Dual LEO satellite system and method for global coverage
AssigneeTelesat Technology Corporation
InventorDavid Wendling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to satellite systems and more particularly, to the provision of a satellite system and method for communications applications, with global coverage. An optimal method of providing global broadband connectivity has been discovered which uses two different LEO constellations with inter-satellite links among the satellites in each constellation, and inter-satellite links between the constellations. The first constellation is deployed in a polar LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 99.5 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1000 km. The second constellation is deployed in an inclined LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 37.4 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1250 km.
Claims8
A satellite communications system comprising:
- a set of satellites in a LEO (low Earth orbit) constellation;
- a user terminal for transmitting to, and receiving signals from, said set of satellites;
- and
- a Gateway tear transmitting to, and receiving signals from, said set of satellites;
- at least one of said set of satellites being operable to:
- transmit and receive signals via a Wide Area Coverage beam;
- receive a request from the user terminal for high-capacity beam coverage;
- and
- respond to receiving the request from the user terminal for high-capacity beam coverage by switching the user terminal to a higher bandwidth, narrow, steerable beam, pointed towards the requesting user terminal;
- wherein the Gateway is operable to avoid interference with a GEO satellite user terminal by switching the Gateway to an alternate LEO satellite that has an angular separation with a GEO satellite greater than a calculated discrimination angle, as measured at the GEO user terminal.
A method of operation for a satellite communications system comprising:
- launching a set of satellites in a LEO (low Earth orbit) constellation;
- using a user terminal, transmitting to and receiving signals from said set of satellites;
- using a Gateway, transmitting to and receiving signals from said set of satellites;
- at least one of said set of satellites:
- transmitting and receiving signals via a Wide Area Coverage beam;
- receiving a request from the user terminal for high-capacity beam coverage;
- and
- responding to receiving the request from the user terminal for high-capacity beam coverage by switching the user terminal to a higher bandwidth, narrow, steerable beam, pointed towards the requesting user terminal;
- and
- avoiding interference with a GEO satellite user terminal by switching the Gateway to an alternate LEO satellite that has an angular separation with a GEO satellite greater than a calculated discrimination angle, as measured at the GEO satellite user terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.