Patent ID: 8351471

Claim:
A method of transmitting a useful signal via a satellite in a predetermined transmission band, the method comprising: generating, by a first connection station, a pilot signal on a service carrier frequency and transmitting the pilot signal to a second connection station; performing transmission of the useful signal to the satellite by either the first connection station or the second connection station; and maintaining, using the pilot signal, phase synchronization and temporal synchronization of the useful signal transmitted by the first connection station and the useful signal transmitted by the second connection station, wherein the first connection station generates the useful signal by modulation of a carrier frequency on the basis of an input signal, and a transmission carrier frequency, the method further comprising the steps: distributing the transmission carrier frequency to the first connection station and the second connection station; transmitting the useful signal and the pilot signal having a first phase by a transmitter of first connection station; transmitting the pilot signal having a second phase by a transmitter of the second connection station, the second phase being the first phase shifted by 180°; observing the level of at least one of the pilot signal and the useful signal from the transmitter of the first connection station to detect poor transmission conditions; transmitting the useful signal by the transmitter of the second connection station to be in phase with the useful signal from the transmitter of the first connection station; and ceasing the transmission of the useful signal from the transmitter of the first connection station.