US 12,457,032 B2
Ground network for end-to-end beamforming
Kenneth V. Buer, Gilbert, AZ (US); Mark J. Miller, San Marcos, CA (US); and Christopher J. Cronin, Monrovia, MD (US)
Assigned to Viasat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/850,038.
Application 16/791,610 is a division of application No. 16/219,196, filed on Dec. 13, 2018, granted, now 10,623,088, issued on Apr. 14, 2020.
Application 16/219,196 is a division of application No. 15/715,497, filed on Sep. 26, 2017, granted, now 10,200,114, issued on Feb. 5, 2019.
Application 17/850,038 is a continuation of application No. 16/791,610, filed on Feb. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,418,254.
Application 15/715,497 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/013518, filed on Jan. 13, 2017.
Application PCT/US2017/013518 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2016/026815, filed on Apr. 8, 2016.
Application 15/715,497 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2016/026815, filed on Apr. 8, 2016.
Application 15/715,497 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2016/026813, filed on Apr. 8, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/431,416, filed on Dec. 7, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/314,921, filed on Mar. 29, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/312,342, filed on Mar. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/298,911, filed on Feb. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/278,368, filed on Jan. 13, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/164,456, filed on May 20, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/145,810, filed on Apr. 10, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/145,804, filed on Apr. 10, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0385355 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H01Q 1/06 (2006.01); H01Q 1/28 (2006.01); H01Q 3/24 (2006.01); H01Q 3/40 (2006.01); H01Q 5/50 (2015.01); H01Q 19/13 (2006.01); H01Q 21/00 (2006.01); H01Q 21/24 (2006.01); H01Q 25/00 (2006.01); H04B 7/024 (2017.01); H04B 7/0413 (2017.01); H04B 7/06 (2006.01); H04B 7/204 (2006.01); H04B 10/118 (2013.01); H04W 4/00 (2018.01); H04W 16/28 (2009.01); H04W 40/20 (2009.01); H04W 76/10 (2018.01); H04W 84/06 (2009.01); H01Q 1/24 (2006.01); H04W 16/26 (2009.01)
CPC H04B 7/18513 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/06 (2013.01); H01Q 1/288 (2013.01); H01Q 3/247 (2013.01); H01Q 3/40 (2013.01); H01Q 5/50 (2015.01); H01Q 19/132 (2013.01); H01Q 21/0025 (2013.01); H01Q 21/24 (2013.01); H01Q 25/001 (2013.01); H04B 7/024 (2013.01); H04B 7/0413 (2013.01); H04B 7/0617 (2013.01); H04B 7/18508 (2013.01); H04B 7/18515 (2013.01); H04B 7/18517 (2013.01); H04B 7/18534 (2013.01); H04B 7/1858 (2013.01); H04B 7/18586 (2013.01); H04B 7/18589 (2013.01); H04B 7/204 (2013.01); H04B 7/2041 (2013.01); H04B 10/118 (2013.01); H04W 4/00 (2013.01); H04W 16/28 (2013.01); H04W 40/20 (2013.01); H04W 76/10 (2018.02); H04W 84/06 (2013.01); H01Q 1/247 (2013.01); H04W 16/26 (2013.01)] 37 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ground network for providing a communication service to user terminals distributed over a user coverage area via an end-to-end relay comprising multiple forward receive/transmit signal paths, comprising:
means for generating, based on multiple forward beam signals comprising forward user data streams for transmission to a plurality of the user terminals grouped by multiple forward user beam coverage areas, respective access node-specific forward signals for transmission from multiple geographically distributed locations to the user terminals via the end-to-end relay, each of the respective access node-specific forward signals comprising a composite of respective forward beam signals weighted by respective forward beamforming weights of a forward beam weight matrix for end-to-end beamforming of transmissions from the multiple geographically distributed locations to the multiple forward user beam coverage areas via the end-to-end relay; and
means for transmitting respective forward uplink signals from the multiple geographically distributed locations based on the respective access node-specific forward signals, wherein the respective forward uplink signals are pre-corrected to compensate for respective path delays and phase shifts between the multiple geographically distributed locations and the end-to-end relay.