Satellite cellular network resource management method and apparatus

A method for operating a satellite cellular communication system having multiple satellites, at least some of which are moving with respect to a surface of a celestial body, each of the multiple satellites comprising transmitters and receivers and one or more down-link devices for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic energy, coupled to the transmitters and the receivers, for projecting one or more communication cells onto the surface of the celestial body, the satellites communicating with at least one controlling station and multiple ground terminals having one or more up-link devices for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic energy for communicating with the multiple satellites, said method comprising:

• a) forecasting by a first computer, communication traffic expected to pass between the ground terminals and the satellites and operating capabilities of the satellites, during a future predetermined period;
• b) determining from the communication traffic and the operating capabilities, an individual operational plan for each of the satellites to accommodate the forecasted communication traffic during the future predetermined period;
• c) transmitting to and storing within each of the satellites the individual operational plan for each of the satellites;
• and
• d) energizing the transmitters and the receivers of the satellites according to the individual operational plan in response to actual traffic demands during the future predetermined period.

A cellular communication system, comprising:

• multiple satellites, wherein at least one of the multiple satellites moves with respect to a surface of a celestial body, each satellite containing communication resources including one or more transmitters and one or more receivers for providing communication with at least one ground terminal, one of more receiving devices coupled to said one or more receivers, and one or more transmitting devices coupled to said one or more transmitters;
• a satellite resident memory containing an individual operational plan that is based on forecasts of communication traffic expected to be received by the satellites, and operating capabilities of the satellites during a future predetermined period, said individual operational plan being provided to said satellites by a controlling station, said individual operational plan for operating the satellite for the future predetermined period, and causing the satellite to change a satellite's mode of operation at predetermined times during the future predetermined period;
• and
• a satellite resident controller coupled to the satellite resident memory, the one or more transmitters, and the one or more receivers, the satellite resident controller for actuating the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers in accordance with communication traffic passing through the satellites in a manner determined by the individual operational plan.

A communication system of multiple satellites for placement in non-geosynchronous orbit around a celestial body, comprising satellite resources including:

• one or more transmitters and receivers in the satellites for providing communication with multiple ground terminals including individual cellular radios;
• one or more devices for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic energy on the satellites, coupled to the one or more transmitters and receivers;
• satellite resident memory containing an individual operational plan provided to said satellites by a separate controlling station, said individual operational plan for operating each satellite for a predetermined future period, said individual operational plan being loadable into said satellite resident memory after the satellite is in orbit;
• satellite resident controller coupled to the satellite resident memory and the one or more transmitters and receivers for actuating the one or more transmitters and receivers in accordance with communication traffic passing through the satellites in a manner determined by the individual operational plan stored in the satellite resident memory, wherein said individual operational plan in the satellite resident memory comprises tables having entries providing different operational rules for the satellite which vary with an orbital location of the satellite relative to the celestial body, said operational rules comprising communication channel parameters used by the transmitters and receivers on the satellite in order to transmit and receive first messages from ground terminals within a coverage footprint of at least one of the devices for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic energy.