System and method for satellite communication
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- providing at least one satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite, wherein each said beamformer is an individual antenna feed;
causing the at least one satellite to move around the earth along a non-geostationary orbit;
establishing a data communication path between a first of the beamformers on the satellite and a communication target, the data communication path having a satellite end at the first beamformer and an target end at the communication target;
shifting the satellite end of the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers as the satellite moves along its orbit; and
directing substantially all RF wave energy for said data communication path to/from said satellite through just one said beamformer at a time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed which may include providing at least one satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite; causing the at least one satellite to move around the earth along a non-geostationary orbit; establishing a data communication path between a first of the beamformers on the satellite and a communication target, the data communication path having a satellite end at the first beamformer and an target end at the communication target; shifting the satellite end of the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers as the satellite moves along its orbit; and at least substantially reducing an amount of RF wave energy directed to beamformers of the plurality of beamformers not forming part of the data communication path.
45 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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providing at least one satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite, wherein each said beamformer is an individual antenna feed; causing the at least one satellite to move around the earth along a non-geostationary orbit; establishing a data communication path between a first of the beamformers on the satellite and a communication target, the data communication path having a satellite end at the first beamformer and an target end at the communication target; shifting the satellite end of the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers as the satellite moves along its orbit; and directing substantially all RF wave energy for said data communication path to/from said satellite through just one said beamformer at a time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 35)
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24. An apparatus, comprising
a satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite, wherein each said beamformer is an individual antenna feed; - and
a controller operable to direct a data communication path through a first beamformer of the plurality of beamformers, wherein the controller is further operable to shift the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers; wherein the controller is further operable to direct substantially all RF wave energy for said data communication path to/from said satellite through just one said beamformer at a time. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method, comprising:
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providing a first constellation of satellites within a satellite system; providing at least one additional constellation of satellites to provide a plurality of satellite constellations within the satellite system; enabling adjacent ones of the satellites in the satellite system to communicate with a single earth station; and wherein at least one of the satellites in each said constellation has a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about a lateral axis of the satellite, wherein each said beamformer is an individual antenna feed; and directing a data communication path through a first beamformer of the plurality of beamformers; shifting the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers; and directing substantially all RF wave energy for said data communication path to/from said satellite through just one said beamformer at a time. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method, comprising:
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conducting a data communication session between a first computing entity and a second computing entity over a communication network; wherein at least a portion of the data transferred over the communication network during the data communication session is transmitted over a satellite system including a plurality a satellites; wherein at least one of the satellites in said satellite system has a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite and a controller operable to direct a data communication path through a first beamformer of the plurality of beamformers, wherein each said beamformer is an individual antenna feed; the controller shifting the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers; and directing substantially all RF wave energy for said data communication path to/from said satellite through just one said beamformer at a time.
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Specification