Satellite system architecture for coverage areas of disparate demand

• US 9,236,934 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Hudson, Erwin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sefcheck, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Esmaeilian, Majid
• Application Number:
  US12/906,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 370/317, 370/316
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18576 Satellite systems for providing narrowband data service to fixed or mobile stations, e.g. using a minisatellite, a microsatellite for selecting H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

Disclosed is a satellite communication system that allocates bandwidth to maximize the capacity of the communication system while providing service to geographical areas having different demands. A smaller portion of the frequency spectrum can be allocated for subscriber beams that supply service to low demand areas. A larger portion of the frequency spectrum can be provided to subscriber beams that provide access to high demand areas. Allocation of bandwidth can be determined by the amount of demand in low demand areas versus the amount of demand in high demand areas. High demand gateways are physically located in low demand subscriber beams, while low demand gateways are physically located in high demand subscriber beams, which prevents interference.

Claims

1. A method of providing satellite communication services using an allocated frequency spectrum having a predetermined bandwidth in a satellite communication system that has multiple beams covering high demand areas and low demand areas, comprising:

allocating a first percentage of said predetermined bandwidth as a low demand frequency spectrum for use in low demand subscriber beams and low demand gateway beams so that said low demand areas are provided with a low demand subscriber capacity that corresponds to said first percentage of said predetermined bandwidth allocated as said low demand frequency spectrum;

allocating a second percentage of said predetermined bandwidth as a high demand frequency spectrum for use in high demand subscriber beams and high demand gateway beams so that said high demand areas are provided with a high demand subscriber capacity that corresponds to said second percentage of said predetermined bandwidth allocated as said high demand frequency spectrum, said high demand frequency spectrum being different from said low demand frequency spectrum, wherein said first percentage and said second percentage of said predetermined bandwidth are determined based on a demand for service in said low demand areas compared to a demand for service in said high demand areas;

directing said low demand subscriber beams to said low demand areas;

directing said high demand subscriber beams to said high demand areas;

directing said low demand gateway beams to low demand gateways located in said high demand areas such that said low demand gateway beams are not in the same geographical area as said low demand subscriber beams, said low demand gateway beams utilizing a same portion of said low demand frequency spectrum as said low demand subscriber beams; and

directing said high demand gateway beams to high demand gateways located in said low demand areas such that said high demand gateway beams are not in the same geographical area as said high demand subscriber beams, said high demand gateway beams utilizing a same portion of said high demand frequency spectrum as said high demand subscriber beams.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allocating an additional percentage of said predetermined bandwidth as additional subscriber beam spectra and additional gateway beam spectra for use by additional subscriber beams and by additional gateway beams so that additional demand areas are provided with additional subscriber capacity that corresponds to said additional percentage of said predetermined bandwidth that are allocated to said additional subscriber beam spectra and said additional gateway beam spectra;

directing said additional subscriber beams to said additional demand areas so that said additional subscriber beam spectra and said additional gateway beam spectra are not used in the same geographical area, which reduces interference.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said high demand areas and said low demand areas from empirical data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining said high demand areas and said low demand areas from demographic data.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first percentage and said second percentage comprise substantially all of said predetermined bandwidth of said allocated frequency spectrum.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said first percentage, said second percentage and said additional percentage of said predetermined bandwidth comprise substantially all of said predetermined bandwidth of said allocated frequency spectrum.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said allocated frequency spectrum is non-contiguous.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said low demand frequency spectrum is non-contiguous.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said high demand frequency spectrum is non-contiguous.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said low demand frequency spectrum and said high demand frequency spectrum are non-contiguous.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said allocated frequency spectrum has multiple polarizations.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said low demand frequency spectrum has multiple polarizations.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said high demand frequency spectrum has multiple polarizations.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said low demand frequency spectrum and said high demand frequency spectrum have multiple polarizations.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said demand for service in said low demand areas and said demand for service in said high demand areas are determined based on at least one of empirical demand data of said low demand areas and said high demand areas, demographic information of said low demand areas and said high demand areas, or a combination thereof.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said demand for service in said low demand areas and said demand for service in said high demand areas are determined based on averages of said empirical demand data of said low demand areas and said high demand areas.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said demographic information of said low demand areas and said high demand areas comprises population information of said low demand areas and said high demand areas.

15. A satellite communication system using an allocated frequency spectrum having a predetermined bandwidth that provides satellite communication services to high demand areas and low demand areas comprising:

a plurality of low demand subscriber beam antennas that direct low demand subscriber beams to low demand geographical areas, said low demand subscriber beams using a low demand frequency spectrum which is a first percentage of said predetermined bandwidth;

a plurality of high demand subscriber beam antennas that direct high demand subscriber beams to high demand geographical areas, said high demand subscriber beams using a high demand frequency spectrum which is a second percentage of said predetermined bandwidth, said high demand frequency spectrum being different from said low demand frequency spectrum, wherein said first percentage and said second percentage of said predetermined bandwidth are determined based on a demand for service in said low demand areas compared to a demand for service in said high demand areas;

at least one low demand gateway beam antenna that directs a low demand gateway beam to a low demand gateway located in said high demand geographical areas to reduce interference between said low demand gateway beam, using said low demand frequency spectrum, and said high demand subscriber beams, using said high demand frequency spectrum, said low demand gateway beam utilizing a same portion of said low demand frequency spectrum as said low demand subscriber beams, wherein said low demand gateway beam is not in the same geographical area as said low demand subscriber beams; and

at least one high demand gateway beam antenna that directs a high demand gateway beam to a high demand gateway that is located in said low demand geographical areas to reduce interference between said high demand gateway beam, using said high demand frequency spectrum, and said low demand subscriber beams, using said low demand frequency spectrum, said high demand gateway beam utilizing a same portion of said high demand frequency spectrum as said high demand subscriber beams, wherein said high demand gateway beam is not in the same geographical area as said high demand subscriber beams.

16. The satellite communication system of claim 15 further comprising:

a plurality of additional subscriber beam antennas that direct additional subscriber beams to additional geographical areas, said additional subscriber beams using additional subscriber beam spectra which comprises an additional percentage of said predetermined bandwidth of said allocated frequency spectrum;

a plurality of additional gateway beam antennas that direct additional gateway beams to additional gateways that are located in said additional geographical areas, said additional gateway beams using additional gateway beam spectra that are different from said additional subscriber beam spectra in each geographical area of said additional geographical areas.

17. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said high demand areas and said low demand areas are selected using empirical data.

18. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said high demand areas and said low demand areas are selected using demographic data.

19. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said first percentage and said second percentage of said predetermined bandwidth of said allocated frequency spectrum comprise substantially all of said predetermined bandwidth of said allocated frequency spectrum.

20. The satellite communication system of claim 16 wherein said first percentage, said second percentage and said additional percentage of said predetermined bandwidth of said allocated frequency spectrum comprise substantially all of said predetermined bandwidth of said allocated frequency spectrum.

21. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said allocated frequency spectrum is non-contiguous.

22. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said low demand frequency spectrum is non-contiguous.

23. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said high demand frequency spectrum is non-contiguous.

24. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said allocated frequency spectrum has multiple polarizations.

25. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said low demand frequency spectrum has multiple polarizations.

26. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said high demand frequency spectrum has multiple polarizations.

30. The satellite communication system of claim 15 wherein said demand for service in said low demand areas and said demand for service in said high demand areas are determined based on at least one of empirical demand data of said low demand areas and said high demand areas, demographic information of said low demand areas and said high demand areas, or a combination thereof.

31. The satellite communication system of claim 30 wherein said demand for service in said low demand areas and said demand for service in said high demand areas are determined based on averages of said empirical demand data of said low demand areas and said high demand areas.

32. The satellite communication system of claim 30 wherein said demographic information of said low demand areas and said high demand areas comprises population information of said low demand areas and said high demand areas.