Transparent mesh overlay in hub-spoke satellite networks

摘要

In a satellite-based communication network comprised of a central hub and plurality of remote terminals configured to transmit data to and receive data from the central hub in accordance with EN 301 790 (DVB-RCS), and where one or more of these remote terminals may be configured to include an additional receiver module configured to receive MF-TDMA transmission of other remote terminals, a mesh receiver and methods for coupling the mesh receiver with the host remote terminal. In addition, described herein are methods for synchronizing the mesh receiver on the network's timing and frequency and for utilizing the available link power for achieving efficient connectivity.

主权项

1. A terminal in a satellite communication system comprised of a central hub and a plurality of terminals, the terminal comprising:
at least one Ethernet interface; a mesh receiver configured to receive multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA) transmissions from other terminals in the satellite communication system; a time division multiplexing (TDM) receiver configured to receive transmissions from the central hub, said TDM receiver comprising a tuner, a demodulator and a demultiplexer; at least one processor coupled to volatile or non-volatile memory devices; and synchronization circuits, wherein the terminal is configured to:
couple a reference clock input of the mesh receiver with a reconstructed reference clock (PCR) generated by the synchronization circuits;couple a frame synchronization input of the mesh receiver with a frame synchronization signal generated by the synchronization circuits;couple a transport stream input of the mesh receiver with a transport stream output of the TDM receiver's demodulator;couple an external reference signal input of the mesh receiver with a reference signal of the TDM receiver's tuner; andcouple an Ethernet interface of the mesh receiver with an Ethernet interface of the terminal.