Multi-spot satellite system for broadband communication

• US 20020032003A1
• Filed: 06/15/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Original Assignee: Gilat Satellite Networks Limited
• Inventors: Agmon, Eran, Keshet, Arik, Avitzour, Avraham
• Application Number:
  US09/881,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032003A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18519 Operations control, administration or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18528 Satellite systems for providing two-way communications service to a network of fixed stations, i.e. fixed satellite service or very small aperture terminal [VSAT] system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18578 Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations for selecting H04W; provisions for broadband connection, H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2125 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of two-way satellite communications and in particular, to high capacity multi-purpose satellite communication systems optimized for two-way broadband communications. The two satellites are collocated and utilize a complementary channel arrangement which facilitates full dual pole coverage continuity when one of the satellites fails. Four channels of either inbound or outbound may be associated with each spot-beam area. Two channels may be provided by each of the two co-located satellites and may be configured to have a specific predetermined relationship with each other.

Claims

1. A method of providing hot back-up for a satellite communication satellite system comprising

collocating two satellites;

and

utilizing a complementary channel arrangement for the two satellites which facilitates full dual pole coverage continuity when one of the satellites fails.

2. A system comprising:

a first satellite configured to include multi-spot beams having a first channel arrangement;

a second satellite, co-located with the first satellite, having a second channel arrangement complementary with the first channel arrangement.

3. A method of operating a two-way communication satellite communicating comprising:

receiving Ka band frequency channels from Hub and converting the Ka band frequency channels to Ku band frequency channels for downlink directed messages to a plurality of user terminals;

receiving Ku band frequency channels from a plurality of user terminals and converting the Ku band frequency channels into Ka band frequency channels and outputting the Ka band channels to the Hub.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a communication satellite comprising a first interface configured to communicate using Ka frequency band channels and a second interface configured to communicate using Ku frequency band channels;

a gateways configured to send and receive data to the communications satellite using the Ka frequency band channels; and

a plurality of user terminals configured to send and receive data to the communications satellite using Ku frequency band channels.

7. The multi-mode communication satellite of claim 4 wherein the switch is configured to switch all of the transponders or a portion of the transponders.

5. An method of operating a network operations center to control a satellite to receive Ka band frequency channels from a Hub and convert the Ka band frequency channels to Ku band frequency channels for downlink directed messages to a plurality of user terminals, and to receive Ku band frequency channels from a plurality of user terminals and to convert the Ku band frequency channels into Ka band frequency channels and output the Ka band channels to the Hub.

6. A multi-mode communication satellite comprising a two antenna system and a switch configured to switch a plurality of transponders between a spot beam mode and a generic beam mode.

8. A satellite comprising:

a first antenna system having multiple spot beams;

a satellite control configured to control the first antenna system to switch transponders from one spot beam to another responsive to control channels.