US 2018/0006370 A1 · SATELLITE SYSTEM HAVING TERMINALS IN HOPPING BEAMS COMMUNICATING WITH MORE THAN ONE GATEWAY

Abstract

A satellite communication system includes a satellite configured to provide a first plurality of spot beams adapted for communication with subscriber terminals using time domain beam hopping and a second plurality of spot beams adapted for communication with gateways. The satellite includes a spectrum routing network that is configured to time multiplex spot beams of the second plurality of spot beams with spot beams of the first plurality of spot beams so that a spot beam that is implementing beam hopping for communication to subscriber terminals communicates with different feeder beams (and, therefore, different gateways) at different times during a hopping period.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A satellite communication system, comprising:

a satellite configured to provide a first plurality of spot beams adapted for communication with subscriber terminals using time domain beam, the satellite configured provide a second plurality of spot beams adapted for communication with gateways, the satellite includes a spectrum routing network that is configured to time multiplex spot beams of the second plurality of spot beams with spot beams of the first plurality of spot beams.

A method of operating a satellite communication system, comprising:

providing a first plurality of spot beams from a non-geostationary satellite in order to communicate with subscriber terminals as the satellite moves across a planet surface;
performing time domain beam hopping for the first plurality of spot beams;
providing a second plurality of spot beams from the non-geostationary satellite in order to communicate with gateways as the satellite moves across the planet surface;
providing communication between a particular spot beam of the first plurality of spot beams and a first spot beam of the second plurality of spot beams during a first set of epochs while the particular spot beam is over a location on the planet surface;
and
providing communication between the particular spot beam and a second spot beam of the second plurality of spot beams during a second set of one or more epochs while the particular spot beam remains over the location on the planet surface.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/173,038Filed 3 Jun 2016

Priority

29 Mar 2016

Published

4 Jan 2018

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

H01Q 3/2682
Varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of…
H04B 7/043
Power distribution: using best eigenmode, e.g. beam forming or beam steering
H04B 7/1851
Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems: systems using a satellite or space-based relay
H04B 7/18534
Arrangements for managing transmission, i.e. for transporting data or a signalling message: for enhancing link reliablility, e.g. satellites diversity

Satellite system having terminals in hopping beams communicating with more than one gateway

Life of this patent

Satellite system having terminals in hopping beams communicating with more than one gateway

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20