Precise beam forming based on user equipment location
AssigneeHughes Network Systems, LLC
InventorT. Paul Gaske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various arrangements are presented for optimizing data transmission between a satellite and a user equipment. A satellite gateway system may receive a message from the user equipment indicative of a current location of the user equipment. Data may be retrieved from the Internet to be transmitted to the user equipment via the satellite. The satellite gateway system may transmit a downlink message to the satellite that comprises the retrieved data and beam steering data. The beam steering data may instruct the satellite to target a downlink spot beam on the current location of the user equipment based on the message received from the user equipment. The retrieved data may be transmitted to the user equipment via the targeted downlink spot beam.
Claims20
A method for optimizing uplink data transmissions to a satellite from user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
- creating, by the satellite, for location phases of uplink frames, a wide-area beam to receive messages from a plurality of UE across a geographic region by adjusting electrical characteristics of a satellite antenna of the satellite;
- receiving, by the satellite, during the location phases of the uplink frames, via the satellite antenna, an uplink bandwidth request from a UE of the plurality of UE;
- targeting, by the satellite, for a time slot, a spot beam for the UE by adjusting the electrical characteristics of the satellite antenna of the satellite in response to the UE being scheduled for the time slot during a receive focus stage of an uplink frame;
- while the spot beam is targeted for the UE, receiving, by the satellite, a data packet from the UE, wherein:
- the spot beam permits a higher data transmission rate from the UE to the satellite than the wide-area beam;
- and
- transmitting, by the satellite, the data packet to a satellite gateway.
A system for optimizing uplink data transmissions to a satellite from user equipment (UE), the system comprising:
- the satellite, comprising an antenna, the satellite configured to:
- create for location phases of uplink frames, a wide-area beam to receive messages from a plurality of UE across a geographic region by adjusting electrical characteristics of a satellite antenna of the satellite;
- receive, during the location phases of the uplink frames, via the satellite antenna, an uplink bandwidth request from a UE of the plurality of UE;
- target, for a time slot, a spot beam for the UE by adjusting the electrical characteristics of the satellite antenna of the satellite in response to the UE being scheduled for the time slot during a receive focus stage of an uplink frame;
- while the spot beam is targeted for the UE, receive, a data packet from the UE, wherein:
- the spot beam permits a higher data transmission rate from the UE to the satellite than the wide-area beam;
- and
- transmit the data packet to a satellite gateway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.