System and method for reducing interference between satellites
First Claim
1. A method of operation of a satellite system having a geostationary orbital band occupied by at least one geostationary satellite and a non-geostationary satellite in an orbit at a lower altitude than that of said at least one geostationary satellite, comprising the steps of:
- determining position of said non-geostationary satellite relative to the surface of the earth;
calculating a minimum discrimination angle between said geostationary band and non-geostationary satellite at its determined position relative to a ground station on earth, wherein said minimum discrimination angle corresponds to a predefined threshold of interference between signals received by said ground station from said non-geostationary satellite and geostationary satellites in said geostationary orbital band;
defining a forbidden band of locations on the surface of the earth from which said geostationary orbital band and said non-geostationary satellite, at its determined position, are separated by less than said minimum discrimination angle; and
controlling transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite in accordance with said position thereof so as to prevent transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite to said locations within said forbidden band.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A satellite system facilitates communications between earth stations and both geostationary satellites and non-geostationary satellites in an orbit at a lower altitude than that of said the geostationary satellites by preventing the non-geostationary satellite from transmitting signals that might possibly interfere with signals transmitted by the geostationary satellites. The non-geostationary satellite includes position acquisition subsystem for determining the position, and in particular the latitude, of the non-geostationary satellite relative to the surface of the earth. A data processor determines a forbidden band of locations on the surface of the earth all possible geostationary satellites and the non-geostationary satellite, at its determined position, are separated by less than a specified minimum discrimination angle. An antenna control subsystem in the non-geostationary satellite controls transmission of signal energy from the non-geostationary satellite in accordance with the satellites position so as to prevent transmission of signal energy from the non-geostationary satellite to said locations within the forbidden band.
37 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of operation of a satellite system having a geostationary orbital band occupied by at least one geostationary satellite and a non-geostationary satellite in an orbit at a lower altitude than that of said at least one geostationary satellite, comprising the steps of:
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determining position of said non-geostationary satellite relative to the surface of the earth; calculating a minimum discrimination angle between said geostationary band and non-geostationary satellite at its determined position relative to a ground station on earth, wherein said minimum discrimination angle corresponds to a predefined threshold of interference between signals received by said ground station from said non-geostationary satellite and geostationary satellites in said geostationary orbital band; defining a forbidden band of locations on the surface of the earth from which said geostationary orbital band and said non-geostationary satellite, at its determined position, are separated by less than said minimum discrimination angle; and controlling transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite in accordance with said position thereof so as to prevent transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite to said locations within said forbidden band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A satellite system having a geostationary orbital band occupied by at least one geostationary satellite and a non-geostationary satellite in an orbit at a lower altitude than that of said at least one geostationary satellite, said non-geostationary satellite including an antenna control subsystem comprising:
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position acquisition means for determining position of said non-geostationary satellite relative to the surface of the earth; a data processor, coupled to said position acquisition means, that defines a forbidden band of locations on the surface of the earth from which said geostationary orbital band and said non-geostationary satellite, at its determined position, are separated by less than a specified minimum discrimination angle; and means, coupled to said data processor, for controlling transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite in accordance with said position thereof so as to prevent transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite to said locations within said forbidden band. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operation of a satellite system having a geostationary orbital band occupied by at least one geostationary satellite and a non-geostationary satellite in an orbit at a lower altitude than that of said at least one geostationary satellite, comprising the steps of:
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determining position of said non-geostationary satellite relative to the surface of the earth; defining a forbidden band of locations on the surface of the earth from which said geostationary orbital band and said non-geostationary satellite, at its determined position, are separated by less than a specified minimum discrimination angle corresponding to a predefined threshold of interference at the surface of the earth between signals from said non-geostationary satellite and said geostationary satellites in said geostationary orbital band; and controlling transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite in accordance with said position thereof so as to prevent transmission of signal energy from said non-geostationary satellite to said locations within said forbidden band. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification