Satellite with different size service link antennas and radioterminal communication methods using same

• US 20050164700A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1853 Satellite systems for providing telephony service to a mobile station, i.e. mobile satellite service for selecting H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

A space segment for a radioterminal communications system includes a satellite having service link antennas of different sizes that are configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal. The service link antennas of different size may serve different sized geographic areas, which may at least partially overlap. Analogous radioterminal communications methods also are provided.

Claims

1. A space segment for a radioterminal communications system comprising:

a satellite including service link antennas of different sizes that are configured to communicate with at least one radioterminal.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the service link antennas of different sizes comprise:

a first service link antenna; and

a second service link antenna that is smaller than the first service link antenna.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first service link antenna is configured to serve a first geographic area and wherein the second service link antenna is configured to serve a second geographic area that is larger than the first geographic area.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein the first geographic area is geographically distinct from, geographically overlaps with, or is geographically contained within the second geographic area.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein the first service link antenna is configured to form smaller, higher gain satellite beams than the second service link antenna.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the first service link antenna includes more radiators than the second service link antenna.

7. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first service link antenna is configured to receive Left Hand Circularly Polarized (LHCP) radiation and/or Right Hand Circularly Polarized (RHCP) radiation and wherein the second service link antenna is configured to receive LHCP and/or RHCP radiation.

8. A system according to claim 2 wherein the first and second service link antennas comprise reflectors.

9. A system according to claim 2 wherein the satellite further comprises a signal processing equipment for the second service link antenna and is free of the signal processing equipment for the first service link antenna.

10. A system according to claim 2 wherein the satellite further comprises a signal processing equipment for a forward link of the first and/or second service link antennas and is free of the signal processing equipment for a return link of the first and/or second service link antennas.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein the signal processing equipment comprises beam forming and/or channelization equipment.

12. A system according to claim 10 wherein the signal processing equipment comprises beam forming and/or channelization equipment.

13. A radioterminal communications method comprising:

communicating among a satellite and at least one radioterminal over a plurality of service links using a plurality of service link antennas of different sizes.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the service link antennas of different sizes comprise:

a first service link antenna; and

a second service link antenna that is smaller than the first service link antenna.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein communicating comprises:

communicating among the satellite and at least one radioterminal in a first geographic area using the first service link antenna; and

communicating among the satellite and at least one radioterminal in a second geographic area that is larger than the first geographic area, using the second service link antenna.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the first geographic area is geographically distinct from, geographically overlaps with, or is geographically contained within the second geographic area.

17. A method according to claim 15 further comprising:

forming smaller, higher gain satellite beams by the first service link antenna than by the second service link antenna.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein the first service link antenna includes more radiators than the second service link antenna.

19. A method according to claim 14 further comprising:

receiving Left Hand Circularly Polarized (LHCP) radiation and/or Right Hand Circularly Polarized (RHCP) radiation at the first service link antenna; and

receiving LHCP and/or RHCP radiation at the second service link antenna.

20. A method according to claim 14 wherein the first and second service link antennas comprise reflectors.

21. A method according to claim 14 further comprising:

processing signals associated with the second service link antenna on-board the satellite; and

processing signals associated with the first service link antenna external to the satellite.

22. A method according to claim 14 further comprising:

processing signals associated with a forward link for the first and/or second service link antennas on-board the satellite; and

processing signals associated with a return link for the first and/or second service link antennas external to the satellite.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein processing signals comprises beam forming and/or channelizing.

24. A method according to claim 22 wherein processing signals comprises beam forming and/or channelizing.