NETWORK-ACCESS SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20080055152A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: Hudson, Erwin C., Martin, Remberto L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/353
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method for use in managing satellite communications includes: receiving, at a first earth-based gateway antenna system, one or more microwave communication signals from a substantially geostationary satellite; monitoring for a performance change in at least one signal from the satellite; and, in response to detecting a performance change in the at least one signal, transmitting instructions to the satellite to transmit at least a portion of the one or more microwave communication signals to a second earth-based gateway antenna system.

Claims

1. A satellite communications system, comprising:

a first microwave radiator configured to direct microwave signals to a first earth-based gateway antenna system, the microwave signals carrying communications data from a first user terminal located in a spot beam coverage region;

a first signal splitter configured to collect at least a portion of communications data from the first user terminal;

a second microwave radiator configured to direct microwave signals to a second earth-based gateway antenna system, the microwave signals carrying communications data from a second user terminal;

a second splitter configured to collect at least a portion of communications data from the second user terminal;

a third microwave radiator configured to direct microwave signals to a third earth-based gateway antenna system; and

a first selector configured to selectively couple the third microwave radiator to a selected one of the first and second splitters, such that the microwave signals directed by the third microwave radiator carry communications data collected from the selected one of the first and second splitters.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first receiver configured to receive microwave signals from the first earth-based gateway antenna, the first receiver coupled to a first combiner; and

a second receiver configured to receive microwave signals from the second earth-based gateway antenna, the second receiver coupled to a second combiner.

3. The system of claim 2, farther comprising:

a third receiver configured to receive microwave signals from the third earth-based gateway antenna; and

a second selector configured to selectively couple the third receiver to a selected one of the first and second combiners.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third microwave radiators comprise a feed horn.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second splitters comprise a directional coupler.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first selector comprises a switch.

7. A satellite communications system, comprising:

a first feed horn configured to direct microwave signals to a first earth-based gateway antenna system, the microwave signals carrying communications data from a first user terminal located in a spot beam coverage region;

a first directional coupler configured to collect at least a portion of communications data from the first user terminal;

a second feed horn configured to direct microwave signals to a second earth-based gateway antenna system, the microwave signals carrying communications data from a second user terminal;

a second directional coupler configured to collect at least a portion of communications data from the second user terminal;

a third feed horn configured to direct microwave signals to a third earth-based gateway antenna system; and

a first switch configured to selectively couple the third feed horn to a selected one of the first and second directional couplers, such that the microwave signals directed by the third feed horn carry communications data collected from the selected one of the first and second directional couplers.

8. A method of mitigating microwave signal propagation loss for satellite communications, comprising:

transmitting a first microwave signal from a satellite to a first earth-based gateway antenna system, using a first microwave radiator, the microwave signals carrying communications data from an earth-based user terminal;

detecting propagation loss in at least one signal between the satellite and the first earth-based gateway antenna system; and

transmitting a second microwave signal from the satellite to a second earth-based gateway antenna, using a second microwave radiator, the second microwave signal carrying communications data from the earth-based user terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the microwave signal propagation loss is due to weather.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the microwave signal propagation loss is due to one of electrical failure, fire, flood, or tornado.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising using a first switch to communicatively couple the second microwave radiator to a splitter, configured to collect at least a portion of the communications data from the earth-based user terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a second switch to communicatively couple communications data received from the second earth-based gateway to a microwave signal for transmission to the earth-based user terminal.

13. A method for use in managing satellite communications, comprising:

receiving, at a first earth-based gateway antenna system, one or more microwave communication signals from a substantially geostationary satellite;

monitoring for a performance change in at least one signal from the satellite; and

in response to detecting a performance change in the at least one signal, transmitting instructions to the satellite to transmit at least a portion of the one or more microwave communication signals to a second earth-based gateway antenna system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the performance change is due to weather.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the performance change is due to one of electrical failure, fire, flood, or tornado.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving at the satellite, the instructions to transmit at least a portion of the one or more microwave communications signals to the second earth-based gateway antenna system; and

using a switch, selectively coupling a transmitter to a selected one of a plurality of splitters.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

using the selected one of the plurality of splitters, collecting the at least a portion of the one or more microwave communication signals; and

transmitting the at least a portion of the one or more microwave communication signals to the second earth-based gateway antenna system.

18. A method for use in managing satellite communication signal traffic, comprising:

monitoring, at a satellite, a signal from a first earth-based gateway antenna system; and

in response to detecting a performance change in the monitored signal, transmitting one or more microwave communication signals from the satellite to a second earth-based gateway antenna system.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the performance change is due to weather.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the performance change is due to one of electrical failure, fire, flood, or tornado.