# US 12,003,306 B2 · Use of polygons to specify beam service areas in a satellite communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,306 B2 - Document ID: US12003306B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/455,059 - Filed: 2021-11-16 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-18 - Assignees: Hughes Network Systems, LLC - Applicants: Hughes Network Systems, LLC - Inventors: Rajeev Oza; Suresh Korada; Guy Montgomery - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003306B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/06952: {Selecting one or more beams from a plurality of beams, e.g. beam training, management or sweeping} - H04B 7/18513: {Transmission in a satellite or space-based system} - H04B 7/2041: {Spot beam multiple access} - H04W 16/28: using beam steering - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A system and method for selecting a beam from satellite beams to communicate with a terminal at a location. The method includes dividing a satellite coverage area into beam service areas (BSAs) for a satellite network, where each of the BSAs is associated with a respective beam information; selecting, with a computer, a select BSA from the BSAs based on the location; and communicating between the terminal and a gateway using a beam. In the method, the location is located in the select BSA, the beam is identified by the respective beam information associated with the select BSA, and the BSAs define a boundary having a closed polygon shape. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for selecting a beam from satellite beams to communicate with a terminal at a location, the method comprising: dividing a satellite coverage area into Beam Service Areas (BSAs) for a satellite network, wherein each of the BSAs is associated with a respective beam information; selecting, with a computer, a select BSA from the BSAs based on the location; and communicating between the terminal and a gateway using a beam, wherein the location is located in the select BSA, the beam is identified by the respective beam information associated with the select BSA, and the BSAs define a boundary having a closed polygon shape, wherein the boundary is not an actual boundary of radio frequency signals defining the beam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the select BSA coincides with a country boundary. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the BSAs are located within a country boundary. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one of the BSAs comprises a no-transmit region due to the respective beam information identifying an unavailable beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the beam spans multiple BSAs of the BSAs with a Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) above some required minimum. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising denying communications with the beam to the terminal when the location is outside the select BSA. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a first BSA of the BSAs is enclosed by a second BSA of the BSAs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal is one or more of an aeronautical, a maritime or a mobile terminal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting comprises performing a point-in-polygon test on the location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performed by the terminal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is performed at an external beam selector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting is based on a characteristic of the terminal selected from one or more of a heading, a speed, a beam definition plan version, an antenna directivity, a radome, a skew angle, and a terminal identification. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising wherein the respective beam information comprises one or more of the location, a service agreement, a terminal capability, a beam modulation, a terminal provisioning and a beam identifier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the respective beam information to the terminal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising predicating a beam switch when a future path of the terminal approaches a boundary of the select BSA. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising deferring a beam switch, when a future path of the terminal approaches a boundary of the select BSA and the future path remains within a boundary area defined by the boundary and an inner boundary of the select BSA. ### Claim 17 A system to select a beam from satellite beams to communicate with a terminal at a location, the system comprising: a satellite coverage area divided into Beam Service Areas (BSAs) for a satellite network, wherein each of the BSAs is associated with a respective beam information; a beam selector to select a select BSA from the BSAs based on the location; and a transceiver to communicate between the terminal and a gateway using a beam, wherein the location is located in the select BSA, the beam is identified by the respective beam information associated with the select BSA, and the BSAs define a boundary having a closed polygon shape, wherein the boundary is not an actual boundary of radio frequency signals defining the beam. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, further comprising a gateway to deny communications with the beam to the terminal when the location is outside the select BSA. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the terminal includes the beam selector. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the beam selector defers a beam switch, when a future path of the terminal approaches a boundary of the select BSA and the future path remains within a boundary area defined by the boundary and an inner boundary of the select BSA y.