SATELLITE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE FOR COVERAGE AREAS OF DISPARATE DEMAND

• US 20160142130A1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Hudson, Erwin C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,654,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18576 Satellite systems for providing narrowband data service to fixed or mobile stations, e.g. using a minisatellite, a microsatellite for selecting H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

Disclosed is a satellite communication system that allocates bandwidth to maximize the capacity of the communication system while providing service to geographical areas having different demands. A smaller portion of the frequency spectrum can be allocated for subscriber beams that supply service to low demand areas. A larger portion of the frequency spectrum can be provided to subscriber beams that provide access to high demand areas. Allocation of bandwidth can be determined by the amount of demand in low demand areas versus the amount of demand in high demand areas. High demand gateways are physically located in low demand subscriber beams, while low demand gateways are physically located in high demand subscriber beams, which prevents interference.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method of allocating system bandwidth resources in a satellite communication system comprising a multi-beam satellite providing satellite communication services to a service area, comprising:

determining a relative bandwidth demand for one or more subscriber beams serving a first user beam coverage area via the multi-beam satellite; and

allocating a first portion of the system bandwidth resources to the one or more subscriber beams in proportion to the relative bandwidth demand.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

dividing the first portion of the system bandwidth resources into a plurality of resource colors; and

associating each of the one or more subscriber beams with a resource color of the plurality of resource colors.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

allocating a second portion of the system bandwidth resources to one or more second subscriber beams serving a second user beam coverage area via the multi-beam satellite.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise substantially all of the system bandwidth resources.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

allocating a third portion of the system bandwidth resources to one or more third subscriber beams serving a third user beam coverage area via the multi-beam satellite.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

locating a gateway serving the first user beam coverage area in the second user beam coverage area, the gateway communicating with the multi-beam satellite via a gateway beam using the first portion of the system bandwidth resources.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the system bandwidth resources comprise one or more contiguous frequency bands.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the system bandwidth resources comprise a plurality of non-contiguous frequency bands.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the system bandwidth resources comprise multiple polarizations.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the relative bandwidth demand is determined based at least in part on empirical demand data of the first user beam coverage area and at least one other user beam coverage area.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the relative bandwidth demand is determined based at least in part on demographic data of the first user beam coverage area and at least one other user beam coverage area.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the first portion of the system bandwidth resources comprises contiguous portions of the system bandwidth resources.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the first portion of the system bandwidth resources comprises non-contiguous portions of the system bandwidth resources.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the first portion of the system bandwidth resources comprises multiple polarizations.