Interleaved Multi-Satellite Beams for Higher Frequency Reuse Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite communications systems face challenges in providing increased capacity density without sacrificing capacity in adjacent beams, while also managing satellite size, weight, power, and complexity constraints, as well as incurring high launch costs due to the need for large satellites.
Innovation Solution
The system employs multiple satellites with interleaved beams over the cell coverage area, allowing for increased capacity density without sacrificing capacity in adjacent beams and reducing satellite size, weight, power, and complexity by reusing the same spectrum in different orbital slots, thereby minimizing interference and optimizing antenna requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single satellite uses frequency reuse patterns to avoid inter-beam interference, then interference between beams is minimized, but capacity density is limited and satellite size/weight/power increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the frequency reuse pattern across multiple satellites instead of concentrating all beams on a single satellite. Each satellite carries a subset of the total beams, allowing frequency reuse to be distributed and optimized across the constellation, thereby increasing overall capacity density while maintaining interference constraints within each satellite.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-satellite three-dimensional beam pattern to a multi-satellite spatial distribution. By adding the orbital dimension and distributing beams across multiple satellites at different orbital positions, the system achieves higher capacity density without violating frequency reuse interference constraints that would limit a single satellite's beam density.
2Productivity
If satellite antenna size increases to provide more beams, then capacity density improves, but satellite weight, size, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The total beam capacity is segmented across multiple smaller satellites rather than concentrated in one large satellite. Each satellite carries a manageable subset of beams with corresponding antenna requirements, reducing individual satellite weight while achieving the same total capacity through the constellation's collective beam output.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple satellites are merged into a functional constellation that operates as a unified communication system. The combined beam output of all satellites provides the total required capacity, allowing the system to achieve high capacity density without any single satellite needing excessive weight and size.
3Productivity
If more satellites are deployed to increase capacity, then capacity density improves, but system complexity and launch costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each satellite in the constellation is designed with localized, standardized characteristics (相同数量的天线和频率复用模式), simplifying individual satellite design and manufacturing. The system achieves high capacity density through the quantity of standardized units rather than through complex individual satellite designs, reducing overall system complexity.
4Productivity
If frequency reuse distance is reduced to pack more beams, then capacity density improves, but inter-beam interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the frequency reuse distance constraint by transitioning from a single-satellite planar beam arrangement to a multi-satellite three-dimensional spatial distribution. Beams from different satellites can reuse frequencies more aggressively because the spatial separation occurs in the orbital dimension rather than requiring larger angular separation on a single satellite, thereby increasing capacity density without excessive interference.
Data Source
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Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A method is provided for interleaving frequency reuse plans of multiple satellites to form an aggregate frequency reuse cell plan. A first plurality of spot beams is generated by a first satellite for a first frequency reuse plan based on radio frequency (RF) spectrum bands. A second plurality of spot beams is generated by a second satellite for a second frequency reuse plan based on the RF spectrum bands. The first and second plurality of spot beams are interleaved to generate an aggregate frequency reuse cell plan. According to the aggregate frequency reuse plan, each of a first plurality of cells is covered by a combination of at least two of the plurality of spot beams of the first satellite, and each of a first plurality of cells is covered by a combination of at least two of the plurality of spot beams of the second satellite.