the output selection ring connected between output terminals of the N repeater channels and the N transmission sources associated with a transmission antenna;
- a third step comprising connecting a first reception source of N reception sources to the direct input row of the opposition matrix and disconnecting the N-1 remaining reception sources from the derived opposition input rows of the opposition matrix, wherein the first reception source corresponds to a first neighboring reception spot of N neighboring reception spots, the first neighboring reception spot covering a second satellite access station of the N satellite access stations;
- a fourth step comprising receiving, at the first satellite access station, a first multiplex of test signals and digitizing, by the first satellite access station, the multiplex of test signals into a useful acquisition signal, wherein the first multiplex of test signals are transmitted by at least a portion of the N satellite access stations, received by the first reception source, and retransmitted by the first transmission source;
- a fifth step comprising:
- connecting one of the N-1 remaining reception sources to a corresponding one of the derived opposition rows of the opposition matrix and disconnecting the other N-1 remaining reception sources from the derived opposition rows of the opposition matrix wherein the one of the N-1 remaining reception sources corresponds to the reception spot covering a third satellite access station of the N satellite access stations;
- receiving, at the first satellite access station, a second multiplex of test signals and digitizing, by the first satellite access station, the second multiplex of test signals into an interference acquisition signal, wherein the second multiplex of test signals is transmitted by at least a portion of the N satellite access stations, received by the N-1 remaining reception sources and retransmitted by the first transmission source;
- a sixth step comprising causing, by the first satellite access station, a computer for spectral monitoring to calculate a first complex correlation coefficient between the useful acquisition signal and the interference acquisition signal and to determine, based at least on the first complex coefficient, an attenuation value and a phase change value associated with the derived opposition rows, the attenuation value and the phase change value configured to cause rejection of the interference signal generated by the remaining reception source connected to the corresponding one of the derived opposition rows of the opposition matrix on a repeater reception access assigned to the second satellite access station;
- and
- a seventh step comprising setting, via remote control, the remotely controllable attenuators or phase shifters of the opposition matrix to the attenuation value and the phase change value.