Adaptable forward link data rates in communications systems for mobile platforms
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJoseph W. Niesen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A communication system for mobile platforms includes mobile platforms with transceivers identified by Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. A satellite relays a forward link from a ground station to the mobile platforms. The forward link contains IP packet data that is modulated by variable length orthogonal (VLO) spreading codes and that has different information data rates. The VLO spreading code for each IP packet is selected to optimize a desired link margin of the IP packet that is received by the addressed transceiver. The IP packets can also be modulated using a pseudonoise (PN) spreading code. Forward error correction (FEC) may also be applied. The transceivers include a feedback circuit that generates an Eb/No estimate.
Claims35
A communication system for mobile platforms, comprising:
- a first mobile platform including a first transceiver that is assigned a first Internet Protocol (IP) address;
- a second mobile platform including a second transceiver that is assigned a second IP address;
- and
- a ground station adapted to:
- transmit a forward link that contains an entire first IP packet having a first information data rate, said first IP packet modulated with code division multiple access (CDMA) coding in combination with a first variable length orthogonal (VLO) code such that said entire first IP packet is relayed, via said forward link, from a ground station to said first mobile platform through a selected channel of a satellite having a transceiver amplifier operating approximately at a saturation point of said amplifier, and
- transmit said forward link concurrently containing an entire second IP packet simultaneously modulated with CDMA coding in combination with a second VLO code such that said entire second IP packet is relayed, via said forward link, from said ground station to said second mobile platform through said selected satellite channel with said satellite transceiver operating approximately at said saturation point.
A method for communicating with mobile platforms, comprising:
- assigning a first Internet Protocol (IP) address to a first mobile platform including a first transceiver;
- assigning a second IP address to a second mobile platform including a second transceiver;
- transmitting a forward link that concurrently contains an entire first IP packet having a first information data rate and an entire second IP packet having a second information data rate from a ground station;
- modulating said entire first IP packet with a first variable length orthogonal (VLO) code, using a VLO spreader, in combination with code division multiple access (CDMA) coding such that said entire first IP packet can be relayed, via said forward link, from a ground station to said first mobile platform through a selected channel of a satellite having a transceiver amplifier operating approximately at a saturation point of said amplifier;
- and
- simultaneously modulating said entire second IP packet with a second VLO, using the VLO spreader, in combination with CDMA coding, such that said entire second IP packet is relayed, via said forward link, from said around station to said second mobile platform through said selected satellite channel with said satellite transceiver amplifier operating approximately at said saturation point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.