METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEAM SELECTION FOR A MULTIBEAM, MULTI-SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An apparatus for satellite selection within a multi-satellite communication system, comprising:
- a receiver;
a transmitter;
an antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter and configured to send and receive RF signals; and
a processing module configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory storage medium, the instructions causing the processing module to perform the operations, comprising;
determine a plurality of user spot beams available to the apparatus from at least a first satellite and a second satellite of the multi-satellite communication system;
calculate a normalized distance metric for the plurality of user spot beams;
select the user spot beam with the lowest normalized distance metric; and
determine which of the at least first or second satellite is transmitting the selected user spot beam, and select an outroute on the selected user spot beam using the antenna.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for satellite selection within a multi-satellite communication system, comprising an antenna, receiver, and transmitter, and a processing module configured to calculate a normalized distance metric for the plurality of user spot beams of a first and second satellite, select the user spot beam with the lowest normalized distance metric, and determine which of the at least first or second satellite is transmitting the selected user spot beam. Further, a method for increasing the aggregate capacity of a satellite communications network, comprising identifying high traffic regions within a coverage area of a first satellite, determining which user spot beams of the first satellite are available to each of the identified regions, determining a normalized distance metric for each user spot beam identified, and plotting a second beam pattern of a second satellite to produce at least one user spot beam with a lower normalized distance metric.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for satellite selection within a multi-satellite communication system, comprising:
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a receiver; a transmitter; an antenna coupled to the receiver and the transmitter and configured to send and receive RF signals; and a processing module configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory storage medium, the instructions causing the processing module to perform the operations, comprising; determine a plurality of user spot beams available to the apparatus from at least a first satellite and a second satellite of the multi-satellite communication system; calculate a normalized distance metric for the plurality of user spot beams; select the user spot beam with the lowest normalized distance metric; and determine which of the at least first or second satellite is transmitting the selected user spot beam, and select an outroute on the selected user spot beam using the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for satellite selection in a multi-satellite communication system, comprising:
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identifying a plurality of user spot beams available to a user terminal from at least a first satellite and a second satellite of the multi-satellite communication system, wherein the user terminal comprises an antenna configured to send and receive RF signals; calculating a normalized distance metric for the plurality of user spot beams; and selecting the user spot beam with the lowest normalized distance metric; determining which of the at least first or second satellite is transmitting the selected user spot beam, and negotiating an outroute on the selected user spot beam for the user terminal over the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of designing beam patterns to increase aggregate capacity within a satellite communications system, comprising:
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determining a first beam pattern of a plurality of user spot beams of a first satellite serving a first geographic area; identifying a plurality of high traffic regions within the first geographic area covered by the first beam pattern; determining the user spot beams of the first beam pattern covering each of the plurality of high traffic regions; determining a normalized distance metric for each of the user spot beams of the first beam pattern covering each of the plurality of high traffic regions; and plotting a second beam pattern of a second satellite such that at least one of a plurality of user spot beams of the second beam pattern has a lower normalized distance metric for at least one of the plurality of high traffic regions relative to the normalized distance metrics of the user spot beams of the first beam pattern covering each of the plurality of high traffic region. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification