Satellite signaling system having a signal beam with a variable beam area
First Claim
1. A satellite signalling system comprising:
- a satellite;
an antenna coupled to said satellite for providing a signal beam having a variable beam area, wherein said signal beam provided by said antenna comprises a data signal having a variable data rate; and
control means coupled to said antenna for providing information to said antenna to define said signal beam to be one of a plurality of predetermined beam areas and to define said data signal to have one of a plurality of predetermined data rates, said control means determining said one of said plurality of predetermined data rates in response to said one of said plurality of predetermined beam areas.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a satellite signalling system, such as a satellite paging system, having signal coverage over a very wide area. The satellite signalling system comprises a satellite to which is coupled an antenna for providing a signal beam having a variable beam area. The satellite can control the position of the antenna such that the signal beam can be directed in a predetermined sequence to a plurality of locations on earth. The antenna is arranged to vary the signal beam'"'"'s area in dependence on the location to which the signal beam is directed. The signal beam comprises a data signal having a data rate which can be varied by the antenna in dependence on the beam area.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A satellite signalling system comprising:
-
a satellite; an antenna coupled to said satellite for providing a signal beam having a variable beam area, wherein said signal beam provided by said antenna comprises a data signal having a variable data rate; and control means coupled to said antenna for providing information to said antenna to define said signal beam to be one of a plurality of predetermined beam areas and to define said data signal to have one of a plurality of predetermined data rates, said control means determining said one of said plurality of predetermined data rates in response to said one of said plurality of predetermined beam areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A satellite signalling system comprising:
-
an antenna having a steerable beam; a first receiver for receiving communication information and control information; control means coupled to said antenna and said first receiver for controlling said antenna to sequentially direct said steerable beam to a plurality of predetermined locations in response to said control information and to vary said steerable beam'"'"'s beam area corresponding to said plurality of predetermined locations in response to said control information; a first transmitter coupled to said antenna and said control means for transmitting paging signals, wherein said paging signals comprise a data signal comprising said communication information and having a plurality of signal batches arranged in a predetermined sequence, each of said plurality of signal batches transmitted at one of a plurality of predetermined data rates, each of said plurality of batches corresponding to one of said plurality of predetermined locations and each of said plurality of batches having an identification code for identifying said corresponding one of said plurality of predetermined locations, wherein aid one of said plurality of predetermined data rates is determined by said control means in response to said beam area; and at least one selective call receiver located in one of said plurality of predetermined locations for receiving said paging signals, wherein said at least one selective call receiver in said one of said plurality of predetermined locations responds only to the one of said plurality of batches corresponding to said one of said plurality of predetermined locations in response to said identification code. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
10. A method for paging comprising the steps of:
-
transmitting paging information and control information to a satellite receiver; steering a beam of an antenna coupled to the satellite sequentially to a plurality of predetermined locations in response to said control information; varying the area of said beam in accordance with said plurality of predetermined locations; and transmitting paging signals from said satellite to paging receivers in at least one of said plurality of predetermined locations at predetermined times corresponding to said one of said plurality of predetermined locations and at data rates corresponding to the area of said beam, said paging signals derived from said paging information. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
-
12. A satellite paging system comprising:
-
a satellite; first means for transmitting paging information to said satellite; at least one pager receiver; and second means for transmitting paging signals having a variable data rate from said satellite to a plurality of predetermined locations in a predetermined sequence, said at least one pager receiver residing in one of said plurality of predetermined locations, said second means including; a movable antenna for providing a signal beam having a variable beam area; and control means for positioning said antenna to direct said signal beam to said plurality of predetermined locations in said predetermined sequence and for varying said beam area and said data rate in accordance with aid predetermined sequence.
-
Specification