Co-located Feeder Link Antennas via Inter-Satellite Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communications systems face challenges in managing feeder link antennas, requiring multiple, widely spaced sites that increase costs and management burdens, while existing methods for reducing feeder link bandwidth are limited in efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A satellite communications system employing a primary satellite and multiple auxiliary satellites, where the primary satellite distributes an aggregate signal spectrum to both ground-based feeder link antennas and auxiliary satellites, allowing for reduced number of feeder link antennas and efficient bandwidth utilization through inter-satellite links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple feeder link antennas are widely spaced apart to prevent interference, then signal quality is improved, but system cost and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by placing feeder link antennas at different altitudes (e.g., one at ground level and another on a tower or building). This spatial separation in the vertical dimension allows antennas to be co-located horizontally while maintaining sufficient distance to prevent interference, thus resolving the contradiction between signal quality and system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a satellite intermediary that receives signals from multiple feeder link antennas and redistributes them. This intermediary allows co-located antennas to operate simultaneously without direct interference, as the satellite processes and separates the signals, thereby maintaining signal quality while reducing system complexity
2Device complexity
If multiple feeder link antennas are co-located to reduce costs, then system cost decreases, but interference between antennas increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating antennas in the vertical dimension (different altitudes), the patent enables co-location in the horizontal plane while maintaining sufficient separation distance to minimize interference. This dimensional approach allows cost reduction through reduced site requirements while controlling harmful interference
Solution Approach 2:
The satellite acts as an intermediary that receives signals from co-located feeder link antennas and processes them to eliminate or reduce interference. This allows multiple antennas to share the same location without causing harmful interference, achieving cost reduction while maintaining signal quality
3Device complexity
If a single satellite antenna pattern covers an entire service region, then system simplicity is improved, but service coverage flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service region into multiple zones served by different satellite antenna patterns. Each pattern can be independently configured and controlled, allowing flexible service coverage while maintaining relative system simplicity. The segmentation enables adaptive service delivery without requiring complete system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A satellite communications system includes a plurality of feeder link antennas, a primary satellite, and an auxiliary satellite. The feeder link antennas are substantially co-located relative to one another. The primary satellite is configured to receive information over a plurality of return service links from radioterminals, to communicate a first portion of the information over at least one return feeder link directly to a first one of the feeder link antennas, and to communicate a second portion of the information over at least one inter-satellite link. The auxiliary satellite is spaced apart from the primary satellite, and configured to receive the second portion of the information from the primary satellite via the at least one inter-satellite link, and to communicate the second portion of the information across at least one return feeder link to a second one of the feeder link antennas.