US 2003/0143965 A1 · Apparatus and method for reusing satellite broadcast spectrum for terrestrially broadcast signals

Abstract

A satellite receiving antenna (16) at a user location (14) receives satellite signals at a first frequency from a satellite (12). The satellite signals travel along a satellite signal route (42) within a look angle about the centerline (28) of the antenna (16). A terrestrial transmitter (20) transmits signals at the first frequency along a wireless transmission route (40) from the transmitter to the user location (14). The terrestrial transmitter (20) is located with respect to the user location (14) so that the wireless transmission route (40) is at a relatively large angle to the centerline (28) of the first antenna (16). The angle of the wireless transmission route (40) to the satellite antenna centerline (28) is large enough so that the terrestrial signals present at the location (14) result in terrestrial input signals from the antenna (16) which are less than an interference level with respect to satellite input signals produced by the antenna. Thus, the terrestrial signals do not interfere with the satellite signals even though they are transmitted at a common frequency.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for reusing a first transmission frequency already in use for transmitting satellite signals from a satellite along a satellite signal route to a first location for reception within a satellite signal receiving window of a satellite receiving antenna at the first location, the satellite signals having a signal power level at the first location to produce satellite input signals at least at a minimum useable satellite input signal level when received within the satellite signal receiving window by the satellite receiving antenna, the method comprising the step of:

(a) transmitting terrestrial signals at the first transmission frequency from a first terrestrial transmitter, the terrestrial signals being transmitted in directions including a wireless transmission route from the first terrestrial transmitter to the first location, the wireless transmission route lying at an angle from the satellite signal route such that the terrestrial signals present at the first location produce terrestrial input signals from the satellite receiving antenna aligned to receive the satellite signals within the satellite signal receiving window, the terrestrial input signals being at a power level less than an interference power level with respect to the satellite input signals, and the terrestrial signals present at the first location also having a power level at least at a minimum usable terrestrial signal level.

An apparatus for simultaneously providing terrestrially transmitted signals on a common frequency with satellite signals transmitted from a satellite along a satellite signal route to a first location, the satellite signals being transmitted at a first frequency and having a signal power level at the first location to produce satellite input signals at least at a minimum useable satellite input signal level when received within a satellite signal receiving window by a satellite receiving antenna at the first location, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first terrestrial transmitter for transmitting terrestrial signals at the first frequency along a wireless transmission route from a first terrestrial transmitter location to the first location, the wireless transmission route lying at an angle from the satellite signal route such that the terrestrial signals present at the first location produce terrestrial input signals from the satellite receiving antenna which are at a power level less than an interference level with respect to the satellite input signals, the terrestrial signals present at the first location also having a power level at least at a minimum usable terrestrial signal level.

An apparatus for simultaneously providing terrestrially transmitted signals on a common frequency with satellite signals transmitted from a satellite, the satellite signals being transmitted at a first frequency along a respective satellite transmission route to each location within a geographic service area for reception within a satellite receiving window of a satellite receiving antenna at the respective location, the satellite signals having a signal power level at the respective location to produce satellite input signals at least at a minimum useable satellite input signal level when received within the satellite signal receiving window of the satellite receiving antenna at the respective location, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of spaced apart terrestrial transmitters, each terrestrial transmitter adapted for transmitting terrestrial signals at the first frequency, the plurality of spaced apart terrestrial transmitters being arranged such that substantially each respective location within the geographic service area has a wireless transmission route to one of the terrestrial transmitters, the wireless transmission route lying at an angle from the satellite transmission route to the respective location such that the terrestrial signals present at the respective location produce terrestrial input signals when received at the satellite receiving antenna at the respective location aligned to receive the satellite signals within the satellite signal receiving window, the terrestrial input signals being at a power level less than an interference power level with respect to the satellite input signals from the satellite receiving antenna at the respective location, and the terrestrial signals present at the respective location also having a power level at least at a minimum usable terrestrial signal level.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for reusing satellite broadcast spectrum for terrestrially broadcast signals

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for reusing satellite broadcast spectrum for terrestrially broadcast signals

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20