# US 12,771,438 B2 · System and method of augmenting terrestrial communication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,771,438 B2 - Document ID: US12771438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/508,526 - Filed: 2023-11-14 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-14 - Assignees: Commcrete Ltd - Applicants: Commcrete Ltd - Inventors: Joshua Yedidia; Itzik Daniel Michaeli; Michael Mor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12771438B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/18517: {Transmission equipment in earth stations} - H04B 7/18513: {Transmission in a satellite or space-based system} - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Examples include a communication converter including a RF signal port for coupling the communication converter to terrestrial RF transceiver, an antenna port for coupling the communication converter to a satellite antenna, a terrestrial-to-satellite (T/S) conversion unit configured to receive via the RF signal port terrestrial RF communication signals generated by the terrestrial RF transceiver and convert them into uplink satellite communication signals, a satellite-to-terrestrial (S/T) conversion unit configured to receive via the antenna port downlink satellite communication signals received by the satellite antenna and extract therefrom terrestrial RF communication signals thereby carried, and a detection unit configured to detect at least the reception of the terrestrial RF communication signals, and generate based thereon data/signals for setting mode of operation of the communication converter into a T/S mode or a S/T mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication converter comprising: a RF signal port for coupling said communication converter to a terrestrial RF transceiver; an antenna port for coupling said communication converter to a satellite antenna; a terrestrial-to-satellite (T/S) conversion unit configured to receive via said RF signal port terrestrial RF communication signals generated by said terrestrial RF transceiver and convert them into uplink satellite communication signals; a satellite-to-terrestrial (S/T) conversion unit configured to receive via said antenna port downlink satellite communication signals received by said satellite antenna and extract therefrom terrestrial RF communication signals thereby carried; one or more signal generators configured to generate local oscillator signals for the conversion of the terrestrial RF communication signals into the uplink satellite communication signals, and for the extraction of the terrestrial RF communication signals from the downlink satellite communication signals, and wherein said terrestrial-to-satellite (T/S) conversion unit is configured to modulate a local oscillator signal generated by the one or more signal generators with the terrestrial RF communication signals received by said communication converter via the RF signal port, and wherein said satellite-to-terrestrial (S/T) conversion unit is configured to use a local oscillator signal generated by the one or more signal generators to extract the terrestrial RF communication signals from the downlink satellite communication signals received by said communication converter; and a detection unit configured to detect at least the reception of the terrestrial RF communication signals at said RE signal port and/or the reception of downlink satellite communication signals at said antenna port, and generate based thereon data/signals for setting mode of operation of said communication converter into a −T/S mode or a S/T mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The communication converter according to claim 1 comprising a first switch device for coupling said communication converter to the RF signal port, said first switch device configured to controllably convey to the T/S conversion unit terrestrial RF communication signals received via said RF signal port, or convey to said RF signal port terrestrial RF communication signals extracted by the S/T conversion unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The communication converter according to claim 1 comprising a second switch device for coupling said communication converter to the antenna port, said second switch device configured to controllably convey to the S/T conversion unit downlink satellite communication signals received via said antenna port, or to convey to said antenna port uplink satellite communication signals generated by the T/S conversion unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The communication converter according to any-ene-of-claim 1 comprising: a first switch device for coupling said communication converter to the RF signal port, said first switch device configured to controllably convey to the T/S conversion unit terrestrial RF communication signals received via said RF signal port, or convey to said RF signal port terrestrial RF communication signals extracted by the S/T conversion at a second switch device for coupling said communication converter to the antenna pc said second switch device configured to controllably convey to the S/T conversion unit downlink satellite communication signals received via said antenna port, or to convey to said antenna port uplink satellite communication signals generated by the T/S conversion unit; and a control unit configured to generate control data/signals to set said communication converter into the T/S or S/T modes of operation, and for changing the states of the first and second switch devices accordingly, based on the data/signals generated by the detection unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The communication converter according to claim 1 comprising one or more memories for at least one of the following: storing predefined conversion and extraction frequencies, storing a plurality of frequency pairs of predefined conversion and extraction frequencies for selection of one of said plurality of frequency pairs for based at least in part on a geographical location of the terrestrial RF transceiver to which said communication converter is coupled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A communication device comprising a terrestrial RF transceiver, a communication converter according to claim 1 configured to receive via its RF signal port terrestrial RF communication signals generated by said terrestrial RF transceiver, and a satellite antenna coupled to the antenna port of said communication converter and configured to transmit satellite communication signals generated by said communication converter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The communication device according to claim 6 comprising an extension pole configured to connect between the satellite antenna and the antenna port of the communication converter so as to elevate said satellite antenna a predefined distance from said communication converter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The communication device according to claim 6 wherein the satellite antenna is a type of printed circuit planar passive antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A communication system comprising at least one satellite transponder and two or more communication devices according to claim 7 for relaying terrestrial RF communication therebetween over said at least one satellite transponder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The communication system according to claim 9 wherein the at least one satellite transponder is mounted on at least one geostationary satellite. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The communication system according to claim 9 wherein the at least two communication devices are associated with a same spot beam of said at least one satellite transponder, and/or associated with a same frequency plan. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The communication system according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the at least two communication devices is associated with either another spot beam of said at least one satellite transponder or with a spot beam of another satellite transponder that is in satellite communication with said at least one satellite transponder.