Partial mesh communication in hub based system

Abstract

A partial mesh link channel is established within a satellite communication system by allocating return link channel resources to the partial mesh link channel.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A user terminal of a satellite communication system wherein a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) channel is defined for use in return link communication to a hub station, the user terminal comprising:
 a forward link receiver configured to:
 receive a first communication signal transmitted from the hub station over a forward link comprising a first allotment of one or more time slots of an uplink portion for the return link for transmitting bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel; and 
 receive a second communication signal transmitted from the hub station over a forward link comprising a second allotment of one or more time slots from a downlink portion of the return link to listen for bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel; 
   a partial mesh link receiver configured to receive burst transmissions transmitted from other user terminals over the partial mesh link according to the second allotment; and   a transmitter subsystem configured to transmit a third communication signal to an other user terminal according to the first allotment over the partial mesh link or to the hub station over a return link.   
   
   
       22 . The user terminal of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a terminal burst timing plan processor, communicatively coupled with the forward link receiver, and configured to receive the first and second communication signals and identify one or more specific time intervals for the partial mesh link receiver to receive bursts or for the transmitter subsystem to transmit the third communication signal.   
   
   
       23 . The user terminal of  claim 22 , wherein the terminal burst timing plan processor processes the first communication signal to identify a carrier frequency and transmit power for the transmitter subsystem. 
   
   
       24 . The user terminal of  claim 21 , wherein,
 the transmitter subsystem is further configured to transmit signal quality data related to the partial mesh link to the hub station over the return link; and   the forward link receiver is further configured to receive partial mesh link control data over the forward link from the hub station.   
   
   
       25 . The user terminal of  claim 21 , wherein,
 the signal quality data comprises signal-to-noise ratio data; and   the control data comprises modulation type and code rates for the partial mesh link.   
   
   
       26 . The user terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the transmitter subsystem is further configured to transmit source and destination information for the partial mesh link to the hub station. 
   
   
       27 . The user terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the transmitter subsystem is further configured to transmit return link synchronization information to the hub station. 
   
   
       28 . The user terminal of  claim 21 , wherein the forward link receiver is further configured to obtain network synchronization data from the hub station, wherein network synchronization in maintained at the user terminal using the received network synchronization data. 
   
   
       29 . The user terminal of  claim 21 , wherein,
 the transmitter subsystem is configured to transmit a power level and frequency offset measured by the user terminal for a partial link transmission from a second user terminal; and   the forward link receiver is further configured to receive a control message setting a power level and frequency offset for partial mesh link transmissions, the control message received from the hub station based at least in part on a measured power level and frequency offset at the second user terminal.   
   
   
       30 . A method of communication for a user terminal in a satellite communication system wherein a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) channel is defined for use during return link communication to a hub station, the method comprising:
 receiving a first communication signal comprising a first allotment of one or more time slots of an uplink portion for the return link for transmitting bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel;   receiving a second communication signal comprising a second allotment of one or more time slots from a downlink portion of the return link to listen for bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel;   receiving a burst transmission from other user terminals over the partial mesh link according to the second allotment; and   transmitting a third communication signal to the hub station over a return link or to an other user terminal according to the first allotment over the partial mesh link.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 identifying, based on the first and second communication signals, one or more specific time intervals to receive partial mesh bursts or to transmit the third communication signal.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 transmitting signal quality data for the partial mesh link over the return link; and   receiving partial mesh link control data in response to the transmitted signal quality data.   
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein,
 the signal quality data comprises signal-to-noise ratio data transmitted to the hub station; and   the control data comprises modulation type and code rates for the partial mesh link received from the hub station.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 transmitting return link synchronization information to the hub station; and   receiving network synchronization data from the hub station, wherein network synchronization in maintained using the received network synchronization data.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 measuring a power level and frequency offset for a partial link transmission from a second user terminal; and   transmitting the measured power level and frequency offset to the hub station for processing to adjust the power level and frequency offset at the second user terminal.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 receiving a control message setting a power level and frequency offset for partial mesh link transmissions, the control message received from the hub station based at least in part on the measured power level and frequency offset at a second user terminal.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein,
 the first and second communication signal are transmitted from the hub station over a forward link.   
   
   
       38 . A hub station in a satellite communication system, the hub station comprising:
 a demodulator configured to receive and demodulate return link communication signals transmitted via a defined Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) channel from a plurality of user terminals;   a scheduler configured to:
 allocate a first set of one or more time slots of an uplink portion for the return link to a selected first one of the plurality of user terminals for transmitting bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel; and 
 allocate a second set of one or more time slots from a downlink portion of the return link to a selected second one of the plurality of user terminals to listen for bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel; and 
   a modulator configured to:
 transmit data identifying the first set of allocated time slots to the selected first user terminal; and 
 transmit data identifying the second set of allocated time slots to the selected second user terminal. 
   
   
   
       39 . The hub station of  claim 38 , wherein,
 the demodulator is further configured to receive signal quality data related to a partial mesh link from the first user terminal over the return link; and   the modulator is further configured to transmit partial mesh link control data over the forward link in response to the signal quality data.   
   
   
       40 . The hub station of  claim 39 , wherein,
 the signal quality data comprises signal-to-noise ratio data; and   the control data comprises modulation type and code rates for the partial mesh link.   
   
   
       41 . The hub station of  claim 38 , wherein,
 the demodulator is further configured to receive return link synchronization information from the first user terminal, wherein network synchronization in maintained based at least in part on the received network synchronization information.   
   
   
       42 . The hub station of  claim 41 , wherein the modulator is further configured to transmit network synchronization data from the hub station. 
   
   
       43 . The hub station of  claim 38 , wherein,
 the demodulator is further configured to receive a power level and frequency offset measured by the first user terminal for a partial link transmission from a second user terminal; and   the modulator is further configured to transmit a control message setting a power level and frequency offset for partial mesh link transmissions at the second user terminal, the control message based at least in part on the measured power level and frequency offset at the first user terminal.   
   
   
       44 . A method of communication in a satellite communication system, the method comprising:
 identifying a defined Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) channel for return link communication from a plurality of user terminals to a hub station;   allocating a first set of one or more time slots of an uplink portion of the return link to a selected first one of the plurality of user terminals for transmitting bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel; and   allocating a second set of one or more time slots from a downlink portion of the return link to a selected second one of the plurality of user terminals to listen for bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel.   
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 transmitting data identifying the first set of allocated time slots to the selected first user terminal; and   transmitting data identifying the second set of allocated time slots to the selected second user terminal.   
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 receiving signal quality data measured by the first user terminal for a partial link transmission from a second user terminal; and   transmitting partial mesh link control data over the forward link to the second user terminal in response to the signal quality data.   
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 receiving return link synchronization information from the first user terminal; and   maintaining network synchronization based at least in part on the received network synchronization data.   
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 receiving a power level and frequency offset measurement for a partial link transmission between the selected first user terminal and the selected second user terminal; and   transmitting a control message setting a power level and frequency offset for the partial mesh link transmission based at least in part on the measured power level and frequency offset.   
   
   
       49 . A method of controlling aspects of a satellite communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a return link communication over a defined Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) channel, a power level and frequency offset measured by a first user terminal for a partial link transmission from a second user terminal; and   transmitting a control message setting a power level and frequency offset for the second user terminal for partial mesh link transmissions, the control message based at least in part on the measured power level and frequency offset,   wherein communications over the partial mesh link are scheduled according to the TDMA channel defined for the return link.   
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 allocating a first set of one or more time slots of an uplink portion of the return link to a selected first one of the plurality of user terminals for transmitting bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel; and   allocating a second set of one or more time slots from a downlink portion of the return link to a selected second one of the plurality of user terminals to listen for bursts of partial mesh link communications within the defined TDMA channel.