Abstract:
A method of random access communication uses subbanding and variable length messages to provide efficient communication between a plurality of mobile earth terminals and a plurality of satellites. The subbanding allows each satellite to more efficiently process communications from mobile earth terminals operating under a variety of different rules or regulations. The satellite receivers can be dynamically reconfigured such that they can receive messages of different lengths at different times. The mobile earth terminals can change the size of the messages that they send to take advantage of the newly reconfigured satellite receiver(s). The method can reduce or eliminate errors or delays that occur in prior methods of random access communication.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a method for providing a plurality of mobile earth terminals (“METs”) random access to communication with one or more satellites, and more particularly, to a method for providing efficient communication between a plurality of METs and a constellation of low earth orbit satellites through the use of subbanding and the use of more than one message length. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Numerous methods are known for providing random access to a communication satellite by a plurality of METs typically having “bursty” traffic. Bursty traffic is traffic that is intermittent in nature rather than continuous for extended periods of time. These systems only provide the MET communication access to the satellite when the MET has information to send. Such systems can be contrasted with those providing a cycle during which every possible sender has a certain access window. The complexities of providing an efficient process for random access communications increase significantly when the METs are communicating with a constellation of low earth orbit satellites. 
   For example, nations have varying regulatory requirements for such communications. In addition, some nations allow communication at frequencies at which another nation may prohibit commercial communications because the frequency is used for emergency, police or military communications. Low earth orbit satellites can have a large footprint that covers several nations simultaneously. Therefore, METs in different nations may try to access the same satellite at the same time. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a communication system wherein the satellites could process information received from a variety of different METs while simultaneously honoring the communication regulations of each of the nations. 
   Sending messages in a random access communication system requires some amount of overhead communication simply to request and establish the communication link between the MET and the satellite receiver. This is because the bursty nature of the traffic and the large number of METs make it impractical for every MET to have a fixed communication slot. 
   Sending multiple messages of the same predetermined length to convey a large amount of information increases the amount of overhead necessary as compared with the overhead required to send one message of increased length. Thus, it may seem that simply designing the system with an increased message length might be an effective solution. Increasing the predetermined message length of the system, however, often would be inefficient because many of the messages would not require this much capacity, thereby wasting capacity. Wasting capacity is costly, especially when other METs are waiting to send a message. Thus, it would be desirable to have a communication system that efficiently provides communication to a satellite by allowing METs to send messages of more than one length. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a method of communication between METs and satellites. The method can be used with a plurality of satellites, each of which has at least one satellite receiver for receiving messages from the METs. Preferably, the satellites each have more than one satellite receiver. Each satellite receiver is tunable to a selected frequency. Users are provided with METs that are adapted to send messages to, and receive messages from, the satellites. The method involves defining at least one subband of the frequency spectrum. The subbands are defined based on, for example, channel spacing, hard power threshold, allowable distance from grid channels and range. Each subband defines a set of discrete frequencies, any one of which potentially can be chosen as the frequency at which the METs send messages to the satellite receiver. The system includes a plurality of gateway earth stations, preferably scattered throughout the world. The gateway earth stations allow communication between the satellites and a gateway control center. The system preferably includes a plurality of gateway control centers scattered in geographical locations around the world where METs are present. 
   The frequency chosen for the METs to communicate with the satellite receiver is sometimes referred to herein as the “communication channel.” The communication channel is selected from the frequencies making up the subband(s) assigned to that satellite receiver. 
   At least one subband is assigned to each satellite receiver. If possible, more than one subband can be assigned to a satellite receiver. This can be done if multiple subbands have a sufficient number of frequencies in common at which messages can be sent from the METs to the satellite receiver—i.e., if the subbands include a sufficient number of common possible communication channels. The current (i.e., active) communication channel (i.e., frequency) for a satellite receiver is selected by the satellite from the available frequencies defined by the subband(s) currently assigned to that receiver and is preferably based on the factors of power sampling (most important factor), grid preference and quality (least important factor), as explained below. 
   Each MET is assigned to one of the satellite receivers. Over time, the MET can be assigned to different satellite receivers on different satellites if, for example, the satellites are low earth orbit satellites. The METs are assigned to the satellite receivers by the gateway control centers. The satellite receiver is tuned to the frequency of the current communication channel to receive messages from the METs. The satellites broadcast the current communication channel being used by each satellite receiver directly to the METs so that the METs know on what frequency to transmit their messages. 
   The gateway control centers can convey information to and from the satellites as well as to and from the METs. A subband is assigned to each gateway control center. The active METs also are assigned to a gateway control center. The METs, however, transmit their messages directly to the satellite receivers. Each gateway control center and its assigned subband is associated with a satellite receiver with which the gateway control center can then communicate through a gateway earth station. As the satellites orbit the earth, the gateway control centers can be successively associated and disassociated with satellite receivers on different satellites. Thus, over time, the subband(s) assigned to a satellite receiver can change. Over time, each MET preferably may be assigned to different satellite receivers, which can be on different satellites. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of communication uses satellite receivers that can be dynamically reconfigured to receive messages of different sizes. Preferably, the system uses two different message sizes, which have been predetermined. For example, the satellite receivers can be configured to receive either 16-byte messages or 31-byte messages. Thus, some of the satellite receivers can be receiving 16-byte messages, while other satellite receivers are receiving 31-byte messages. The system tracks the load of messages on each satellite receiver. If, for example, there is currently a much higher demand from the METs for 16-byte messages, one or more of the satellite receivers configured to receive 31-byte messages could be reconfigured to receive 16-byte messages instead. The satellite broadcasts the current message length configuration for each satellite receiver directly to the METs so that the METs know what length message format to use in sending messages to the satellite receiver. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is schematic diagram of a message handling system that can incorporate the present invention; and 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating an acquire/communicate process that can be used in conjunction with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The method of the present invention can be carried out in a system having numerous METs and a constellation of low earth orbit satellites. For example, the ORBCOMM® system includes a constellation of 28 low earth orbit satellites including three planes inclined to 45° with eight satellites per plane and two planes inclined to 90° with two satellites each for polar coverage. While METs may be mobile, they may also be stationary in certain applications—e.g., for monitoring a remote piece of equipment such as a pipeline, pump, etc. Thousands of METs situated throughout the world can communicate with one another via the satellites and a plurality of gateway earth stations and gateway control centers. In the preferred embodiment, each satellite has six satellite receivers. 
     FIG. 1  depicts schematically a system  10  that can incorporate the present invention. System  10  can include a plurality of satellites, with two satellites  12   a–b  being illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of METs, such as MET  14  shown carried in an automobile, a plurality of gateway earth stations  16 , only one of which is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one or more gateway control centers  18 , only one of which is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and a systems facility  20 . System  10  can include a lesser or greater number of satellites as required by any particular application. The system can include, for example, nine gateway earth stations, such as gateway earth station  16 , to serve the United States geographic area. Gateway control center  18  can perform various tasks including commissioning new METs by entering pertinent data into a subscriber database, responding to customer inquiries, scanning undeliverable messages for formatting errors, and monitoring and maintaining terrestrial communications facilities. Gateway control center  18  can be given other tasks as desired for any given application. Systems facility  20  generally processes messages and controls the satellite constellation. 
   A user generates a message (for example, “I won&#39;t be home until 4:15”) to send to another user of the system. The user sends the message from MET  14  along a path represented by arrow  11  to satellite  12   a , which can be a low earth orbit satellite that is currently accessible to MET  14  based upon the position of satellite  12   a  in its orbit. The message is received by a satellite receiver (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) on satellite  12   a . Satellite  12   a  relays the message to a regional gateway earth station  16  along a path represented by arrow  15 . Gateway earth station  16  sends the message over terrestrial facilities indicated by connection  22  to gateway control center  18 . Gateway control center  18  sends the message to systems facility  20 , as illustrated by connection  24 , which may be the Internet or dedicated circuits. The gateway control center  18  then sends an acknowledgement along paths  25  and  13  to MET  14  confirming the gateway control center  18  received the message. The message can then be passed on to the intended recipient either over terrestrial facilities (not shown) or via satellite  12   b . If the message is passed via satellite  12   b , gateway control center  18  first sends the message to gateway earth station  16 , which then transmits the message to satellite  12   b  along a path represented by arrow  17 . Satellite  12   b  then can transmit the message to the intended recipient along a path represented by arrow  19 . 
   The present invention primarily relates to the communication of the message from originating MET  14  to satellite  12   a —i.e., the communication represented by arrow  11 . In a random access communication system, MET  14  usually must do two things to communicate its message to satellite  12   a . First, MET  14  must request a time slot for access to its assigned satellite receiver on satellite  12   a . Second, after being notified of its message communication time slot, MET  14  must send the message to the satellite receiver so that the message is received by the satellite receiver during the assigned time slot. This process is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     FIG. 2  shows satellite  12   a  having three satellite receivers  25   a–c . Satellite  12   a  can have more or fewer than three satellite receivers  25 , as desired in any application. A description of the operation of satellite receiver  25   c  follows. It should be understood that satellite receivers  25   a–b  and the satellite receivers on other satellites operate in a similar manner. In  FIG. 2 , moving to the right on the diagrams within satellite receiver  25   c  and MET  14  indicates the passage of time. As shown in  FIG. 2 , every one second, for example, in the preferred embodiment, satellite receiver  25   c  on satellite  12   a  cycles through two operations: (1) an “open” time window  30  during which satellite receiver  25   c  can receive many acquire bursts  32  from METs, such as MET  14 ; and (2) reserved communicate slots  34   a - 1  during which satellite receiver  25   c  can receive communicate bursts  36  from METs, such as MET  14 . 
   Acquire bursts  32  are very short, for example, less than 5 milliseconds. The main purpose of acquire burst  32  is to acquire permission to send a communicate burst  36  at a later point in time. Communicate bursts  36  are longer than acquire bursts  32  and include the substance of the user&#39;s message. In the preferred embodiment, communicate bursts  36  can vary between one of two predefined sizes: (1) short (54 millisecond); or (2) medium (104 millisecond). Acquire window  30  can be ⅓ second and twelve reserved communicate slots  34   a - 1  each can be, for example, 1/18 second for the short (54 millisecond) bursts. 
   During acquire window  30 , satellite receiver  25   c  searches for an eight-bit acquire burst  32  from a MET, such as MET  14 , across a bandwidth of 3000 kHz. Acquire burst  32  can consist of a setup bit required by symmetric differential phase shift keying modulation and a seven-bit identification number randomly chosen by the MET. Acquire burst  32  occupies approximately 3 kHz at the 3 dB down bandwidth. In the preferred embodiment, satellite receiver  25   c  can receive and process successfully up to twelve acquire bursts  32  per second. 
   Each satellite receiver, such as satellite receiver  25   c , is tuned to one center frequency at any given time. The process for choosing this frequency is described below. The center frequency is the frequency at which satellite receiver  25   c  is tuned to receive transmissions from the METs. When satellite receiver  25   c  receives an acquire burst  32 , satellite receiver  25   c  determines how far away the center frequency of acquire burst  32  was from the center frequency of satellite receiver  25   c . This difference is referred to as the frequency offset and is preferably represented as the integer corresponding to the number of 50 Hz steps that the frequency of acquire burst  32  was away from the center frequency of satellite receiver  25   c . The frequency offset can be caused by the Doppler effect and oscillator drift at MET  14 . The frequency offset is used as described below. 
   At the opening of acquire window  30 , satellite receiver  25   c  starts a clock in order to record the time at which each acquire burst  32  arrives from the METs. This time is represented by an integer corresponding to the number of one-half millisecond time intervals after acquire window  30  opened that satellite receiver  25   c  received each acquire burst  32 . This time information is used as described below. Satellite  12   a  also broadcasts a synchronization signal  33  once every second to provide a timing reference for listening METs. This signal is used as described below. 
   After acquire window  30  closes, satellite  12   a  processes acquire bursts  32  received by satellite receiver  25   c  and forms slot assignments  38  which satellite  12   a  broadcasts to the METs on a different frequency than the frequency used as the communication channel for transmitting messages. Each slot assignment  38  includes: (1) the seven-bit burst identification number originally sent by the MET to satellite  12   a ; (2) the integer representing the frequency offset of the acquire burst  32  sent by that particular MET; and (3) the integer representing the time after opening of acquire window  30  that satellite receiver  25   c  received the acquire burst  32  sent by that particular MET. 
   If, as in  FIG. 2 , satellite receiver  25   c  is configured to have twelve communicate slots  34   a - 1 , satellite  12   a  will broadcast twelve slot assignments  38  for satellite receiver  25   c , unless fewer acquire bursts  32  were received. Satellite  12   a  preferably broadcasts slot assignments  38  for satellite receiver  25   c  in the order that slot assignments  38  actually will occur. Thus, the first slot assignment  38  broadcast will be intended for the MET that is given permission to transmit its communicate burst  36  to satellite receiver  25   c  in the first communicate slot  34   a , preferably during the next cycle on satellite receiver  25   c . The second slot assignment  38  broadcast by satellite  12   a  will be for the MET that is given permission to transmit its communicate burst  36  during the second communicate slot  34   b  (MET  14  in the case of  FIG. 2 ), preferably during the next cycle on satellite receiver  25   c , and so forth. If satellite receiver  25   c  received twelve acquire bursts  32  during acquire window  30 , the last slot assignment  38  broadcast by satellite  12   a  for satellite receiver  25   c  will be intended for the MET that is given permission to transmit its communicate burst  36  in the final communication slot  34   l.    
   Each of the METs that sent an acquire burst  32  monitors broadcast slot assignments  38  and searches for a slot assignment  38  containing the seven-bit randomly selected identification number transmitted to satellite receiver  25   c  by that MET during acquire window  30 . By counting the number of slot assignments  38  broadcast prior to such a slot assignment  38 , each MET determines during which communicate slot  34   a–l  it is to transmit its communicate burst  36  to satellite receiver  25   c.    
   MET  14  uses the frequency offset received in slot assignment  38  to “precorrect” the frequency of communicate burst  36  so that communicate burst  36  will be demodulated correctly at satellite receiver  25   c . This precorrection compensates for the Doppler effect and any oscillator drift at MET  14 . MET  14  also compares the time when satellite receiver  25   c  received acquire burst  32  against the time when MET  14  transmitted acquire burst  32  using synchronization signal  33  to synchronize the times on satellite receiver  25   c  and MET  14 . In this way, MET  14  determines the propagation time, which varies depending on the distance between MET  14  and satellite  12   a . MET  14  uses the propagation time information to time its transmission of communicate burst  36  such that it will be received by satellite receiver  25   c  during the assigned communicate slot  34   b  in  FIG. 2 . The guard time between communicate bursts  36  from different METs can be reduced to less than 2 milliseconds by accounting for the 8.4 millisecond difference in propagation time between when satellite  12   a  is directly overhead as compared to when satellite  12   a  is at the horizon. 
   After receiving slot assignment  38 , MET  14  sends communicate burst  36  to the same satellite receiver  25   c  to which MET  14  previously sent acquire burst  32 . Communicate burst  36  is of the size for which satellite receiver  25   c  is currently configured, for example,  16  bytes or 31 bytes. Communicate burst  36  can include one synchronization byte and one data packet that can be, for example, 15 bytes or 30 bytes. The one synchronization byte is an eight-bit pattern with high order correlation. Eight bits are needed for this synchronization because less DSP processing power is used here than for synchronizing acquire bursts  32 . 
   The number of satellite receivers  25  on a satellite  12  that are configured for each communicate burst size is determined based on the offered message load from the METs. Thus, as the message load increases on one or more satellite receivers  25  configured for a first size, without many messages being transmitted to one or more satellite receivers  25  configured for a second size, one or more satellite receivers  25  that were configured for the second size can be reconfigured for the first size. Information in the satellite&#39;s transmission alerts the METs to the current communicate burst size and frequency settings of each receiver. 
   Satellite  12  broadcasts the random access frequencies for each active satellite receiver  25  on satellite  12  every four seconds or whenever a frequency is changed, as described below. The receivers are always active but are not in real time mode when no gateway earth station is connected to the satellite. The uplink random access frequencies are grouped corresponding to a particular number identifying a gateway control center  18  to allow subbanding. The subbanding allows system  10  to provide a given level of service to a particular user of system  10  for overlapping geographical regions. Satellites  12  can have a pre-established set of rules with a different quality index for each rule based on gateway control center preferences. METs  14  are programmed to send messages only on the frequencies that are associated with the destination gateway control center as part of the uplink channel packet(s) broadcast by satellites  12 . 
   Satellite  12   a  determines the frequency to be used as the center frequency (or communication channel) for satellite receiver  25   c  as follows. The system uses subbands, which are portions of the frequency spectrum defined by certain rules. The rules are based on regulatory requirements of different regions of the world. For example, the system preferably defines subbands based on five criteria: (1) channel spacing; (2) hard power threshold; (3) allowable distance from grid channels; (4) channel exclusions; and (5) range. 
   Channel spacing describes the grid spacing that is superimposed over the frequency spectrum. For example, the channel spacing can be, e.g., 20 kHz. The hard power threshold is a received power limit above which channels are excluded from being selected as a communication channel. Alternatively, the hard power threshold can prevent a channel from being selected as a communication channel if the power in the channel or either of its neighbors exceeds this value. The allowable distance from grid channels defines the bands about each grid channel within which channels may be selected as a communication channel. Channel exclusions are those grid channels in the subband that are to be excluded from selection as a communication channel. For example, channel exclusions can be frequencies that a nation has reserved for police or military communications. The range defines a contiguous band bounded by the first and last selectable grid channels. 
   Satellite  12   a  selects a communication channel (and a spare communication channel) for each satellite receiver  25  by evaluating the possible frequencies defined by the appropriate subband(s) for that receiver. The selection process involves the weighing of three factors: (1) power sampling; (2) grid preference; and (3) quality. 
   Power sampling is accomplished by the satellite receiver  25  scanning all channels defined by the subband. Channels for which the power samples fall below a specific threshold are declared to be available. The power sample threshold determination is a hard decision and preferably carries the highest weight of the channel selection criteria. 
   The second channel selection criterion is referred to as grid preference. Around the world, many wireless systems (including paging and cellular systems) are assigned channels on a 25 kHz channelization plan or grid. The system of the present invention can be designed to give preference to channels spaced midway between these standard terrestrial emitters. This criterion preferably carries more weight in the channel selection algorithm than the quality factor described below, but less than the power sampling criterion. 
   Satellite  12   a  uses the history of power sample measurements as the third channel selection criterion (referred to as the quality factor). The quality factor can be a metric of the current and past power levels of the channel. This criterion preferably is weighed the least of the three criteria for communication channel selection. Of course, other selection processes using these or other criteria can be used instead of the preferred process just described. 
   Using these criteria, satellite  12   a  selects one communication channel to be used, by satellite receiver  25   c  and also selects a spare. Satellite  12   a  also selects a communication channel and a spare for each of the other satellite receivers  25  on satellite  12   a  that form part of the random access communication system. 
   Satellite  12   a  repeats the channel selection process approximately every six seconds. Satellite  12   a  will change the communication channel for a satellite receiver if: (1) the error rate on the satellite receiver exceeds a predefined value; or (2) the new channel selection process scan data shows a power level exceeding the threshold on a currently assigned communication channel. 
   Where two or more subbands define a sufficient number of common channels, it is possible to concurrently assign more than one subband to a satellite receiver. Where there are a smaller number of gateway control centers connected to a satellite than there are satellite receivers, it also is possible to have more than one satellite receiver assigned to a gateway control center. 
   By using subbanding, the system is able to efficiently receive messages originating from nations in the same proximity that have different regulations in terms of which frequencies can be used as communication channels. Also, the system can easily change to different communication channels when a problem develops on the current communication channel. Thus, the system provides an improved method of providing random access communication between METs and satellites. 
   Whereas the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.