Apparatus and method to implement a flexible hub-spoke satellite communications network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multi-beam satellite comprising:
- an input section to receive a plurality of first spot beams via a plurality of uplink antennas, each of the plurality of uplink antennas being repositionable to receive a test signal transmitted from a single earth station;
an output section to transmit a plurality of second spot beams via a plurality of downlink antennas, each of the plurality of downlink antennas being repositionable to retransmit the test signal to the single earth station; and
a payload architecture coupled between said input section and said output section, said payload architecture flexibly and selectively power dividing, switching and filtering signals from said plurality of first spot beams received by said input section and routing the signals to said output section to be transmitted as said plurality of second spot beams, said payload architecture being operative to select any of the plurality of first spot beams to contain a gateway.
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Abstract
A multi-beam satellite comprises an input section receiving a plurality of first spot beams and an output section transmitting a plurality of second spot beams. A payload architecture is coupled between the input section and output section. It flexibly and selectively switches and filters the first plurality of spot beams received by the input section and provides signals to the output section to be transmitted as the second plurality of spot beams.
33 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A multi-beam satellite comprising:
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an input section to receive a plurality of first spot beams via a plurality of uplink antennas, each of the plurality of uplink antennas being repositionable to receive a test signal transmitted from a single earth station; an output section to transmit a plurality of second spot beams via a plurality of downlink antennas, each of the plurality of downlink antennas being repositionable to retransmit the test signal to the single earth station; and a payload architecture coupled between said input section and said output section, said payload architecture flexibly and selectively power dividing, switching and filtering signals from said plurality of first spot beams received by said input section and routing the signals to said output section to be transmitted as said plurality of second spot beams, said payload architecture being operative to select any of the plurality of first spot beams to contain a gateway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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5. A multi-beam satellite comprising:
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an input section to receive uplink signals from a plurality of first spot beams via any one of a plurality of uplink antennas; an output section to transmit a plurality of second spot beams via any one of a plurality of downlink antennas; and a payload architecture coupled between said input section and said output section, said payload architecture flexibly and selectively switching and filtering said plurality of first spot beams received at said input section and routing the switched and filtered plurality of second spot beams transmitted by said output section so as to perform testing of each of said plurality of first spot beams and each of said plurality of second spot beams; wherein said payload architecture selectively switches said plurality of first spot beams to allow any uplink signal to act as a gateway signal for purposes of testing. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 21)
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11. A method of testing a multi-beam satellite, said method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of first spot beams at said satellite via any one of a plurality of uplink antennas; transmitting a plurality of second spot beams from said satellite via any one of a plurality of downlink antennas; switching said plurality of first spot beams to allow connectivity of a first spot beam in a cell with a second spot beam in said cell; and sending a test signal from a single ground station on said first spot beam and receiving the test signal at said second spot beam to test said first spot beam and said second spot beam; wherein any one of said plurality of first spot beams can act as a gateway for the purposes of testing said first spot beam and said second spot beam. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification