INTERFERENCE SUPPRESSION IN SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM USING ONBOARD BEAMFORMING AND GROUND-BASED PROCESSING

摘要

A satellite is configured to communicate with a ground base station to provide coverage for communications in a first geographic region, and to suppress from the communications, interference from a second geographic region. The satellite includes: an onboard beam former (OBBF), feed array, and feeder-link antenna. The OBBF is configured to produce first and second spot beams for respective ones of the first and second geographic regions. The feed array is configured to receive first and second signals in respective ones of the first and second spot beams for respective geographic regions. At least portions of the first and second signals carry respective ones of the communications and the interference. The feeder-link antenna, then, is configured to transmit the first signals and second signals to the ground base station which is configured to suppress any of the interference from at least the portion of the first signals carrying the communications.