Patent Description:
Embodiments described herein relate to satellite and terrestrial wireless communications systems and, more particularly, to terrestrial repeaters of satellite signals.

US patent application <CIT> [US]) discloses a terrestrial terminal interface subsystem operative to communicate with a satellite gateway via a communications satellite using a first radio interface and to communicate with terminals over a geographic area using a second radio interface.

US patent application <CIT>) discloses a device for constructing a pilot signal for use in a wireless repeater where the pilot signal is added to a transmit signal.

US patent application <CIT>) discloses a wireless repeater including an echo canceller to cancel an estimated feedback amount from an input signal.

Satellite communications systems and methods are widely used for communications with user equipment (UE). Satellite communications systems and methods generally employ at least one space-based component, such as one or more satellites, that are configured to wirelessly communicate with UEs on the Earth.

Some satellite communications systems use a single satellite antenna pattern (e.g., a beam or cell) to cover an entire service region served by the system. Alternatively or in combination with the above, in cellular satellite communications systems, multiple satellite antennae are provided, each of which can serve a substantially distinct service sub-region within an overall service region, to collectively provide service to the overall service region. Thus, a cellular architecture that is similar to that used in conventional terrestrial cellular systems can be implemented using cellular satellite-based systems. In such systems, the satellite typically communicates with UEs over a bidirectional communications pathway, with UE communications signals being communicated from the satellite to the user equipment over a downlink or forward link (also referred to as forward service link), and from the UE to the satellite over an uplink or return link (also referred to as return service link). In some cases, for example, in broadcasting, the satellite may communicate information to one or more UEs unidirectionally.

The overall design and operation of cellular satellite systems are well known to those having skill in the art, and need not be described further herein. Moreover, as used herein, the term "UE" includes cellular or satellite radiotelephones with or without a multi-line display; Personal Communications System (PCS) terminals (e.g., user terminals) that may combine a radiotelephone with data processing, data communications capabilities; smart telephones that can include a radio frequency transceiver and/or a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; and/or conventional portable computers or other electronic devices, which devices include a radio frequency transceiver. A UE also includes any other radiating user device, equipment and/or source that may have time-varying or fixed geographic coordinates and/or may be portable, transportable, installed in a vehicle (aeronautical, maritime, or land-based) and/or situated and/or configured to operate locally and/or in a distributed fashion over one or more terrestrial and/or extra-terrestrial location(s). Furthermore, as used herein, the term "space-based component" or "space-based system" includes one or more satellites at any orbit (geostationary, substantially geostationary, medium earth orbit, low earth orbit, etc.) and/or one or more other objects and/or platforms (e.g., airplanes, balloons, unmanned vehicles, space crafts, missiles, etc.) that has/have a trajectory above the earth at any altitude.

Compared to terrestrial communications, satellite communications generally have poor ability to penetrate natural and artificial blockages (e.g., trees or buildings). This is due to operating with relatively low link margins. For example, some terrestrial links may be operated with over 30dB of link margin, whereas satellite links are rarely operated with greater than 10dB of link margin-and are typically operated with less than 4dB of link margin. Therefore, satellite coverage is generally poor inside buildings, in urban canyons, and under foliage. This poor signal penetration has reduced or precluded the use of satellite communications in such applications.

To address this concern, amplifying repeaters may be used. For example, an amplifying repeater with clear line of sight to the satellite and relatively high signal to noise ratio (SNR) may receive a satellite signal, boost the signal's power, and retransmit the signal terrestrially towards buildings and other cluttered areas to enable the satellite signal to be received in cluttered areas by a conventional satellite user terminal. Such repeaters now exist. For example, Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services (SDARS), such as XM-Sirius™, use such repeaters. However, in order to avoid instability due to positive feedback, or self-jamming by the repeater, a different frequency (from the received satellite signal) is used for the retransmitted terrestrial signal. The frequency used for the terrestrial retransmission is selected to be sufficiently removed from the satellite receive frequency so that the retransmitted signal creates a low response at the repeater's satellite receive antenna. As a consequence, current satellite repeater systems require more radiofrequency spectrum to operate than does an unrepeated satellite system. Furthermore, existing UEs are not able to move between the repeated and unrepeated satellite signals without modification. Thus, embodiments described herein provide, among other things, systems and methods for same-channel satellite-terrestrial repeaters.

It should also be noted that a plurality of hardware and software based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be used to implement the invention. In addition, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention may include hardware, software, and electronic components or modules that, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if the majority of the components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, and based on a reading of this detailed description, would recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronics based aspects of the invention may be implemented in software (e.g., stored on non-transitory computer-readable medium) executable by one or more processors. As such, it should be noted that a plurality of hardware and software based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components may be utilized to implement the invention. For example, "control units" and "controllers" described in the specification can include one or more processors, one or more memory modules including non-transitory computer-readable medium, one or more input/output interfaces, and various connections (e.g., a system bus) connecting the components.

For ease of description, each of the exemplary systems or devices presented herein is illustrated with a single exemplar of each of its component parts. Some examples may not describe or illustrate all components of the systems. Other exemplary embodiments may include more or fewer of each of the illustrated components, may combine some components, or may include additional or alternative components.

<FIG> is a diagram of a wireless communications system <NUM> according to some embodiments. The system <NUM> includes a satellite <NUM> and a bidirectional satellite-terrestrial repeater system <NUM>. As described in more detail below, the satellite <NUM> and the repeater system <NUM> may wirelessly communicate with one or more UEs <NUM>. When an adequate link margin is achieved (e.g., <NUM>-10dB), the satellite <NUM> communicates directly with the one or more UEs <NUM>. However, this relatively low (compared to terrestrial links) link margin results in poor signal penetration through areas cluttered with natural and artificial blockages (e.g., trees or buildings). For example, the satellite <NUM> may not be able to communicate directly with UEs <NUM> located in a foliage-covered area <NUM> or an urban area <NUM>. However, the repeater system <NUM> is capable of operating terrestrial wireless links with over 30dB of link margin, which can provide coverage to UEs <NUM> located in the areas <NUM>, <NUM>.

The bidirectional satellite-terrestrial repeater system <NUM> includes a satellite antenna <NUM>, a terrestrial antenna <NUM>, and a repeater <NUM>. The satellite <NUM> wirelessly communicates with the repeater system <NUM>. The satellite <NUM> wirelessly transmits data to the repeater system <NUM> via a downlink signal <NUM>, and the wireless repeater system <NUM> wirelessly transmits data to the satellite <NUM> via an uplink signal <NUM>. In some embodiments, the downlink signal <NUM> uses a frequency in the <NUM>-<NUM> band and the uplink signal <NUM> uses a frequency in the <NUM>-<NUM> band. The repeater system <NUM> amplifies and retransmits the downlink signal <NUM> terrestrially as a repeated downlink signal <NUM> to the UEs <NUM>, using the same frequency as the downlink signal <NUM>. Terrestrial return link signals <NUM> are received by the repeater system <NUM>, multiplexed onto a common channel using conventional methods, which signal is amplified and retransmitted as the satellite uplink <NUM>. In conventional systems, the satellite downlink <NUM> and terrestrial downlink signals <NUM> operate on distinct frequencies separated by a minimum frequency separation sufficient to enable practical bandpass filters to be realized that have a low response to the terrestrially retransmitted signal to reduce self-interference. The systems and methods provided herein realize the low response without using bandpass filters, allowing the satellite downlink signal <NUM> and terrestrial downlink signals <NUM> to operate on the same frequency. As used herein, the terms, "frequency" and "band" are used interchangeably, where a "band" may include frequencies that are distinct but clustered in a group, such that the frequencies cannot be separated by filtering. Therefore, embodiments provided herein may also be applied when the original and repeated frequencies are not exactly identical but are too close for the application of traditional repeater technologies described above.

The systems and methods described herein may also be used for unidirectional repeaters, which amplify and repeat only the forward or return link signals. Embodiments may also be applied to multiple satellites, for example as used in LEO and MEO systems, connected to the repeater via multiple downlink/uplink pairs.

<FIG> schematically illustrates an example embodiment of the repeater <NUM>. The repeater <NUM> includes a controller <NUM>, a satellite transceiver <NUM>, and a terrestrial transceiver <NUM>, which along with other various modules and components, are coupled to each other by or through one or more control or data buses that enable communication therebetween. For ease of description, the repeater <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a single controller <NUM>, satellite transceiver <NUM>, and terrestrial transceiver <NUM>. Alternative embodiments may include more or fewer of each of these components, may combine some components, or may include other alternative components. Some embodiments include components that perform individual functions, for example, a receiver and a transmitter, instead of combined transceiver components.

In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> includes a plurality of electrical and electronic components that provide power, operational control, and protection to the components and modules within the controller <NUM> and/or the repeater <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> includes, among other things, an electronic processor <NUM> (e.g., a microprocessor, or another suitable programmable device) and a memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> includes, for example, a program storage area and a data storage area. The electronic processor <NUM> is coupled to the memory <NUM> and executes software instructions that are capable of being stored in a RAM of the memory <NUM> (e.g., during execution), a ROM of the memory <NUM> (e.g., on a generally permanent basis), or another non-transitory computer readable medium such as another memory. The electronic processor <NUM> is configured to retrieve from memory <NUM> and execute, among other things, instructions related to the control processes and methods described herein. The controller <NUM> also includes various digital and analog components (for example, signal amplifiers, multiplexors, digital signal processors, and the like), which for brevity are not described herein and which may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. In other constructions, the controller <NUM> includes additional, fewer, or different components.

The repeater <NUM> is configured for radiofrequency communication to and from the satellite <NUM> and one or more UEs <NUM>. The repeater <NUM> receives the downlink signal <NUM> via the satellite antenna <NUM> and the transceiver <NUM>, amplifies the received signal (for example, using an RF amplifier (not shown)), and transmits the amplified signal via the transceiver <NUM> and the terrestrial antenna <NUM>. The repeater <NUM> receives the uplink signals <NUM> via the terrestrial antenna <NUM> and the transceiver <NUM>. The multiple access feature of the chosen terrestrial uplink air interface, for example, CDMA, FDMA, or TDMA, ensures that individual uplink signals received by the repeater <NUM> from a plurality of UEs <NUM> comprise a multiplexed, or combined uplink signal. The return path of the repeater <NUM> transmits, linearly (thereby preserving the separation of the multiplexed UE signals) the combined uplink signal via the transceiver <NUM> and the satellite antenna <NUM>. The repeater <NUM> is a same-frequency repeater. That is, the received signals and re-transmitted signals operate on the same frequency. An obstacle to the operation of a same-frequency repeater is self-interference, which occurs when the re-transmitted signal interferes with the reception of the original, received signal. As described more particularly below, embodiments of the repeater system <NUM> reduce self-interference, allowing the repeater system <NUM> to operate as a same-frequency repeater.

For example, <FIG> schematically illustrates not covered by the claims an embodiment of the repeater system <NUM> that uses a feedback cancellation system. As shown in <FIG>, the feedback self-interference is canceled by the repeater <NUM> sensing the frequency response of the feedback channel <NUM> and canceling the self-interference adaptively by generating an appropriate cancelation signal and adding it to the input of the repeater <NUM> (input from the satellite antenna). In some embodiments, the frequency response of the feedback channel is sensed by injecting a pilot signal, produced by a pilot signal generator <NUM>, at the input to the terrestrial antenna <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated, the pilot signal is time multiplexed with the desired signal. However, other embodiments may use other suitable techniques, for example the use of overlaid spread spectrum pilot. In such embodiments, the pilot signal reduces interference or disruption to the desired signal. In some embodiments, techniques that do not require a pilot signal also may be used.

The satellite downlink signal <NUM>, represented in the frequency domain as SR(ω), is received by the satellite antenna <NUM>. In embodiments where the repeater system <NUM> is fixed, it may be advantageous to the repeater to have a highly directive (high gain) antenna directed at the satellite. The gain of the satellite antenna is assumed to be GR. A representative pattern of a directive antenna is shown on the diagram, though other patterns are possible. The fed back self-interference signal, HF(ω). Sout(ω), enters the repeater <NUM> through a sidelobe of the antenna pattern. Here, HF(ω) is the frequency response of the feedback channel <NUM>, including the gains of the transmit and receive antennas along the feedback path(s). The composite input signal, Sin(ω), is given by <MAT>
Where.

An estimated self-interference signal, or cancelation signal, C(ω), is generated by the cancellation signal generator <NUM> is subtracted from Sin(ω) (at summing node <NUM>) to create a substantially interference-free input signal, Sin(ω)'. C(ω) is given by <MAT>
Where
HF(ω)' is the estimate of HF(ω) formed by the feedback channel estimator <NUM>, based on the input signal Sin(ω).

To facilitate accurate estimation of the feedback channel response, a pilot signal, P(ω) may be used, produced by a pilot signal generator <NUM>. In one embodiment, P(ω) may be time multiplexed with the desired signal, Sout(ω), as shown in <FIG>. In order to achieve time multiplexing without causing excessive harmful interference to Sout(ω), time and/or frequency gaps may be introduced into the satellite signal's air interface by design or the satellite air interface may already have embedded pilot signals which may be used for developing the cancellation signal without a locally generated P(ω).

Another embodiment may include addition of P(ω) to Sout (i.e., an overlaid pilot signal), which may reduce or eliminate harmful interference to Sout(ω) if P(ω) is a spread spectrum signal having a low power spectral density relative to the desired signal.

Yet another embodiment may include blind estimation of the feedback channel, which may be used if the fed back signal, HF(ω). Sout(ω), is much larger than the desired signal, SR(ω). This may be the case in practice because the received satellite signal, SR(ω). GR, is likely to be weak compared to the terrestrially rebroadcast repeated downlink signal <NUM>. One example blind estimation approach is to minimize the power of Sin(ω) while adjusting the H(ω)', subject to a constraint that prevents reducing Sin(ω) to zero, which would lead to repeater shutdown and comprise a trivial solution. Power minimization occurs when HF(ω)' is well matched with HF(ω).

The adjustment of C(ω) to match HF(ω) may be performed by adaptively adjusting the complex weights of a transversal filter based on Least Mean Squared Error optimization, Constrained Minimum Power optimization, Decision Feedback based optimization, or combinations of the foregoing.

In some embodiments, the output signal, Sout(ω), is developed by linearly amplifying Sin(ω)' with an amplifier <NUM>. However, this may also amplify and rebroadcast the input noise term, N<NUM>. In some applications, this may acceptable, for example if the aim is to provide a modest amount of increased coverage for the satellite signal without greatly enhancing its received C/N<NUM> relative to clear line-of-sight reception. However, in other embodiments, coverage may be increased substantially by regenerating the received satellite signal. This may be accomplished by demodulating and re-modulating the physical layer data of the satellite air interface.

In another example, <FIG> schematically illustrates covered by the claims an adaptive nulling system for a repeater system <NUM>. If the feedback channel response at the satellite input to the repeater could be sufficiently reduced, the need for cancellation of the feedback (for example, using the system and method of <FIG>) may be reduced or avoided. In some embodiments of the repeater system <NUM>, this principle is exploited using an adaptive antenna array for the satellite receives, with a null of the array pattern adaptively pointed at the terrestrial antenna.

In one example embodiment, a two element array (that is, two satellite antennas <NUM>) is sufficient to steer a single null. In some embodiments, additional antenna elements may improve performance in multipath situations. <FIG> illustrates a repeater system <NUM> with a <NUM>-element receive array for the satellite signals, which are received as Sin_1(ω) and Sin_2(ω). Both of these signals have self-interference signal components, received via the feedback paths <NUM>. The signals Sin_1(ω) and Sin_2(ω) are input to an adaptive null steerer <NUM>. Adaptive null steerers use an adjustable set of weights (for example, filter coefficients) to combine multiple receive antenna sources into a single signal with improved spatial directivity. Adaptive null steering algorithms use numerical optimization to modify or update these weights as the environment varies. Such algorithms use many possible optimization schemes (for example, least mean squares, sample matrix inversion, and recursive least squares). In some embodiments, a pilot signal (for example, as describe above with respect to <FIG>) is used by the adaptive null steerer <NUM> to facilitate the adaptive array processing. Accordingly, using conventional techniques of adaptive antenna processing, the adaptive null steerer <NUM> creates a synthetic antenna array pattern that has a substantially reduced response (e.g., a null) towards the transmitter (e.g., the terrestrial antenna <NUM>). By reducing the response, the self-interference feedback is reduced or effectively eliminated.

The foregoing specification mostly used the Forward path of the repeater (i.e., satellite to terrestrial) for the narrative. The same methods would be applied in the Return path (i.e., terrestrial to satellite). The Return feedback path will be different from the Forward path but repeater will automatically sense the frequency response of the Return path and cancel it in the same way as for the Forward path. The only special requirement in the Return path is greater linearity, as mentioned above.

Claim 1:
A repeater system comprising:
a satellite antenna array (<NUM>);
a terrestrial antenna (<NUM>);
a satellite transceiver (<NUM>) coupled to the satellite antenna array (<NUM>);
a terrestrial transceiver (<NUM>) coupled to the terrestrial antenna (<NUM>);
an adaptive null steerer (<NUM>);
a pilot signal generator (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) communicatively coupled to the pilot signal generator (<NUM>), the adaptive null steerer (<NUM>), the satellite transceiver (<NUM>), and the terrestrial transceiver (<NUM>), and configured to:
receive a pilot signal from the pilot signal generator:
inject the pilot signal to an input of the terrestrial antenna;
receive, via the satellite antenna array (<NUM>), a first downlink signal having a first frequency and a second downlink signal having the first frequency;
receive, via the terrestrial antenna (<NUM>), a plurality of terrestrial return link signals from a plurality of user terminals (<NUM>), the plurality of terrestrial return link signals having a second frequency;
adaptively steer pattern nulls for the satellite antenna array (<NUM>) with the adaptive null steerer (<NUM>) to generate a substantially interference-free input signal based on the first and second downlink signals, wherein the adaptive null steerer uses the pilot signal to facilitate the adaptive array steering to create an antenna array pattern with substantially reduced response towards the terrestrial antenna;
generate a repeated downlink signal based on the substantially interference-free input signal;
multiplex the plurality of terrestrial return link signals into a combined uplink signal;
transmit, via the terrestrial transceiver (<NUM>), the repeated downlink signal at the first frequency; and
transmit, via the satellite transceiver (<NUM>), the combined uplink signal at the second frequency.