Low earth orbit satellite constellation system for communications with re-use of geostationary satellite spectrum
First Claim
1. A low earth orbiting satellite constellation for communications, which comprisesa) a plurality of satellites in a polar orbit about the earth;
- b) the satellites being arranged in a sufficient number of orbital planes to provide coverage for substantially every point on earth for communications and substantially at all times, andc) wherein the number of satellites in each orbital plane is sufficient to provide communications over the range of the orbital plane;
d) wherein each satellite has an antenna for receiving and transmitting to earth stations, and wherein the satellite antenna is controlled to avoid transmitting down the bore sight of a GEO-pointing antenna at any point on earth;
e) wherein the satellite orbital plane comprises an orbital plane defining a polar orbit about the four quadrants of the earth, wherein the satellite has a pointing control, and wherein the pointing control in the first quadrant follows an algorithm to direct satellite transmissions to maximize the coverage and avoid transmitting down the boresight of a GEO-pointing antenna;
f) wherein the satellite pointing control directs the satellite transmission coverage in each quadrant of the plane of orbit to mirror the satellite transmission coverage of the rearward directed beam projected in the prior quadrant of the satellite orbit;
g) wherein the transition between quadrants at the equator includes the satellite turning off its transmitter towards the earth so as to avoid transmitting down the bore sight of an antenna pointing towards a GEO satellite; and
h) wherein the transmission between satellites and an earth station is carried out using spectrum also employed by GEO communications satellites communicating in the same region.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for re-using GEO-allocated communications spectrum in a LEO satellite constellation based communications system, such that the LEO satellite originated signals will not appear in the beam-width of GEO-pointed earth station antennas, and satellites configured to provide communications by manipulating their respective beam transmissions, which may include a forward beam and rearward beam whose angles are controlled to project the beam and reduce or eliminate the potential for interference with GEO-pointed earth station antennas. The system and LEO satellites may provide substantially 100% coverage of an earth station located anywhere on the surface of the earth, without coordination with the GEO satellites or GEO-pointing ground stations. The system also may provide earth stations that are configured to enhance the isolation between the GEO communications system and the LEO communications system using the same spectrum to reduce the potential for GEO-pointed earth station antennas from picking up the LEO communication.
72 Citations
93 Claims
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1. A low earth orbiting satellite constellation for communications, which comprises
a) a plurality of satellites in a polar orbit about the earth; -
b) the satellites being arranged in a sufficient number of orbital planes to provide coverage for substantially every point on earth for communications and substantially at all times, and c) wherein the number of satellites in each orbital plane is sufficient to provide communications over the range of the orbital plane; d) wherein each satellite has an antenna for receiving and transmitting to earth stations, and wherein the satellite antenna is controlled to avoid transmitting down the bore sight of a GEO-pointing antenna at any point on earth; e) wherein the satellite orbital plane comprises an orbital plane defining a polar orbit about the four quadrants of the earth, wherein the satellite has a pointing control, and wherein the pointing control in the first quadrant follows an algorithm to direct satellite transmissions to maximize the coverage and avoid transmitting down the boresight of a GEO-pointing antenna; f) wherein the satellite pointing control directs the satellite transmission coverage in each quadrant of the plane of orbit to mirror the satellite transmission coverage of the rearward directed beam projected in the prior quadrant of the satellite orbit; g) wherein the transition between quadrants at the equator includes the satellite turning off its transmitter towards the earth so as to avoid transmitting down the bore sight of an antenna pointing towards a GEO satellite; and h) wherein the transmission between satellites and an earth station is carried out using spectrum also employed by GEO communications satellites communicating in the same region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A low earth orbiting satellite constellation communications system, comprising:
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a) a plurality of low earth orbiting satellites in a polar orbit, the polar orbit covering four quadrants of the earth; b) communications processing equipment provided on each satellite, said communications processing equipment comprising a processor and circuitry for receiving and transmitting signals between an earth station and one or more satellites of the satellite constellation; c) wherein each satellite has at least one antenna for receiving and transmitting to earth stations; and d) wherein said antenna is controllable to avoid transmitting down the boresight of a GEO-pointing antenna at any point on earth. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A method for implementing communications through a satellite communication system with low earth orbiting (LEO) satellites that provide re-use of geo-stationary earth orbiting (GEO) communication satellite re-use frequencies, the method comprising:
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a) arranging a plurality of LEO satellites in a plurality of orbital planes about the earth;
wherein each satellite includes equipment for transmitting RF transmissions having suitable frequencies for receipt by an earth station located on the earth;b) providing a control mechanism that controls the satellite RF transmissions; c) transmitting from an LEO satellite a transmission to an earth station; d) controlling the satellite transmission to avoid transmitting down the bore sight of an antenna pointing towards a GEO satellite; and e) wherein transmitting from an LEO satellite a transmission to an earth station is carried out using spectrum also employed by GEO communications satellites communicating in the same region. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. A low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite comprising:
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a) communications equipment, said communications equipment comprising equipment for transmitting RF transmissions having suitable frequencies for receipt by an earth station located on the earth, and communications equipment for communicating with other satellites; b) a control mechanism including a processing component and software with instructions for controlling RF transmissions from the LEO satellite to an earth station; c) a transmitter for transmitting RF transmissions; d) at least one antenna for projecting the RF transmissions from the LEO satellite; e) wherein said control mechanism controls the satellite transmissions to avoid transmitting down the bore sight of an antenna pointing towards a GEO satellite; and f) wherein the RF transmissions from the LEO satellite to an earth station are carried out using spectrum also employed by GEO communications satellites communicating in the same region. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93)
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Specification