Satellite communications system
First Claim
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1. A communications system comprising:
- a plurality of regional ground stations;
a plurality of satellites located in a elliptical sub-geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth, said satellites operating in a service area in a synchronized manner to provide continuous coverage to said service area, said satellites generating a plurality of beams with widths that vary relative to position in the orbit to obtain a substantially uniform cell size covering said service area; and
a plurality of user terminals with the service area receiving communication signals from the satellite.
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Abstract
A communication system has a plurality of ground stations for communicating communication signal to a plurality of satellites located in an inclined elliptical sub-geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth. The plurality of satellites operate in a service area in a synchronized manner to provide continuous coverage to the service area. The satellites generate a plurality of beams with variable beamwidths to obtain a substantially uniform cell size covering the service area. A user terminal within the service area receives communication signals from the satellite.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A communications system comprising:
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a plurality of regional ground stations; a plurality of satellites located in a elliptical sub-geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth, said satellites operating in a service area in a synchronized manner to provide continuous coverage to said service area, said satellites generating a plurality of beams with widths that vary relative to position in the orbit to obtain a substantially uniform cell size covering said service area; and a plurality of user terminals with the service area receiving communication signals from the satellite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A communications system comprising:
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a first plurality of satellites located in an elliptical sub-geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth, said satellites operating in a service area in a synchronized manner to provide continuous coverage to said service area, said satellites generating a plurality of beams with widths that vary relative to position in the orbit to obtain a substantially uniform cell size covering said service area, said first plurality of satellites providing a first system capacity; and a second plurality of satellites deployed after said first plurality of satellites, said second plurality of satellites providing a second system capacity greater than the first system capacity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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15. A communications system as recited in clam 12 wherein said minimum elevation angle is greater than 10 degrees in said service area.
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23. A method of developing a customized satellite constellation comprising the steps of:
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developing a first satellite constellation having a first set of satellites having regional coverage having a first service area, said first constellation comprises a first plurality of satellites located in a elliptical sub-geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth, said satellites operating in a service area in a synchronized manner to provide continuous coverage to said service area, said satellites generating a plurality of beams with variable beam widths formed as a function of orbit position to obtain a substantially uniform cell size covering said service area; launching a second set of satellites to form a second satellite constellation having primary market coverage in cooperation with said first set of satellites to have a second service area greater than said first service area. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A communications system comprising;
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a plurality of regional ground stations; a plurality of satellites located in a elliptical sub-geosynchronous orbit with respect to the earth, said satellites operating in a service area in a synchronized manner to provide continuous coverage to said service area, said satellites generating a plurality of beams with variable beam widths that vary as a function of orbital position to obtain a substantially uniform cell size covering said service area; and a plurality of user terminals with the service area receiving communication signals from the satellite. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification