US 11,909,503 B2 · Single frequency network (SFN) for broadcast/multicast application on a spotbeam satellite

Abstract

Systems and methods operating a spotbeam satellite network to provide single frequency network broadcast and multicast services. One example embodiment provides a satellite broadcast system. The system includes an electronic processor communicatively coupled to a satellite and a user equipment. The electronic processor is configured to receive a plurality of bearer signals, each bearing identical broadcast program information. The electronic processor is configured to, for each of the plurality of bearer signals, generate one of a plurality of spotbeams for transmission by the satellite within a coverage area. The user equipment is configured to receive the bearer signals from a plurality of adjacent spotbeams of the plurality of spotbeams. The user equipment is configured to constructively utilize the bearer signals received from the plurality of adjacent spotbeams to decode the program information.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for operating a satellite network to broadcast a plurality of spotbeams within a coverage area, the method comprising:

receiving, with a user equipment, bearer signals from a plurality of adjacent spotbeams of the plurality of spotbeams, wherein each of the plurality of spotbeams carries a bearer signal bearing identical broadcast program information;
and
constructively utilizing, with the user equipment, the bearer signals received from the plurality of adjacent spotbeams to decode the identical broadcast program information;
wherein the bearer signals transmitted in each spotbeam of the plurality of adjacent spotbeams are transmitted with a differential delay with respect to the bearer signals of each of the other spotbeams of the plurality of adjacent spotbeams, and
wherein the choice of the differential delay is optimized relative to constraints that include at least one selected from a group consisting of:
a maximization of a received signal to noise and interference ratio;
a minimization of user equipment implementation complexity;
and a minimization of difference from existing terrestrial broadcast/multicast standards.

5 more elements

A satellite broadcast system, the system comprising:

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to a satellite and configured to
receive a plurality of bearer signals, each bearing identical broadcast program information;
for each of the plurality of bearer signals, generate one of a plurality of spotbeams for transmission by the satellite within a coverage area;
and
introduce into a bearer signal of each spotbeam of the plurality of spotbeams a differential delay with respect to a bearer signal of each of the other spotbeams of the plurality of spotbeams, wherein the differential delays are determined relative to constraints that include at least one selected from a group consisting of:
a maximization of a received signal to noise and interference ratio;
a minimization of user equipment implementation complexity;
and a minimization of difference from existing terrestrial broadcast/multicast standards;
and
a user equipment configured to
receive the plurality of bearer signals from a plurality of adjacent spotbeams of the plurality of spotbeams;
and
constructively utilize the plurality of bearer signals received from the plurality of adjacent spotbeams to decode the identical broadcast program information.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Single frequency network (SFN) for broadcast/multicast application on a spotbeam satellite

Life of this patent

Single frequency network (SFN) for broadcast/multicast application on a spotbeam satellite

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18