Overlay of a forward link on broadband satellite signals

Abstract

Various arrangements for a satellite-based forward link overlay are presented herein. In some embodiments, broadband data is modulated at a particular frequency, phase, and/or timing to create a broadband data signal. The frequency, phase, and/or timing are used to modulate a low-bandwidth data signal. The low-bandwidth data signal can then be combined with the broadband data signal and transmitted via satellite to a geographic region. A low-bandwidth receiver unit may determine the frequency, phase, and/or timing from the embedded broadband signal and use such information to demodulate and despread the low-bandwidth data signal.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A satellite-based forward link overlay system, comprising:
 a satellite antenna; and   a satellite terminal, configured to be connected with the satellite antenna, configured to:
 receive a combined forward link signal from the satellite antenna, wherein the combined forward link signal comprises an overlay signal and a broadband data signal; 
 analyze the combined forward link signal to determine a frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal of the combined forward link signal; 
 perform despreading and demodulation of the overlay signal using the determined frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal to obtain overlay data; and 
 output the obtained overlay data. 
   
     
     
         3 . The satellite-based forward link overlay system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a satellite configured to receive the combined forward link signal and retransmit the combined forward link signal to a geographic region where the satellite antenna and the satellite terminal are located.   
     
     
         4 . The satellite-based forward link overlay system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a broadband satellite terminal, distinct from the satellite terminal, that is configured to receive the broadband data signal such that the overlay signal is demodulated separate from the broadband satellite terminal, wherein the broadband satellite terminal provides Internet access.   
     
     
         5 . The satellite-based forward link overlay system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a broadband antenna configured to be connected with the broadband satellite terminal, wherein the broadband antenna has a gain of greater than 10 dB and is physically larger than the satellite antenna.   
     
     
         6 . The satellite-based forward link overlay system of  claim 2 , wherein the satellite terminal further comprises a broadband recovery system, configured to:
 demodulate the broadband data signal of the combined forward link signal to obtain broadband data; and   output the obtained broadband data.   
     
     
         7 . The satellite-based forward link overlay system of  claim 6 , wherein the satellite terminal further comprises a broadband data output interface that outputs the obtained broadband data to a separate component. 
     
     
         8 . The satellite-based forward link overlay system of  claim 2 , wherein the satellite terminal further comprises an overlay data output interface that outputs the obtained overlay data to a separate component. 
     
     
         9 . The satellite-based forward link overlay system of  claim 2 , further comprising an Internet of Things (IoT) device with which the satellite terminal communicates, wherein the overlay data comprises IoT data. 
     
     
         10 . A satellite terminal system, comprising:
 a broadband feature recovery system, configured to:
 receive a combined forward link signal from a satellite antenna, wherein the combined forward link signal comprises an overlay signal and a broadband data signal; 
 analyze the combined forward link signal to determine a frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal of the combined forward link signal; and 
 output the determined frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal; and 
   an overlay recovery system, configured to:
 receive the determined frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal from the broadband feature recovery system; 
 perform despreading and demodulation of the overlay signal from the combined forward link signal using the determined frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal to obtain overlay data; and 
 output the obtained overlay data. 
   
     
     
         11 . The satellite terminal system of  claim 10 , further comprising a broadband recovery system, configured to:
 demodulate the broadband data signal of the combined forward link signal to obtain broadband data; and   output the obtained broadband data.   
     
     
         12 . The satellite terminal system of  claim 11 , further comprising a broadband data output interface that outputs the obtained broadband data to a separate component. 
     
     
         13 . The satellite terminal system of  claim 10 , further comprising an overlay data output interface that outputs the obtained overlay data to a separate component. 
     
     
         14 . The satellite terminal system of  claim 10 , wherein the overlay signal is less than 5% of a power of the broadband data signal within the combined forward link signal. 
     
     
         15 . The satellite terminal system of  claim 10 , wherein a spreading factor of a modulation of the overlay signal is at least one hundred. 
     
     
         16 . The satellite terminal system of  claim 10 , further comprising a low-bandwidth antenna having an antenna gain of less than 0 dB. 
     
     
         17 . The satellite terminal system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the satellite terminal system does not demodulate or decode the broadband data signal; and   the broadband data signal is demodulated and decoded external to the satellite terminal system.   
     
     
         18 . A method for obtaining data from a combined forward link signal by a satellite terminal, the method comprising:
 receiving the combined forward link signal from a satellite antenna, wherein the combined forward link signal comprises an overlay signal and a broadband data signal;   analyzing the combined forward link signal to determine a frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal of the combined forward link signal; and   performing despreading and demodulation of the overlay signal using the determined frequency, phase, and timing of the broadband data signal to obtain overlay data; and   outputting the obtained overlay data.   
     
     
         19 . The method for obtaining data from the combined forward link signal of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving, by a satellite, the combined forward link signal; and   retransmitting, by the satellite, the combined forward link signal to a geographic region.   
     
     
         20 . The method for obtaining data from the combined forward link signal of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 demodulating the broadband data signal; and   providing Internet access to one or more computerized devices using the demodulated broadband data signal.   
     
     
         21 . The method for obtaining data from the combined forward link signal of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the satellite terminal does not demodulate or decode the broadband data signal; and   the broadband data signal is demodulated or decoded external to the satellite terminal.