System and method for satellite communication

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.

Description

[0001]This application is a Continuation of PCT Application Serial No. PCT / US07 / 81763, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SATELLITE COMMUNICATION”, filed Oct. 18, 2007, [Attorney docket No. 790-2-PCT], and published as Pub. No. WO 2009 / 051592 A1 on Apr. 23, 2009 which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates in general to communication systems and in particular to systems and methods for satellite based communication.[0003]Satellite communication systems provide various benefits to consumers of communication services such as for telephony, internet communications, television communications among others. Various satellite systems are currently available, which are discussed below.[0004]Satellites employing a geostationary (GSO) orbit provide the convenience of having one or more satellites in such a system remain fixed in relation to points on the surface of the earth that they communicate with....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]According to one aspect, the invention is directed to a method that 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. Preferably, the plurality of respective beams have a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about a lateral axis of the satellite. Preferably, the communication target is a first antenna, at an Earth station, configured to communicate with the satellite along a selected segment of the orbit of the satellite, the first antenna being an Earth end of the data communication path.

[0013]Preferably, the method further includes dedicating at least selected ones of the beamformers in the satellite system substantially completely to one of: transmission; and reception. Preferably, the method further includes supplementing the satellite system in a given state with at least one further constellation to provide a modified satellite system without disrupting an operation of the satellite system in the given state. Preferably, the method further includes dedicating at least selected ones of the satellites in the satellite system substantially completely to one of: transmission; and reception.

Problems solved by technology

Such latency leads to very slow communication throughput and is particularly ineffective for Internet communication.

However, such omni-directional antennas have very low gain, thereby limiting the communication throughput (communication bandwidth) achievable using this approach.

However, such increased satellite transmission power levels may exceed the power available using current satellite power generation technology, and are therefore impractical.

Such antennas are very expensive, thereby imposing a significant premium on the cost of communication services employing LEO / MEO satellite systems.

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