Satellites and signal distribution methods and off-set pattern for sending signals

• US 20070082609A1
• Filed: 10/11/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Five LLC
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Five LLC
• Inventors: Kiesling, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/12.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

The invention relates to methods, systems, and satellites that employ an off-set pattern of spot-beams to transmit signals or television signals over a desired area of the earth. In one example, a heavily populated metropolitan area in the continental United States is covered by at least two patterns of spot-beams, where the patterns are off-set to one another by a lateral or translational displacement, rotation, or both. The off-set patterns can be used in conjunction with existing satellites and systems and incorporated into new satellites and systems. The methods reduce problems associated with the straddling of subscriber areas caused by local-into-local requirements, and advantageously allow increased spot-beam capacity, and the reduction in earth uplink stations.

Claims

1. A satellite comprising an arrangement of spot-beam antennas for covering an area of interest, wherein the antennas produce at least two patterns of spot-beams on opposite polarizations, and the second pattern (Pattern 2) is offset with respect to the first pattern (Pattern 1), and wherein the antennas are arranged to direct spot-beams so that no parts within the area are not covered, and wherein each spot-beam is assigned a frequency band consistent with the amount of frequency re-use desired within an area to be covered by the spot-beam and subject to the amount of acceptable self interference, and wherein each spot-beam is assigned a spectrum segment and the spectrum segment may be any fraction of the total available bandwidth of the arrangement of spot-beams.

2. The satellite of claim 1, wherein at least one spot-beam is different in size compared to the area covered by one other spot-beam.

3. The satellite of claim 1, wherein spot-beams directed to neighboring parts of the area of interest have different assigned frequency bands.

4. The satellite of claim 1, wherein the total bandwidth is B, the number of spot-beams is n, the frequency reuse factor is f, and the bandwidth generated by the arrangement of spot-beams is B/f x n.

5. A method of using a satellite of claim 1 to direct two spot-beam patterns on orthogonal polarizations to cover an area of interest, wherein Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 comprise substantially the same combination of spot-beam patterns and Pattern 2 is directed to an area that is shifted with respect to Pattern 1 by translation, rotation, or both.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the coverage size of at least one spot-beam in Pattern 1 differs from the coverage size of at least one spot-beam in Pattern 2.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein Pattern 2 is rotated with respect to Pattern 1.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein Pattern 2 is shifted in one direct with respect to Pattern 1.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein Pattern 2 is both rotated and translated with respect to Pattern 1.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising positioning Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 to cover a metropolitan area, district, municipality, county, state or nation or other mosaic of geographic areas.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the area covered is a metropolitan area.

12. The method of any one of claims 5-10, wherein television signals are transmitted through the spot-beams.

13. The method of any one of claims 5-10, wherein communication signals are transmitted through the spot-beams.

14. The method of claim 5, further comprising locating an uplink earth station to communicate with the satellite where the boundaries of three to six spot-beams intersect.

15. A method for satellite TV broadcasting to cover the CONUS, wherein the method comprises configuring one or more satellites to direct spot-beams to cover the CONUS, and wherein the spot-beams covering at least one densely populated area comprises a Pattern 1 and a Pattern 2 that are offset with respect to each other and where the spot-beams in Pattern 1 and Pattern 2 have opposite polarizations;

sending TV signals to one or more satellites; and

transmitting the TV signals over at least a part of the CONUS.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein Pattern 1 is rotated or translated, or both, with respect to Pattern 2.