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Method and apparatus for providing additional resources in a satellite communication system

  • US 5,978,653 A
  • Filed: 05/02/1997
  • Issued: 11/02/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for providing additional resources in a satellite communication system wherein said satellite communication system comprises a plurality of communication satellites located in orbital planes and a seam exists between a first orbital plane and an other orbital plane, said seam existing when said first orbital plane and said other orbital plane are adjacent and first communication satellites traveling in said first orbital plane are moving in a direction opposite to other communication satellites traveling in said other orbital plane and crosslinks do not exist between said first orbital plane and said other orbital plane, said method comprising the steps of:

  • positioning at least one seam satellite between said first orbital plane and said other orbital plane;

    crosslinking said at least one seam satellite to an edge satellite, said edge satellite is one of said other communication satellites or one of said first communication satellites, said crosslinking accomplished by a crosslink communication channel between said at least one seam satellite and said edge satellite;

    adding said at least one seam satellite to a node access list, said node access list denoting accessibility to said at least one seam satellite in said satellite communication system;

    using said at least one seam satellite to provide said additional resources; and

    updating said node access list according to dynamic conditions in said satellite communication system, wherein said updating step comprises the steps of;

    comparing in-use crosslink channels against a crosslink capacity;

    setting a seam satellite access status to deny a new seam satellite from accessing said satellite communication system, when said in-use crosslink channels exceeds said crosslink capacity; and

    resetting said seam satellite access status to allow said new seam satellite to access said satellite communication system, when said in-use crosslink channels does not exceed said crosslink capacity.

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