Bent pipe beam switching for virtual utility gateways

A satellite communication system having a forward link capability comprising:

• a plurality of gateway terminals;
• a plurality of user terminals;
• a satellite for providing hub-spoke communications between the gateway terminals and the user terminals, the satellite comprising a plurality of receivers having inputs and outputs, a plurality of transmitters having inputs and outputs, the inputs of the plurality of transmitters coupled to the outputs of the plurality of receivers, a plurality of transmit switches coupled to the outputs of the plurality of transmitters, and a gateway switch structure coupled to at least one of:
• (a) the inputs of the plurality of receivers, (b) the outputs of the plurality receivers and the inputs of the plurality of transmitters, or (c) the outputs of the plurality of transmitters;
• wherein each transmit switch in the plurality of transmit switches is configured to sequentially switch a forward link signal into multiple fixed location beams according to a beam group transmit switching pattern;
• wherein prior to a time T1, at least P receivers in the plurality of receivers are each configured to receive a different one of at least P forward link signals from P gateway terminals, and in the duration of one frame, the gateway switch structure is configured to sequentially switch the at least P forward link signals from the P gateway terminals, in order to provide the at least P forward link signals to the plurality of transmit switches, according to a first gateway switching pattern, and each of the at least P forward link signals is sequentially switched into fixed location beams according to a first beam group transmit switching pattern;
• wherein after time T1 and before a time T2, at least Q receivers in the plurality of receivers are each configured to receive a different one of at least Q forward link signals from Q gateway terminals, and in the duration of one frame, the gateway switch structure is configured to sequentially switch the at least Q forward link signals from the Q gateway terminals, in order to provide the at least Q forward link signals to the plurality of transmit switches, according to a second gateway switching pattern, and each of the at least Q forward link signals is sequentially switched into fixed location beams according to a second beam group transmit switching pattern;
• wherein P and Q are both non-zero, positive integers, and Q<P;
• and
• wherein the first and second gateway switching patterns are different.

A satellite having a forward link capability comprising:

• a plurality of receivers having inputs and outputs;
• a plurality of transmitters having inputs and outputs, the inputs of the plurality of transmitters coupled to the outputs of the plurality of receivers;
• a plurality of transmit switches coupled to the outputs of the plurality of transmitters;
• wherein each transmit switch in the plurality of transmit switches is configured to sequentially switch a forward link signal into multiple fixed location beams according to a beam group transmit switching pattern;
• a gateway switch structure coupled to at least one of:
• (a) the inputs of the plurality of receivers, (b) the outputs of the plurality receivers and the inputs of the plurality of transmitters, or (c) the outputs of the plurality of transmitters;
• a beam switch controller coupled to the plurality of transmit switches and to the gateway switch structure, the beam switch controller configured to store one or more beam group transmit switching patterns and one or more gateway switching patterns;
• wherein prior to a time T1, at least P receivers in the plurality of receivers are each configured to receive a different one of at least P forward link signals from P gateway terminals, and in the duration of one frame, the gateway switch structure is configured to sequentially switch the at least P forward link signals from the P gateway terminals, in order to provide the at least P forward link signals to the plurality of transmit switches, according to a first gateway switching pattern, and each of the at least P forward link signals is sequentially switched into fixed location beams according to a first beam group transmit switching pattern;
• wherein after time T1 and before a time T2, at least Q receivers in the plurality of receivers are each configured to receive a different one of at least Q forward link signals from Q gateway terminals, and in the duration of one frame, the gateway switch structure is configured to sequentially switch the at least Q forward link signals from the Q gateway terminals, in order to provide the at least Q forward link signals to the plurality of transmit switches, according to a second gateway switching pattern, and each of the at least Q forward link signals is sequentially switched into fixed location beams according to a second beam group transmit switching pattern;
• wherein P and Q are both non-zero, positive integers, and Q<P;
• and
• wherein the first and second gateway switching patterns are different.