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Paired-beam transponder satellite communication

  • US 10,284,284 B2
  • Filed: 03/19/2018
  • Issued: 05/07/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for satellite communications, the method comprising:

  • receiving, via a satellite transponder of a satellite, a first combined uplink signal in an uplink frequency band during a first time, the first combined uplink signal having a first ratio of forward-channel traffic to return-channel traffic according to a flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band;

    transmitting a first combined downlink signal during the first time, the first combined downlink signal corresponding to the first combined uplink signal translated to a downlink frequency band via a frequency translator of the satellite transponder;

    receiving, via the satellite transponder, a second combined uplink signal in the uplink frequency band during a second time, the second combined uplink signal having a second ratio of the forward-channel traffic to the return-channel traffic according to the flexible allocation of forward-channel and return-channel portions of the uplink frequency band, wherein the second ratio is different than the first ratio;

    transmitting a second combined downlink signal during the second time, the second combined downlink signal corresponding to the second combined uplink signal translated to the downlink frequency band via the frequency translator of the satellite transponder;

    operating one or more switching components of the satellite in a normal mode during the first and second times; and

    operating the one or more switching components of the satellite in a utility mode during a third time.

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