Patent ID: 6366776
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
In a processing satellite communication system comprising an uplink for transmitting uplink data cells on an uplink beam from a ground terminal to said satellite and a downlink for transmitting downlink data cells on a downlink beam from the satellite to a ground terminal, apparatus for controlling the transmission of said uplink data cells comprising in combination:an encoder arranged to group said uplink data cells with an error correction code and for locating said uplink data cells in predetermined uplink time slots within uplink frames comprising said uplink data cells; a modulator connected to modulate said uplink frames by a predetermined form of modulation to enable placement of the modulated uplink frames into a plurality of uplink channels suitable for transmission to said satellite on said uplink beam, said uplink channels comprising a plurality of said uplink time slots; an adjustable amplifier arranged to adjust the power level at which said uplink beam may be transmitted to said satellite; a demodulator suitable for use in said satellite arranged to demodulate said channels into demodulated uplink frames; a decoder arranged to decode said error correction code, to detect errors in said correction code and to make at least an error estimate of errors in said correction code; a cell former arranged to form report cells comprising error information in response to said error estimate, addresses identifying destinations and identifiers indicating that said report cells contain said error information; a frame organizer arranged to generate downlink frames comprising said report cells for transmission on said downlink beam; and a processor responsive to said downlink beam arranged to unpack said report cells from said downlink frames and to adjust said amplifier based on said error information in said report cells.