FIELD OF INVENTION

[001] This invention relates to hybrid satellite/terrestrial and integrated satellite communication networks, and more particularly to broadcasts using satellite communication networks.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[002] Traditional CGC or ATC (Complimentary Ground Component or Alternate Terrestrial Component) systems in hybrid satellite/terrestrial and integrated satellite communication networks have been designed to accommodate symmetrically paired uplink and downlink channel bandwidth. For this purpose, a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system is used on the satellite and the terrestrial segments.

[003] However, using FDD on the terrestrial segments may lead to an increase in the unintended signals in earth to space channel, which could present undesired energy at the input end of the satellite segment, thereby raising the noise floor. This results in a reduction in the satellite system link margin.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

[004] The principal object of this invention is to achieve a transceiver system in a hybrid satellite/terrestrial network capable of using a baseband technology common to both Time Division Duplex (TDD) and FDD services/modes.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

[005] Accordingly the invention provides a method for enabling a User Equipment (UE) to communicate in a communication network, wherein said communication network is at least one of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network or an integrated satellite network, the method comprising of generating an uplink packet stream; applying a frequency offset to the uplink packet stream; and transmitting the frequency offset uplink packet stream during a window allocated for the UE to transmit to a satellite present in the satellite communication network. The UE receives signals from the satellite using a time interrupted mode.

[006] Also, disclosed herein is a communication network, wherein said communication network is at least one of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network or an integrated satellite network communication network, the communication network comprising of a User Equipment (UE) configured for generating an uplink packet stream; the UE configured for applying a frequency offset to the uplink packet stream; and the UE configured for transmitting the frequency offset uplink packet stream during a window allocated for the UE to transmit to a satellite present in the satellite communication network. The UE is configured to receive signals from the satellite using a time interrupted mode.

[007] Embodiments herein also disclose a User Equipment (UE) in a communication network, wherein said communication network is at least one of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network or an integrated satellite network, the UE comprising at least one means configured for generating an uplink packet stream; applying a frequency offset to the uplink packet stream; and transmitting the frequency offset uplink packet stream during a window allocated for the UE to transmit to a satellite present in the hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network.

[008] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[009] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a hybrid satellite/terrestrial network communication, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;

[0011] FIG. 2 depicts a User Equipment, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and

[0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting the process, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0013] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0014] The embodiments herein achieve a transceiver system in a hybrid satellite/terrestrial network capable of using a baseband technology common to both TDD and FDD services/modes. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.

[0015] Embodiments herein use FDD and TDD technology in a hybrid satellite/terrestrial system. A pseudo TDD satellite downlink channel is combined with an FDD satellite uplink. The system contains a user device capable of offsetting its uplink frequency and thereby operating in a pseudo FDD mode.

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a hybrid satellite/terrestrial network communication, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The satellite network system, as depicted, comprises of at least one terrestrial station 102, at least one User Equipment (UE) 101 and at least one satellite 103 and one hub station 104. The UE 101 is connected to the satellite 103 may be connected to the terrestrial station using a wireless terrestrial network as a second link. The links use a combination of Frequency Division Duplex (TDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). The satellite downlink is time interrupted, and offers only a percentage of the total time for downlink transmission. This makes the satellite downlink appear like a TDD based link. The downlink is not used for the remaining time; leading to a decrease of the total bandwidth carried on the downlink channel. FDD is used on the UE to satellite uplink.

[0017] The hub station 104 transmits the signals to the satellite 103 in TDD mode which in turn are transmitted to the UE in the downlink in TDD mode. The uplink signals to the satellite 103 from the UE 101 are re¬transmitted back to the hub station 104 in FDD mode. The transmissions between the hub station 104 and the satellite 103 operate in FSS bands while the transmissions between the UE 101 and satellite 103 operate in the mobile satellite service (MSS) or broadcast satellite service (BSS) band or any other frequency band allocated for such services.

[0018] The UE 101 is tuned to the satellite downlink and receives the transmissions from the satellite 103, a portion of which may be broadcast packets. When the UE 101 wants to transmit packets to the satellite 103, the UE 101 generates an uplink packet stream. The UE 101 transmits this stream with a frequency offset, making it appear to the satellite to be an FDD signal. The UE 101 transmits the uplink signal only during the TDD window allocated for uplink transmission.

[0019] Terrestrial station 102 receives the same down link signal from satellite 103 as UE 102. The signal transmitted by the terrestrial station 102 to the UE 101 using the wireless terrestrial network is identical to that of the satellite. If the content being transmitted contains broadcast packets, then the terrestrial transmitters are time synchronized to the satellite signal (including the propagation time) so that the terrestrial network appears to be a Single Frequency network comprised of both satellite and terrestrial signals.

[0020] In a different embodiment, the terrestrial station may link down link signal from a different satellite network in fixed satellite service (FSS) bands or from wired terrestrial network.

[0021] Any UE 101 within range of a terrestrial station 102 will communicate to that terrestrial station using true TDD (no frequency shift. Transmit and receive both exist on the same channel/frequency) during the time set aside for uplink communication in the satellite's downlink transmission across the terrestrial network. This assures that no interference will be generated to the downlink from either the satellite or terrestrial signals, since there is no overlap of transmission time between the uplink and downlink.

[0022] If the UE 101 has significant data to transmit or receive, and it is within range of a terrestrial station 102, the terrestrial station 102 may also contain additional channels not available on the satellite (but using the same technology as the satellite) that are dedicated to high bandwidth services in order to offload the channel in common with the satellite and release that capacity for users who do not have access to the high bandwidth complimentary terrestrial portion of the service.

[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a User Equipment, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The UE 101, as depicted comprises of a controller 201, an offset module 202, a receiver 203 and a transmitter 204.

[0024] The UE 101 is tuned to the satellite downlink by the controller 201 and receives the transmissions from the satellite 103 via the receiver 203, a portion of which may be broadcast packets. When the UE 101 wants to transmit packets to the satellite 103, the controller 201 generates an uplink packet stream. The offset module 202 applies an offset to the packet stream, making it appear to the satellite to be an FDD signal. The transmitter 204 transmits the uplink signal only during the TDD window allocated for uplink transmission.

[0025] If the controller 201 detects that the UE 101 is within range of a terrestrial station 102, the transmitter 204 will communicate to that terrestrial station using true TDD (no frequency shift. Transmit and receive both exist on the same frequency/channel) during the time set aside for uplink communication in the satellite's downlink transmission across the terrestrial network.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting the process, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. When the UE 101 wants to transmit packets to the satellite 103, the UE 101 generates (301) an uplink packet stream. The UE 101 applies (302) a frequency offset to the stream. This frequency offset makes it appear to the satellite to be an FDD signal. The UE 101 transmits (303) the stream only during the TOD window allocated for uplink transmission. The various actions in method 300 may be performed in the order presented, in a different order or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some actions listed in FIG. 3 may be omitted.

[0027] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented through at least one software program running on at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the network elements. The network elements shown in Fig. 2 include blocks which can be at least one of a hardware device, or a combination of hardware device and software module.

[0028] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

WE CLA1MS:-

1. A method for enabling a User Equipment (UE) to communicate in a communication network, wherein said communication network is at least one of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network or an integrated satellite network, said method comprising of

Generating an uplink packet stream;

Applying a frequency offset to said uplink packet stream; and

Transmitting said frequency offset uplink packet stream during a
window allocated for said UE to transmit to a satellite present in said communication network.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said UE receives transmissions from said satellite in a time interrupted mode.

3. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein transmission from terrestrial stations present in said communication network are time synchronized with signal from said satellite.

4. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said terrestrial stations communicate with said UE in Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode.

5. A communication network, wherein said communication network is at least one of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network or an integrated satellite network, said communication network comprising of

A User Equipment (UE) configured for generating an uplink packet stream;

Said UE configured for applying a frequency offset to said uplink packet stream; and

Said UE configured for transmitting said frequency offset uplink packet stream during a window allocated for said UE to transmit to a satellite present in said communication network.

6. The communication network, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said UE is configured for receiving transmissions from said satellite in a time interrupted mode.

7. The communication network, as claimed in claim 5, wherein terrestrial stations are configured for transmitting signals, where said signals are time synchronized with signal from said satellite.

8. The communication network, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said terrestrial stations are configured for communicating with said UE using Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode.

9. A User Equipment (UE) in a communication network, wherein said communication network is at least one of a hybrid satellite/terrestrial communication network or an integrated satellite network, said UE comprising at least one means configured for

Generating an uplink packet stream;

Applying a frequency offset to said uplink packet stream; and

Transmitting said frequency offset uplink packet stream during a window allocated for said UE to transmit to a satellite present in said communication network.