SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SATELLITE COMMUNICATION
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- providing at least one satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite;
causing the at least one satellite to move around the earth along a non-geostationary orbit;
establishing a data communication path between a first of the beamformers on the satellite and a communication target, the data communication path having a satellite end at the first beamformer and an target end at the communication target;
shifting the satellite end of the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers as the satellite moves along its orbit; and
at least substantially reducing an amount of RF wave energy directed to beamformers of the plurality of beamformers not forming part of the data communication path.
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Abstract
A system and method are disclosed which may include providing at least one satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite; causing the at least one satellite to move around the earth along a non-geostationary orbit; establishing a data communication path between a first of the beamformers on the satellite and a communication target, the data communication path having a satellite end at the first beamformer and an target end at the communication target; shifting the satellite end of the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers as the satellite moves along its orbit; and at least substantially reducing an amount of RF wave energy directed to beamformers of the plurality of beamformers not forming part of the data communication path.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing at least one satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite; causing the at least one satellite to move around the earth along a non-geostationary orbit; establishing a data communication path between a first of the beamformers on the satellite and a communication target, the data communication path having a satellite end at the first beamformer and an target end at the communication target; shifting the satellite end of the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers as the satellite moves along its orbit; and at least substantially reducing an amount of RF wave energy directed to beamformers of the plurality of beamformers not forming part of the data communication path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus, comprising
a satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite; - and
a controller operable to direct a data communication path through a first beamformer of the plurality of beamformers, wherein the controller is further operable to shift the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method, comprising:
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providing a first constellation of satellites within a satellite system; providing at least one additional constellation of satellites to provide a plurality of satellite constellations within the satellite system; enabling adjacent ones of the satellites in the satellite system to communicate with a single earth station; and wherein at least one of the satellites in each said constellation has a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about a lateral axis of the satellite, and a controller operable to direct a data communication path through a first beamformer of the plurality of beamformers, wherein the controller is further operable to shift the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method, comprising:
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conducting a data communication session between a first computing entity and a second computing entity over a communication network, wherein at least a portion of the data transferred over the communication network during the data communication session is transmitted over a satellite system, and wherein at least one of the satellites in said satellite system has a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite; and
a controller operable to direct a data communication path through a first beamformer of the plurality of beamformers,and wherein the controller is further operable to shift the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers.
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Specification