BROADBAND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE USERS IN A SATELLITE-BASED NETWORK

• US 20080064328A1
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ellen Wesel
• Original Assignee: Ellen Wesel
• Inventors: Wesel, Ellen
• Granted Patent: US 7,750,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/13.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118
• 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 7/195 Non-synchronous stations

Abstract

A satellite-based communications system operating at high data rates includes a plurality of satellites each having uplink and downlink antennas for transmitting and receiving a plurality of signals utilizing a plurality of spot beams to and from a plurality of coverage areas at a predetermined range of frequencies. The system also includes a plurality of user terminals for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the plurality of communications satellites at the predetermined range of frequencies and at one of the first plurality of data rates. Each of the user terminals having a steerable antenna for tracking relative movement of each of the user terminals with respect to each of the plurality of communications satellites and for tracking movement of each of the plurality of communications satellites in order to maintain communications with the plurality of communications satellites.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A system for communicating with a satellite comprising:

an electronic device having a communications port; and

a portable satellite antenna coupled to said communications port for coupling said electronic device directly to a satellite.

18. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein said electronic device has an antenna controller coupled to said electronic device.

19. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein said electronic device comprises a laptop computer.

20. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein said electronic device comprises a computer in an automotive vehicle.

31. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said automotive vehicle comprises an airplane.

32. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said automotive vehicle comprises a car.

33. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said automotive vehicle comprises a boat.

34. A system as recited in claim 20 wherein said automotive vehicle comprises a train.

35. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the electronic device is mobile.

36. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the electronic device is portable.

37. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the antenna is disposed within an antenna housing.

38. A system as recited in claim 37 wherein the housing comprises an antenna controller therein.

39. A system as recited in claim 38 wherein the housing comprises motor therein.

40. A system as recited in claim 39 wherein said controller controls the motor to mechanically steer the beam and the antenna controller electronically shapes the beam.

41. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the antenna comprises a phased array antenna.

42. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the electronic device comprises a cellular phone.

43. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the antenna comprises a parabolic antenna.

21-30. -30. (canceled)

44. A system comprising:

an electronic device having a communications port;

a connector;

a transmission wire coupled to said connector; and

an antenna assembly comprising,

a phased array antenna element coupled to said transmission wire, said antenna element sending and receiving signals from said satellite;

a motor coupled to the antenna element; and

an antenna controller coupled to said motor for controlling a position of said phased array antenna element through said motor;

said phased array antenna element generating a mechanically steered electronically shaped beam.

45. A system as recited in claim 44 wherein the electronic device is mobile.

46. A system as recited in claim 44 wherein the electronic device is portable.

47. A system as recited in claim 44 wherein said electronic device comprises a laptop computer.

48. A system as recited in claim 44 wherein said electronic device comprises a cellular phone.

49. A system as recited in claim 44 wherein said electronic device comprises a computer in an automotive vehicle.

50. A system as recited in claim 49 wherein said automotive vehicle is one from the group consisting of an airplane, a car, a boat, and a train.