Satellite system using time domain beam hopping

Abstract

A satellite communication system comprises one or more non-geostationary satellites. Each satellite is configured to provide a plurality of spot beams using time domain beam hopping among the spot beams. The spot beams are divided into hopping groups and each satellite is configured to switch throughput and power among spot beams in a same hopping group at intervals of an epoch over a hopping period according to a hopping plan. Each satellite is configured to receive, change and implement the hopping plan in orbit while the satellite moves in relation to a fixed geographic coverage region. The satellites are programmable to assign any combination of epochs in a hopping plan among spot beams of a same hopping group and to route throughput between spot beams.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.