Communication satellite system with dynamic downlink resource allocation
AssigneeSpacecode LLC
InventorsWilliam L. Snell, Mark D. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication satellite system dynamically allocates additional downlink resources on the satellite to selected downlink signals to compensate for signal degradation. A typical cause of such degradation is rain where the downlink station is located. Another cause of such degradation is increased communication traffic or bandwidth demand within a particular region.
Claims31
In a communication satellite system having a satellite in earth orbit with at least one uplink from a first region and plural downlinks to recipient stations in plural regions other than the first region, the downlinks to the plural regions utilizing plural downlink signal resources on the satellite, a dynamic downlink resource allocation method for allocating downlink resources between the regions, comprising:
- detecting a degraded downlink signal that is directed to at least one of the regions other than the first region;
- and
- allocating additional downlink signal resources on the satellite to the degraded downlink signal and from selected other downlink signals.
In a satellite communication system having a satellite in earth orbit with at least one uplink from a first region and plural downlinks to recipient stations in plural regions other than the first region, the downlinks to the plural regions utilizing plural downlink signal resources on the satellite, a dynamic downlink resource allocation system for allocating downlink resources between the regions, comprising:
- detection means for detecting a degraded downlink signal that is directed to at least one of the regions other than the first region;
- and
- allocation means for allocating additional downlink signal resources on the satellite to the degraded downlink signal independent of uplink signal power.
In a communication satellite system having a satellite in earth orbit with at least one uplink and plural downlinks to plural regions, the downlinks to the plural regions utilizing plural downlink signal resources on the satellite, a dynamic downlink resource allocation method for allocating downlink resources between the regions, comprising:
- predicting from precipitation patterns a degraded downlink signal that is directed to at least one of the regions;
- and
- allocating on the satellite additional downlink signal resources to the downlink signal predicted to be degraded and from selected other downlink signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.