Method of configuring satellite constellation design using multiple discrete switchable spot beams

• US 6,653,975 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Nuber, Ray M., Mezger, Fritz B., Courtney, William F., Munoz, Michael S., Branscombe, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US09/990,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20030095064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 342/354, 342/374, 455/429, 455/427
• US Class Current: 342/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

A method and computer program to configure feeds on a satellite (300, 310, 320) to provide for redundant coverage when a satellite (300, 310, 320) fails. Further, this method and computer program can enable the switching of feeds from commands from a ground station (30) to activate certain feeds and deactivate other feeds when demand for service changes. In addition, this method and computer program allow for repositioning of satellites so that when one satellite fails another satellite may take over its area of coverage by switching active feeds without the need for placing another satellite in orbit.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a constellation of satellites, said method comprising:

determining a first set of population centers to be covered by a first satellite;

determining a second set of population centers to be covered by a second satellite;

determining a third set of population centers, wherein the third set of population centers is all common population centers between the first set of population centers and the second set of population centers;

mapping a first union of the first set of population centers and the third set of population centers onto a feed antenna array for the first satellite; and

mapping a second union of the second set of population centers and the third set of population centers onto a feed antenna array and for the second satellite.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining the connectivity between the first set of population centers and the third set of population centers on the first satellite to maximize revenue received from the first satellite.

3. The method recited in claim 2, further comprising:

determining the connectivity between the first set of population centers and the third set of population centers to maximize revenue from the second satellite.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein determining the first set of population centers to be covered by the first satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein determining the second set of population centers to be covered by the second satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the first satellite and the second satellite are located in different longitudinal locations in geo-synchronous orbits.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein when a failure occurs on the first satellite, the second satellite switches over to cover population centers handled by the first satellite upon receipt of a command from a ground station.

8. The method recited in claim 6, wherein when a failure occurs on the second satellite, the first satellite switches over to cover population centers handled by the second satellite upon receipt of a command from a ground station.

9. A method of configuring feeds on an antenna of a satellite, said method comprising:

determining a first set of primary population centers to be covered by the satellite;

determining a second set of secondary population centers to be covered by the satellite;

mapping the first set and the second set into the feeds of the antenna of the satellite; and

determining the connectivity between the first set and the second set to maximize the probability that at least a combination of switching feeds will result in a set of population centers that have a total revenue above a minimum threshold value.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein determining the first set of primary population centers to be covered by the satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein determining the second set of secondary population centers to be covered by the satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

12. The method recited in claim 9, wherein determining the connectivity between the first set and the second set maximizes revenue received from the satellite.

13. A method of configuring a plurality of feeds on a plurality of satellites to supply backup redundancy for a failed satellite;

said method comprising;

determining a first set of population centers to be covered by a first satellite;

determining a second set of population centers to be covered by a second satellite;

mapping the first set of population centers onto the feed array of the first satellite;

mapping the second set of population centers onto the feed array of the second satellite;

determining the union between the mapped first set of population centers and the mapped second set of population centers; and

mapping the union onto the feed array of the first satellite.

14. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising:

moving the first satellite to a longitudinal position in proximity of the second satellite when a failure is detected in the second satellite.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the first satellite activates the union of feeds and the feeds mapped to the first satellite for the second satellite.

16. The method recited in claim 15, wherein upon activation of the union of feeds and the feeds mapped to the first satellite, the second satellite establishes communications with a plurality of ground stations previously communicated to by the second satellite.

17. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising:

taking the second satellite offline.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and executable by a computer for configuring a constellation of satellites, comprising:

determining a first set of population centers to be covered by a first satellite;

determining a second set of population centers to be covered by a second satellite;

determining a third set of population centers, wherein the third set of population centers is all common population centers between the first set of population centers and the second set of population centers;

mapping a first union of the first set of population centers and the third set of population centers onto a feed antenna array for the first satellite; and

mapping a second union of the second set of population centers and the third set of population centers onto a feed antenna array and for the second satellite.

19. The computer program recited in claim 18, further comprising:

determining the connectivity between the first set of population centers and the third set of population centers on the first satellite to maximize revenue received from the first satellite.

20. The computer program recited in claim 19, further comprising:

determining the connectivity between the first set of population centers and the third set of population centers to maximize revenue from the second satellite.

21. The computer program recited in claim 20, wherein determining the first set of population centers to be covered by the first satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

22. The computer program recited in claim 21, wherein determining the second set of population centers to be covered by the second satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

23. The computer program recited in claim 22, wherein the first satellite and the second satellite are located in different longitudinal locations in geo-synchronous orbits.

24. The computer program recited in claim 23, wherein when a failure occurs on the first satellite, the second satellite switches to cover population centers handled by the first satellite upon receipt of a command from a ground station.

25. The computer program recited in claim 24, wherein when a failure occurs on the second satellites the first satellite switches over to cover population centers handled by the second satellite upon receipt of a command from a ground station.

26. A computer program for configuring feeds on an antenna of a satellite, comprising:

determining a first set of primary population centers to be covered by the satellite;

determining a second set of secondary population centers to be covered by the satellite;

mapping the first set and the second set into the feeds of the antenna of the satellite; and

determining the connectivity between the first set and the second set to maximize the probability that at least a combination of switching feeds will result in a set of population centers that have a total revenue above a minimum threshold value.

27. The computer program recited in claim 26, wherein determining the first set of primary population centers to be covered by the satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

28. The computer program recited in claim 27, wherein determining the second set of secondary population centers to be covered by the satellite, further comprises:

selecting population centers based on overall population size, projected population growth, demographics, demand for service, projected demand for service, economic growth and stability.

29. The computer program recited in claim 26, wherein determining the connectivity between the first set and the second set maximizes revenue received from the satellite.

30. A computer program for configuring a plurality of feeds on a plurality of satellites to supply backup redundancy for a failed satellite;

comprising;

determining a first set of population centers to be covered by a first satellite;

determining a second set of population centers to be covered by a second satellite;

mapping the first set of population centers onto the feed array of the first satellite;

mapping the second set of population centers onto the feed array of the second satellite;

determining the union between the mapped first set of population centers and the mapped second set of population centers; and

mapping the union onto the feed array of the first satellite.

31. The computer program recited in claim 30, further comprising:

moving the first satellite to a longitudinal position in proximity of the second satellite when a failure is detected in the second satellite.

32. The computer program recited in claim 31, wherein the first satellite activates the union of feeds and the feeds mapped to the first satellite for the second satellite.

33. The computer program recited in claim 32, wherein upon activation of the union of feeds and the feeds mapped to the first satellite, the second satellite establishes communications with a plurality of ground stations previously communicated to by the second satellite.