Interleaved Satellite Spot Beams for Higher Capacity Density
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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 the high costs associated with launching large satellites.
Innovation Solution
The approach involves interleaving the frequency reuse plans of multiple satellites to form an aggregate frequency reuse cell plan, allowing each cell to be covered by a combination of spot beams from multiple satellites, thereby increasing capacity density without increasing satellite size, weight, power, or complexity, and reducing launch costs by using fewer antennas and more efficient spectrum reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of spot beams is increased to provide higher capacity density, then system capacity density is improved, but satellite size, weight, power, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the frequency reuse plan into segments assigned to different satellites. Each satellite implements a simplified frequency reuse pattern with fewer beams, while the aggregate system achieves high capacity density through coordinated operation of multiple satellites with segmented frequency assignments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-satellite three-dimensional complex beam structure to a multi-satellite system where capacity density is achieved by adding the spatial dimension of multiple satellites. This distributes the complexity across multiple simpler units rather than concentrating it in one complex satellite.
2Productivity
If more antennas are added to increase capacity density, then system capacity is improved, but satellite size, weight, and launch costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the capabilities of multiple satellites, each with fewer antennas, to achieve the aggregate capacity of a single satellite with many antennas. The frequency reuse plans of multiple satellites are merged to create an aggregate plan that provides high capacity density without requiring any single satellite to carry excessive antenna weight.
3Productivity
If frequency reuse patterns are made more dense to increase capacity, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but inter-beam interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency spectrum is segmented and assigned to different satellites in a coordinated manner. Each satellite implements a frequency reuse pattern that avoids interference within its own set of beams, while the overall system achieves dense spectrum utilization through the combined frequency plans of multiple satellites operating in coordination.
Data Source
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.