Downstream Channel Bonding

Abstract

A satellite system for broadband communication with a plurality of remote locations is described. The satellite system comprises service spot beams from a satellite. Forward channels may be transported on carriers of the service spot beams. A plurality of forward sub-channels may be passed on the forward channels. A plurality of logical downstreams may correspond one-to-one with the plurality of forward sub-channels. The satellite system may further include a satellite modem with a channel bonding unit that combines a plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group and processes the downstream group to provide information to customer premises equipment.

1 . A satellite system for communication with a plurality of remote locations, the satellite system comprising:
 a satellite configured to transmit a service spot beam including a forward channel transported on a carrier of the service spot beam, a plurality of forward sub-channels passing on the forward channel, and a plurality of logical downstreams corresponding one-to-one with the plurality of forward sub-channels; and   a satellite modem configured to receive the forward channel, the satellite modem comprising a processor configured to combine a portion of the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group, to process the downstream group, and to provide information to customer premises equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to combine the portion of the plurality of logical downstreams before a Medium Access Control (MAC) block. 
     
     
         3 . The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to combine the portion of the plurality of logical downstreams within a Medium Access Control (MAC) block. 
     
     
         4 . The satellite system for communication with the plurality of remote locations according to  claim 1 , wherein three or more logical downstreams are combined to form the downstream group. 
     
     
         5 . A method for satellite communication with a plurality of remote locations, the method comprising:
 transmitting a forward channel on a carrier of a satellite service spot beam;   passing a plurality of forward sub-channels on the forward channel;   associating a plurality of logical downstreams one-to-one with the plurality of forward sub-channels;   receiving, at a satellite modem, the forward channel;   processing the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group, processing the downstream group in the satellite modem to determine information, and providing the information to customer premises equipment.   
     
     
         6 . The method for satellite communication with the plurality of remote locations as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising controlling the plurality of logical downstreams of the downstream group with a single domain. 
     
     
         7 . A method performed at a satellite modem, the method comprising:
 receiving from a satellite a forward channel comprising a plurality of forward sub-channels, each forward sub-channel corresponding to a logical downstream;   combining a plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group; and   processing the downstream group to determine information and providing the information to customer premises equipment.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising controlling the downstream group with a single domain. 
     
     
         9 . A satellite modem comprising:
 an input configured to receive a plurality of logical downstreams from a satellite, each logical downstream corresponding to a forward sub-channel;   a first processor communicatively coupled to the input and configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group; and   a second processor communicatively coupled to the first processor and configured to process the downstream group to determine information and to provide the information to customer premises equipment.   
     
     
         10 . The satellite modem of  claim 9  wherein the first processor is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams before a Medium Access Control (MAC) block. 
     
     
         11 . The satellite modem of  claim 9  wherein the first processor is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams within a Medium Access Control (MAC) block. 
     
     
         12 . The satellite modem of  claim 9  wherein the first processor is configured to combine three or more logical downstreams to form the downstream group. 
     
     
         13 . A satellite modem comprising:
 input means for receiving a plurality of logical downstreams from a satellite, each logical downstream corresponding to a forward sub-channel;   combining means, communicatively coupled to the input means, for combining the plurality of logical downstreams into a downstream group; and   processing means, communicatively coupled to the combining means, for processing the downstream group to determine information and to provide the information to customer premises equipment.   
     
     
         14 . The satellite modem of  claim 13  wherein the combining means is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams before a Medium Access Control (MAC) block. 
     
     
         15 . The satellite modem of  claim 13  wherein the combining means is configured to combine the plurality of logical downstreams within a Medium Access Control (MAC) block. 
     
     
         16 . The satellite modem of  claim 13  wherein the combining means is configured to combine three or more logical downstreams to form the downstream group.