Helicopter satellite communication system, helicopter-mounted communication apparatus, terrestrial station communication apparatus, communication method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing computer program

A helicopter-mounted communication apparatus for a helicopter satellite communication system that performs communication between a helicopter-mounted communication apparatus and a terrestrial station communication apparatus via a communication satellite, comprising:

• a blocked-time-rate estimator that estimates a blocked-time rate, which is the percentage of the time that a transmission beam that is transmitted from the helicopter-mounted communication apparatus toward the communication satellite is blocked by rotor blades;
• a video-encoding-parameter selector that selects video-encoding parameters based on the blocked-time rate that is estimated by the blocked-time-rate estimator;
• a video encoder that encodes video data according to the video-encoding parameters selected by the video-encoding-parameter selector, and outputs video packets;
• a data selector that, when the number of video packets that are output from the video encoder is less than a specified number, inserts null packets to keep the transmission packet rate substantially constant;
• a null-packet deleter that deletes null packets in a packet stream that is output from the data selector and attaches information indicating the number of the deleted null packets to another packet;
• a buffer that buffers packets after deleting of null packets by the null-packet deleter;
• and
• a modulator/transmitter that modulates packets that are stored in the buffer and transmits those packets toward the communication satellite during a transmittable period.

A terrestrial station communication apparatus for a helicopter satellite communication system that performs communication between a helicopter-mounted communication apparatus and a terrestrial station communication apparatus via a communication satellite, comprising:

• a receiver that receives a signal that is transmitted from the helicopter-mounted communication apparatus via the communication satellite;
• a demodulator that demodulates the signal received by the receiver and generates a packet stream;
• a null-packet inserter that, based on attached information that is included in the packet stream that is reproduced by the demodulator and that indicates the number of deleted null packets, inserts null packets into the packet stream and deletes the attached information;
• a rate-fluctuation compensator that keeps the packet rate substantially constant by buffering a packet stream after inserting of null packet by the null-packet inserter;
• a data separator that separates video packets from the packet stream that is output from the rate-fluctuation compensator;
• and
• a video decoder that decodes the video packets that are separated out by the data separator.

A communication method for a helicopter to perform communication via a communication path that is blocked by rotor blades, that:

• estimates the percentage of time that the communication path is blocked by the rotor blades;
• encodes and outputs transmission packets at a compression rate based on the estimated percentage;
• inserts null packets to keep the transmission packet rate substantially constant by inserting null packets when the number of transmission packets is less than a specified number;
• deletes null packets and attaches information indicating the number of the deleted null packets to another transmission packet;
• and
• buffers packets after deleting of null packets, and transmits the buffered packets during a transmittable period.

A communication method that receives a signal that is transmitted via a communication path that is blocked by rotor blades, that:

• receives a signal;
• demodulates the received signal and generates a received packet stream;
• inserts null packets into the packet stream based on attached information that is included in the generated packet stream and that indicates the number of deleted null packets;
• deletes the attached information;
• adjusts the packet rate by buffering the packet stream after inserting of the null packets;
• separates specified packets from the packet stream;
• and
• decodes the separated packets.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program that causes a computer having a communication function to execute:

• a process that estimates the percentage of time that a communication path is blocked by rotor blades;
• a process that encodes and outputs transmission packets at a compression rate based on the estimated percentage;
• a process that inserts null packets to keep the transmission packet rate substantially constant when the number of transmission packets is less than a specified number;
• a process that deletes null packets and attaches information indicating the number of the deleted null packets to another transmission packet;
• and
• a process that, after buffering packets upon deletion of null packets, transmits the packets during a transmittable period.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a computer program that causes a computer having a communication function to execute:

• a process that receives a signal that is transmitted via a communication path that is blocked by rotor blades;
• a process that demodulates the signal received and generates a received packet stream;
• a process that, based on attached information that is included in the generated packet stream and that indicates the number of deleted null packets, inserts null packets into the packet stream;
• a process that deletes the attached information;
• a process that adjusts the packet rate by buffering a packet stream after inserting of the null packets;
• a process that separates specified packets from the packet stream;
• and
• a process that decodes the packets that are separated out.