Point-to-multipoint communications system and method
First Claim
1. A point-to-multipoint communications system comprising;
- an electromagnetic wave antenna system for generating at least a pair of independently steerable lobes from a single beam, said lobes being used to communicate independently with a plurality of remotely located terminals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A point-to-multipoint communications system. The system uses an antenna to generate a single beam having independently steerable, narrow lobes. The phase array and amplitude array distributions used to form the lobes are controlled so that the lobes track and provide full duplex communication links with two or more RF terminals in two or more remote locations. In certain embodiments the dual lobe beam is generated from a fixed, ground-based location, and in other embodiments the single beam is generated from an airborne mobile platform, a mobile land vehicle, or a marine vessel. The various embodiments all enable one, two or more full duplex communication links to be established and maintained with a single beam.
92 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A point-to-multipoint communications system comprising;
an electromagnetic wave antenna system for generating at least a pair of independently steerable lobes from a single beam, said lobes being used to communicate independently with a plurality of remotely located terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A point-to-multipoint electromagnetic wave communications system, comprising:
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an antenna aperture having a plurality of independent antenna elements; and
a beam former for controlling said elements to form a single beam having a plurality of independently steerable lobes to communicate with a plurality of independent, remotely located terminals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A point-to-multipoint communications system comprising;
an electromagnetic wave antenna system for generating a single beam having;
a first coverage lobe for forming a first communication channel, and;
a second coverage lobe for forming a second communication channel;
at least one of the coverage lobes being independently steerable to enable tracking of a moving mobile terminal.
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17. A method for point-to-multipoint communications comprising:
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generating a single beam having at least a pair of distinct, independently steerable lobes; and
using an antenna to at least one of radiate and receive electromagnetic wave signals via said independently steerable lobes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification