Method for shifting communications of a terminal located on a moving platform from a first to a second satellite antenna beam
AssigneeOverhorizon AB
InventorsKennet Lejnell, James H. Gerow, Pal Ekberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for shifting communications of a terminal located on a moving platform from a first satellite beam to a second satellite beam comprises determining a time for initiation of a beam shift from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam; executing a first beam shift from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam; and executing a second beam shift from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam, wherein the first and second beam shifts are performed using a switch matrix.
Claims16
A method for shifting communications of a terminal located on a moving platform from a first satellite beam to a second satellite beam, the method comprising:
- a. determining a time for initiation of a beam shift from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam;
- b. executing a first beam shift from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam;
- and
- c. executing a second beam shift from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam,
- wherein the first beam shift is an uplink beam shift and the second beam shift is a downlink beam shift, or the first beam shift is a downlink beam shift and the second beam shift is an uplink beam shift;
- and
- the first and second beam shifts are performed using at least one of a switch matrix or a channelizer, wherein the switch matrix or the channelizer is configured to input the switched uplink data channel from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam into a common regenerative payload demodulator circuit in a synchronized manner concurrently with a corresponding frequency switch in the terminal uplink.
A system for automated shifting of a communications signal of a terminal located on a moving platform from a first satellite beam to a second satellite beam, the system comprising:
- a. an uplink switch in the satellite for receipt of the communications signal transmitted from the terminal, the uplink switch comprising:
- (i) a regenerative payload comprising at least one demodulator for extracting information received in the satellites, and an on-board processor for processing data;
- and
- (ii) at least one of a switch matrix or a channelizer for switching an uplink data channel from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam upon receipt of a switch command, wherein the at least one of a switch matrix or a channelizer is configured to input the switched uplink data channel from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam into a common regenerative payload demodulator circuit in a synchronized manner concurrently with a corresponding frequency switch in the terminal uplink;
- b. a downlink switch in the satellite for transmission of communications comprising:
- (i) a regenerative payload comprising at least one modulator for encoding a data signal to be sent from the satellites, and an on-board processor for processing data;
- (ii) at least one of a switch matrix or a channelizer for switching a downlink data channel from the first satellite beam to the second satellite beam;
- and
- (iii) at least two demodulators with a corresponding switch functionality in the terminal;
- and
- c. a computer software engine on board the satellite and the moving platform and configured with computer instructions for determining optimal time for beam shift execution.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.