Method and apparatus for controlling spot beam configurations for a communications satellite

A method for controlling a configuration of spot beams produced by a communications satellite, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first plurality of spot beams on a satellite at an orbital position with respect to a first portion of the earth;
• activating a second plurality of spot beams in a first beam pattern to provide a first level of service to said first portion of the earth, said second plurality of spot beams being less than the first plurality of spot beams;
• and
• activating a third plurality of spot beams in a second beam pattern while deactivating at least one of said first plurality of active spot beams to provide a second level of service to said first portion of the earth, the spot beams in said second beam pattern being different from the spot beams in said first beam pattern.

A method for controlling a configuration of spot beams produced by a communications satellite, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first plurality of spot beams on said satellite at an orbital position with respect to a first portion of the earth;
• activating a second plurality of spot beams in a first beam pattern to provide service to said first portion of the earth, said second plurality of spot beams being less than the first plurality of spot beams;
• activating a third plurality of spot beams in a second beam pattern while deactivating at least one of said first plurality of active spot beams to provide service to said first portion of the earth;
• and
• adjusting a signal attribute of at least one spot beam that is active in both said second and third pluralities of spot beams, said signal attribute including one of spot beam bandwidth and power.

A method for controlling a configuration of spot beams produced by a communications satellite, the method comprising the steps of:

• configuring a first plurality of active spot beams on said satellite in a first beam pattern to provide service to said first portion of the earth;
• configuring a second plurality of active spot beams on said satellite in a second beam pattern to provide service to said first portion of the earth;
• and
• dividing said first and second pluralities of active spot beams into first, second and common subsets of spot beams, said first configuring step activating said first and common subsets of spot beams and deactivating said second subset of spot beams, said second configuring step deactivating said first subset of spot beams and activating said second and common subsets of spot beams.

A method for controlling a configuration of spot beams produced by a communications satellite, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning a satellite at a first orbital position with respect to a first portion of the earth;
• activating a first plurality of active spot beams in a first beam pattern to substantially encompass the first portion of the earth;
• and
• activating a second plurality of spot beams in a second beam pattern while deactivating at least one of said first plurality of active spot beams to configure said first and second beam patterns to encompass different areas of the first portion of the earth.