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Satellite communication system and method thereof

  • US 6,047,161 A
  • Filed: 11/29/1996
  • Issued: 04/04/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A satellite communication system for providing communication paths between a first user and a second user, the system comprising:

  • a plurality of low earth orbit satellites positioned in orbital planes, each of the plurality of low earth orbit satellites including a switching network, wherein the switching network in at least one of the plurality of low earth orbit satellites includes means for communicating with at least one terrestrial gateway, at least one space based gateway satellite, a plurality of users, and at least one other low earth orbit satellite;

    at least one geosynchronous orbit gateway satellite positioned to communicate with the at least one of the plurality of low earth orbit satellites via communication links;

    a first link coupling the first user to a first satellite of the plurality of low earth orbit satellites;

    a second link coupling the second user to a second satellite of the plurality of low earth orbit satellites;

    a third link coupling the first satellite to a geosynchronous orbit gateway satellite;

    a fourth link coupling the second satellite to the geosynchronous orbit gateway satellite; and

    the geosynchronous orbit gateway satellite performing call setup and routing so that a communication path is established between the first and second users via the first, second, third, and fourth links.

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