초록 ▼

An adaptive transmitter power control for use in satellite communications systems. The power control provides real-time adjustment of satellite transponder power on the basis of received signal quality so as to overcome the effects of rapid onset signal attenuation occurring within the system, such

An adaptive transmitter power control for use in satellite communications systems. The power control provides real-time adjustment of satellite transponder power on the basis of received signal quality so as to overcome the effects of rapid onset signal attenuation occurring within the system, such as would be caused by a rainstorm. The communication system includes at least two ground stations communicating with one another via a satellite transponder whose power output is functionally dependent upon received signal strength. The level of transmitter power utilized by the satellite is adjusted by adjusting the power level of the signal transmitted to the satellite by at least one of the ground stations. At least another of the ground stations includes a quality monitor which responds to soft decisions generated by the ground station in demodulating the signal received from the power controlled ground station via the satellite repeater. The quality monitor makes a real-time determination of the quality of the received signal on the basis of the magnitude of these soft decisions. Transmitter power adjustment commands are generated in accordance with this determination. In systems wherein the primary data communicated between the stations is encoded in an error-correcting code, the power adjustment commands are communicated to the power controlled ground station by intentionally inserting errors in the error-correcting coded data.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for providing real time adaptive power control in communication systems wherein a first station communicates an information bearing signal at a selected power level to a second station via a power limited repeater, said repeater having a power output which is functionally related to power

Apparatus for providing real time adaptive power control in communication systems wherein a first station communicates an information bearing signal at a selected power level to a second station via a power limited repeater, said repeater having a power output which is functionally related to power input, along transmission paths which are subject to rapid onset signal attenuation, comprising quality monitor means for determining the short term quality of the information bearing signal as received by said second station from said repeater and for providing an indication which varies substantially in real time with said determined quality of said signal, and means at said first station for adjusting said selected power level in accordance with said real time indication so as to maintain said signal quality above a preselected threshold regardless of said rapid outset signal attenuation.