Satellite system cell management
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operation of a satellite communication system, comprising:
- enabling first and second communication satellites having, respectively, first and second multicelled antenna patterns which move over the surface of the earth relative to each other and overlap by varying amounts as the orbital paths of the satellites converge and diverge, wherein the first and second satellites are active a majority of their orbits and simultaneously service substantially different, but adjacent geographical areas;
determining, respectively, the relative locations of first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns of antennas of the first and second satellites;
determining positions in the orbits of the first and second satellites when the first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns overlap by varying amounts as the satellites move with respect to each other; and
modifying the antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites as a function of orbital position to avoid substantially interfering overlap or significant no-coverage gap.
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Abstract
There is provided a method and means for controlling the amount of overlap and gaps in coverage of antenna pattern cells of a moving satellite communication system, by determining the relative spatial location of overlapping or gaping cells of converging or diverging satellites as a function of time; determining a point where antenna coverage of one or more cells from a first moving satellite will overlap or gap one or more cells from a second satellite; and turning off or on one or more of the overlapping or gaping cells so as to eliminate interference therebetween without leaving substantial coverage gaps between adjacent antenna patterns.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of operation of a satellite communication system, comprising:
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enabling first and second communication satellites having, respectively, first and second multicelled antenna patterns which move over the surface of the earth relative to each other and overlap by varying amounts as the orbital paths of the satellites converge and diverge, wherein the first and second satellites are active a majority of their orbits and simultaneously service substantially different, but adjacent geographical areas; determining, respectively, the relative locations of first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns of antennas of the first and second satellites; determining positions in the orbits of the first and second satellites when the first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns overlap by varying amounts as the satellites move with respect to each other; and modifying the antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites as a function of orbital position to avoid substantially interfering overlap or significant no-coverage gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 5)
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3. A method of operation of a satellite communication system involving two or more satellites whose antenna patterns overlap or gap during some portion of an orbit of at least one of the satellites, comprising:
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determining, respectively, first and second antenna coverage patterns of antennas of first and second satellites; determining when the first and second antenna coverage patterns overlap or gap as one of the first or second satellites moves with resect to the other; and modifying the antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites as a function of time to avoid substantially interfering overlap or significant no-coverage gap, wherein the antenna converge patterns comprises cells whose activity is adapted to be modified, wherein the first determining step comprises computing locations of centers of at least peripheral cells of the antenna patterns, and wherein the first determining step further comprises calculating center-to-center distances of approaching or receding cells of the first and second antenna coverage patterns.
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4. A method of operation of a satellite communication system involving two or more satellites whose antenna patterns overlap or gap during some portion of an orbit of at least one of the satellites, comprising:
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determining, respectively, first and second antenna coverage patterns of antennas of first and second satellites; determining when the first and second antenna coverage patterns overlap or gap as one of the first or second satellites moves with respect to the other; and modifying the antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites as a function of time to avoid substantially interfering overlap or significant nocoverage gap, wherein the antenna coverage patterns comprise cells whose activity is adapted to be modified, wherein the first determining step comprises computing locations of centers of at least peripheral cells of the antenna patterns; wherein the first determining step further comprises calculating center-to-center distances of approaching or receding cells of the first and second antenna coverage patterns; and wherein the calculated center-to-center distances are compared to predetermined center-to-center distances for the same cells and the antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites modified when the calculated center-to-center distances different from the predetermined center-to-center distance so as to result in substantial interference or non-coverage gap as the satellites approach or depart.
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6. A method for controlling the operation of multi-satellite communication system, comprising:
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determining information concerning the orbital position or time when an antenna pattern of a first orbiting satellite substantially overlaps or gaps an antenna pattern of a second satellite in a different but approaching orbit wherein both antenna patterns move over the surface of the earth and relative to each other and service, except for overlap, different geographic regions; storing information related thereto on board the first or second satellite or both; and based on such stored information, incrementally modifying the antenna pattern of one or both satellites to reduce the overlap or gap during portions of the orbit when the satellites converge or diverge. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for managing satellite antenna coverage of a non-geostationary orbiting multi-satellite system for providing communication services to users on earth to avoid interference or gaps between antenna patterns of approaching or departing satellites, comprising:
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memory means for storing information concerning predetermined portions of an orbit when an antenna pattern of one active satellite will or will not interfere which an antenna pattern of another active satellite, wherein said antenna patterns of said active satellites move over the surface of the earth as a consequence of the orbits; satellite locator means for determining current orbital information of the one satellite; and controller means for comparing such current orbital information to the stored orbital information to determine when a predetermined decision criteria is met, and then incrementally modifying an antenna pattern associated with the one or another satellite to avoid substantial interference or gaps between their antenna patterns while both satellites continue providing communication services. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of operation of a non-geostationary orbiting satellite communication system involving two or more satellites whose antenna patterns overlap or gap during some portion of an orbit of at least one of the satellites, comprising:
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determining, respectively, first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns of antennas of first and second satellites; determining when the first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns overlap or gap as one of the first or second satellites moves with respect to the other; and incrementally modifying the antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites as a function of time by altering one or more of the multiple cells of one or both of the antenna patterns to avoid substantially interfering overlap or significant no-coverage gap while both satellites continue to provide communication services.
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24. A method of operation of a non-geostationary orbiting satellite communication system involving two or more satellites whose antenna patterns overlap or gap during some portion of an orbit of at least one of the satellites, comprising:
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determining, respectively, first and second antenna coverage patterns of antennas of first and second satellites; determining when the first and second antenna coverage patterns overlap or gap as one of the first or second satellites moves with respect to the other; and incrementally modifying the antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites as a function of time to avoid substantially interfering overlap or significant no-coverage gap while maintaining operation of both satellites.
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25. A method of operation of a non-geostationary orbiting satellite communication system involving two or more satellites whose antenna patterns overlap or gap during some portion of an orbit of at least one of the satellites, comprising:
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determining, respectively, first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns of antennas of first and second satellites; determining when the first and second multicelled antenna coverage patterns overlap or gap as one of the first or second satellites moves with respect to the other; and incrementally modifying peripheral cells of the multicelled antenna coverage pattern of one or both satellites as a function of time to avoid substantially interfering overlap or significant no-coverage gap while both satellites continue providing communication to users on earth.
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Specification