Multi-node point-to-point satellite communication system employing multiple geo satellites
First Claim
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1. A method for transmitting communications signals to a plurality of mobile terminals, comprising:
- processing a received signal at a ground hub;
radiating a first portion of said signal and a second portion of said signal through multiple paths to at least two satellites;
re-radiating said signal from said at least two satellites to an intended mobile terminal;
combining the first portion of the signal and the second portion of the signal at the mobile terminal to reform the signal;
whereby an orbit of said satellite is being perturbed in inclination and eccentricity relative to a common geosynchronous reference orbit;
whereby apparent satellite motion of said at least two satellites about the geosynchronous reference orbit remain substantially uniform.
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Abstract
A wireless communication system includes a satellite constellation consisting of a plurality of satellites. Each of the plurality of satellites is in an orbit whose eccentricity and inclination are perturbed relative to the same geosynchronous orbit. Each of the satellites in the constellation is capable of relaying signals in either direction between a central ground hub and a plurality of mobile user terminals. The plurality of satellites are configured such that the period of their geosynchronous orbit remains substantially constant at one sidereal day.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting communications signals to a plurality of mobile terminals, comprising:
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processing a received signal at a ground hub;
radiating a first portion of said signal and a second portion of said signal through multiple paths to at least two satellites;
re-radiating said signal from said at least two satellites to an intended mobile terminal;
combining the first portion of the signal and the second portion of the signal at the mobile terminal to reform the signal;
whereby an orbit of said satellite is being perturbed in inclination and eccentricity relative to a common geosynchronous reference orbit;
whereby apparent satellite motion of said at least two satellites about the geosynchronous reference orbit remain substantially uniform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A mobile wireless communication system, comprising:
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a satellite constellation consisting of a plurality of satellites, each of the plurality of satellites in an orbit that is a perturbed geosynchronous orbit centered about a geosynchronous reference orbit position;
each of said plurality of satellites being capable of relaying signals between the ground hub and the plurality of user terminals in either direction;
whereby as said satellite constellation appears to rotate at a uniform rate above the geosynchronous reference orbit as viewed by a single user so that the apparent inter-satellite spatial relationships are maintained. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for establishing a link between a ground hub and a plurality of mobile terminals, comprising:
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preprocessing a received signal at said ground hub;
transmitting a first portion and a second portion of said signal through different paths to a plurality of satellites in a satellite constellation to an intended one of the mobile terminals;
combining the first portion of the signal and the second portion of the signal at the mobile terminal to reform the signal;
perturbing the inclination and eccentricity of said plurality of satellites relative to a common geosynchronous reference orbit; and
determining a relationship between said inclination and said eccentricity of said plurality of satellites such that they appear to move at a constant speed along circular paths where centers are located at a position defined by a hypothetical reference satellite in an unperturbed geosynchronous orbit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification