Hybrid dual-band satellite communication system

Abstract

A hybrid satellite communication system in which a hub station transmits signals to remote stations through a satellite at a relatively low frequency unaffected by weather effects and in which the remote stations transmit signals to the hub station at a relatively higher frequency which enables use of more economical equipment at remote stations. The hub station senses signal quality or strength received from each remote station and transmits power control signals to remote stations with poor signal strengths to cause such remote stations to increase output power to overcome weather effects. The power control signals are transmitted on the lower frequency to prevent the power control signals from being masked by the weather effects. A communications satellite can the either geostationary or low Earth orbit (LEO). Data can also be transmitted on the relatively low frequency. The communication system can utilize antennae with dish, array and other suitable configurations.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A dual-band satellite communication system comprising:
 a hub station including a hub transmitter operating on a first band frequency, a hub receiver operating on a second band frequency, and a hub server;   a plurality of remote stations each including a remote server having a processor, a remote transmitter operating on said second band frequency, a remote receiver operating on said first band frequency, and a hybrid antenna configured for operating on both said first and second band frequencies;   a communications satellite;   wherein said hub station is adapted to instruct said remote server using said first band frequency to either increase or decrease the output power of said remote transmitter; and modifying the output power level of the remote transmitter using said remote server; and   said first band is utilized for system control functions and said second band is utilized for data transmission.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote stations are configured to receive data in the first band frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first band operates at a frequency below 13.25 GHz. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second band operates at a frequency above 4.8 GHz. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein:
 said hub server is adapted to interface with a public or private network, said first band transmitter, and said second band receiver; 
 said first band transmitter is adapted to receive information from said hub server and is further adapted to transmit that information on said first band frequency to said satellite; 
 said second band receiver is adapted for receiving information from said satellite on said second band frequency; and 
 said hub server is configured to instruct said remote server to either increase or decrease the output power of said remote transmitter. 
 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said antenna dish is an axial feed antenna dish including a feed assembly located along an axis running perpendicular to a front face of the center of said dish. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said antenna dish is an offset clear aperture dish, including a feed assembly located at an angle offset from an axis running perpendicularly to the center of a front face of said antenna dish. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said antenna dish front face has a diameter between 1.5 meters and 4.6 meters. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said communications satellite comprises either a geostationary satellite or a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , which includes an array antenna configured for transmitting and receiving said signals. 
     
     
         11 . A method of satellite-based communication, comprising the steps:
 providing a geostationary or low Earth orbit (LEO) communications satellite;   providing a hub station including a hub transmitter operating on a first band frequency, a hub receiver operating on a second band frequency, and a hub server;   providing a remote station including a remote server having a processor, a remote transmitter operating on said second band frequency, a remote receiver operating on said first band frequency, and a hybrid antenna including an antenna dish or and antenna array, said hybrid antenna operating on both of said first and second band frequencies;   transmitting information on said first band frequency from said hub station to said satellite using said hub transmitter, and further transmitting that information from said geostationary satellite to said remote station hybrid antenna;   receiving information on said second band frequency from said geostationary satellite at said hub station using said hub receiver;   monitoring the output power of the remote transmitter with said hub server;   providing instructions from said hub server to said remote server using said first band frequency;   modifying the output power level of the remote transmitter using said remove server; and   said first band is utilized for system control functions and said second band is utilized for data transmission.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said remote stations are configured to receive data in the first band frequency. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first band operates at a frequency below 13.25 GHz. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said second band operates at a frequency above 4.8 GHz. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising a public or private network, wherein:
 said hub server is adapted to interface with any type of network being either public or private, said first band transmitter, and said second band receiver; 
 said first band transmitter is adapted to receive information from said hub server and is further adapted to transmit that information on said first band frequency to said satellite; and 
 said second band receiver is adapted for receiving information from said satellite on said second band frequency. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said hub server is configured to instruct said remote server to either increase or decrease the output power of said remote transmitter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said antenna dish is an axial feed antenna dish including a feed assembly located along an axis running perpendicular to a front face of the center of said dish. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said antenna dish is an offset clear aperture dish, including a feed assembly located at an angle offset from an axis running perpendicular to the center of a front face of said antenna dish. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said antenna dish front face has a diameter between 1.5 meters and 4.6 meters. 
     
     
         20 . A dual-band satellite communication system comprising:
 a hub station including a hub transmitter operating on a first band frequency, a hub receiver operating on a second band frequency, and a hub server;   a plurality of remote stations each including a remote server having a processor, a remote transmitter operating on said second band frequency, a remote receiver operating on said first band frequency, and a hybrid antenna including an antenna dish, said antenna operating on both of said first and second band frequencies;   a communications satellite;   wherein said hub station is adapted to instruct said remote server using said first band frequency to either increase or decrease the output power of said remote transmitter; and modifying the output power level of the remote transmitter using said remote server;   said first band is utilized for system control functions and said second band is utilized for data transmission;   said remote stations are configured to receive data in the first band frequency;   said first band operates at a frequency below 13.25 GHz;   said second band operates at a frequency above 4.8 GHz;   said system comprising a public or private network, wherein:   said hub server is adapted to interface with any type of network being either public or private, said first band transmitter, and said second band receiver;   said first band transmitter is adapted to receive information from said hub server and is further adapted to transmit that information on said first band frequency to said satellite;   said second band receiver is adapted for receiving information from said satellite on said second band frequency;   said hub server is configured to instruct said remote server to either increase or decrease the output power of said remote transmitter;   said antenna dish is an axial feed antenna dish including a feed assembly located along an axis running perpendicular to a front face of the center of said dish;   said antenna dish is an offset clear aperture dish, including a feed assembly located at an angle offset from an axis running perpendicular to the center of a front face of said antenna dish; and   said antenna dish front face has a diameter between 1.5 meters and 4.6 meters.