SATELLITE SYSTEM HAVING INCREASED COMMUNICATIONS CAPACITY AND METHODS FOR INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF SATELLITE SYSTEMS
First Claim
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1. A method for increasing the bandwidth of a satellite system, the satellite system comprising a plurality of satellites, wherein the plurality of satellites are arranged in multiple planes, with a nominal number of satellites in each plane, wherein the method comprises:
- establishing, between a minimal-set satellite network portal (SNP) having a first coverage area and a first one of at least two gateway antennas disposed on at least one of the satellites of the plurality, a first communications link having a first bandwidth; and
establishing, between an interstitial SNP having a second coverage area and a second one of the at least two gateway antennas disposed on the one satellite, a second communications link having a second bandwidth, wherein the second coverage area overlaps at least a portion of the first coverage area.
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Abstract
A satellite system having increased communications capacity and methods for increasing the capacity of satellite systems are disclosed.
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19 Claims
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1. A method for increasing the bandwidth of a satellite system, the satellite system comprising a plurality of satellites, wherein the plurality of satellites are arranged in multiple planes, with a nominal number of satellites in each plane, wherein the method comprises:
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establishing, between a minimal-set satellite network portal (SNP) having a first coverage area and a first one of at least two gateway antennas disposed on at least one of the satellites of the plurality, a first communications link having a first bandwidth; and establishing, between an interstitial SNP having a second coverage area and a second one of the at least two gateway antennas disposed on the one satellite, a second communications link having a second bandwidth, wherein the second coverage area overlaps at least a portion of the first coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for increasing the bandwidth of a satellite system, the satellite system comprising a plurality of satellites, wherein the plurality of satellites are arranged in multiple planes, with a nominal number of satellites in each plane, wherein the method comprises:
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disposing an interstitial satellite network portal (SNP) having a first coverage area relatively closer to a first minimal-set SNP than the first minimal-set SNP is to any other minimal-set SNP; and establishing a communications link between the interstitial SNP and one of at least two gateway antennas disposed on one of the satellites, wherein the communication link transmits an interstitial gateway beam that increases bandwidth nominally provided to the satellite by a communications link established between the first minimal-set SNP and a second of the at least two gateway antennas disposed on the one satellite. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A satellite system comprising:
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a constellation of satellites, wherein the constellation of satellites are arranged in multiple planes, with a nominal number of satellites in each plane; a first plurality of minimal-set satellite network portals (SNP), the minimal-set SNPs for transmitting information between the Internet and the satellites, wherein the first plurality of minimal set SNPs are sufficient for providing coverage to all users of the satellite system; and a second plurality of interstitial SNPs, the interstitial SNPs for supplementing bandwidth provided by the first plurality of minimal-set SNPs. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification