Satellite communication system
First Claim
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1. A communications system comprising:
- a plurality of ground stations;
a plurality of satellites located in a first orbit with respect to the earth, said satellites generating a plurality of beams corresponding to a respective plurality of cells, said plurality of beams having widths that vary relative to position in the orbit to maintain a cell size of the plurality of cells; and
a plurality of user terminals within the cells receiving communication signals from the satellite.
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Abstract
A communication system has a plurality of ground stations and a plurality of satellites located in a first orbit with respect to the earth. The satellites generate a plurality of beams corresponding to a respective plurality of cell. The plurality of beams has widths that vary relative to position in the orbit to maintain a cell size of the plurality of cells. A plurality of user terminals within the cells receives communication signals from the satellite.
91 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A communications system comprising:
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a plurality of ground stations;
a plurality of satellites located in a first orbit with respect to the earth, said satellites generating a plurality of beams corresponding to a respective plurality of cells, said plurality of beams having widths that vary relative to position in the orbit to maintain a cell size of the plurality of cells; and
a plurality of user terminals within the cells receiving communication signals from the satellite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13)
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8. A method of providing a system of satellites above the earth, the method comprising:
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defining at least one geographic service area within which satellite coverage is to be provided, said service area having a minimum elevation angle thereabove;
defining a first orbit having a first satellite and a second orbit having a second satellite therein;
operating said first satellite above the minimum elevation angle to generate a plurality of fixed cells relative to the earth by varying first beamwidths of the beams generated during operation in a first active arc of the first orbit, said first beamwidths varying relative to position in the first orbit;
handing over operation from the first satellite to the second satellite to maintain at least the minimum elevation angle; and
operating said second satellite to generate the plurality of fixed cells by varying second beamwidths of the beams generated during operation in the active arc of the second orbit, said second beamwidths varying relative to position in the second orbit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a system satellites comprising:
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operating said first satellite above a minimum elevation angle to generate a first plurality of beams corresponding to a plurality of fixed cells relative to the earth by varying first beamwidths of the first plurality of beams generated during operation in a first active arc of a first orbit, said first beamwidths varying relative to position in the first orbit;
handing over operation from the first satellite to the second satellite to maintain at least the minimum elevation angle; and
operating said second satellite to generate a second plurality of beams corresponding to the plurality of fixed cells by varying second beamwidths of the second plurality of beams generated during operation in a second active arc of the second orbit, said second beamwidths varying relative to position in the second orbit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification