Snap to grid variable beam size digital beamforming system
First Claim
1. A method for providing satellite communication channels within a satellite footprint, the method comprising the steps ofgenerating a predetermined grid for the satellite footprint, the predetermined grid containing link margin information for the communication channels;
- extracting variable beam sizes from the link margin information;
forming beams such that the beams match the variable beam sizes, the beams containing the communication channels; and
aligning the beams with the predetermined grid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite communications system (10) provides for snap to grid variable beam size digital beamforming. The communications system (10) has an antenna configuration (20) for maintaining communications links with satellite networking equipment, and a signal processing system (30) for processing signals resulting from the communications links. The beamforming subsystem (40) forms beams based on the processed signals wherein the beams match predetermined grid information. The beamforming subsystem (40) includes a grid database (50) containing predetermined grid information. A beamforming processor (60) converts the predetermined grid information contained in the grid database (50) antenna coefficients. An antenna management system forms beams based on the antenna coefficients.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing satellite communication channels within a satellite footprint, the method comprising the steps of
generating a predetermined grid for the satellite footprint, the predetermined grid containing link margin information for the communication channels; -
extracting variable beam sizes from the link margin information;
forming beams such that the beams match the variable beam sizes, the beams containing the communication channels; and
aligning the beams with the predetermined grid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A satellite communications system comprising:
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an antenna configuration for maintaining communications links with satellite networking equipment;
a signal processing system for processing signals resulting from the communications links; and
a beamforming subsystem for forming beams based on the signals processed by the signal processing system, the beams matching predetermined grid information, said beam forming subsystem comprising;
a grid database containing the predetermined grid information;
a beamforming processor for converting the predetermined grid information contained in the grid database into antenna coefficients, said beamforming processor comprising;
a beam location module for updating beam locations based on the predetermined grid information contained in the grid database;
a beam shape module for updating beam shapes based on the predetermined grid information and the updated beam locations;
a fault mitigation module for generating power and processing consumption management information based on satellite hardware constraints; and
a beamform coefficient processor for calculating antenna coefficients based on the beam locations updated by the beam location module, the beam shapes updated by the beam shape module, power and processing consumption management information, and physical configuration data; and
an antenna management system for forming beams based on the antenna coefficients. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
a feederlink antenna for maintaining feederlinks with ground stations;
a crosslink antenna for maintaining crosslinks with satellite vehicles; and
a subscriber antenna configuration for maintaining subscriber links with subscriber devices.
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12. The communications system of claim 11 wherein the subscriber antenna configuration includes:
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a subscriber transmit antenna for transmitting subscriber link beams to subscriber devices; and
a subscriber receive antenna for receiving subscriber link signals from subscriber devices.
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13. The communications system of claim 10 wherein the signal processing system includes:
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a communication electronics subsystem for performing communication functions in the communications system; and
a processor subsystem for performing management and control functions in the communications system, the processor subsystem updating a grid database with predetermined grid information.
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14. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the communication electronics subsystem performs frequency conversion, switching, and modem functions.
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15. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the processor subsystem performs channel management, satellite resource management and satellite control functions.
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16. A beamforming subsystem for a satellite communications system, the subsystem comprising:
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a grid database containing predetermined grid information;
a beamforming processor for converting the predetermined grid information the grid database into antenna coefficients, said beamforming processor comprising;
a beam location module for updating beam locations based on the predetermined grid information contained in the grid database;
a beam shape module for updating beam shapes based on the predetermined grid information and the updated beam locations;
a fault mitigation module for generating power and processing consumption management information based on satellite hardware constraints; and
a beamform coefficient processor for calculating antenna coefficients based on the beam locations updated by the beam location module, the beam shapes updated by the beam shape module, power and processing consumption management information, and physical configuration data; and
an antenna management system for forming beams based on the antenna coefficients. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
a transmit antenna manager for forming beams for a subscriber transmit antenna; and
a receive antenna manager for forming beams for a subscriber receive antenna.
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20. The beamforming subsystem of claim 16 further including:
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a hardware constraint module for providing the beamforming processor with satellite hardware constraint data; and
a satellite position and attitude module for providing the beamforming processor with satellite position and attitude data.
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Specification