EP0748062A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple satellite repeater capacity loading with multiple spread spectrum gateway antennas
Assignee: Qualcomm Inc
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Filing: 1996-03-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A communication system (10), and a method executed by same, for allocating communications traffic through a plurality of satellites (12) of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites. Each of the plurality of satellites is oriented, at any given time when in view of a ground station (18), at a particular elevation angle. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing each of the plurality of satellites with a receiver for receiving communication links from the ground station and a transmitter for transmitting communication links to user terminals; (b) in response to a request for service, determining if a highest elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; (c) if yes, assigning a new communication link to the highest elevation angle satellite; (d) if no, determining if a second highest elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; and (e) if yes, assigning a new communication link to the second highest elevation angle satellite. A number of different criteria can be employed in determining if a satellite can be assigned a new communication link, including: determining if the associated satellite has already been assigned a predetermined maximum number of communication links; and determining if the associated satellite, or a particular beam, is transmitting at or near to a power level that corresponds to a maximum peak flux density at the surface of the earth. Each of the steps of assigning is preferably accomplished such that the communication link is simultaneously established through at least two of the satellites to provide for diversity reception at a user's terminal (13).
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen S. Carter
- 👤 Robert A. Wiedeman
- 👤 William Ames
- 👤 Paul A. Monte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:41
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/14; H04B7/15; H04B7/185; H04B7/1853; H04B7/18539; H04B7/18541; H04B7/18532; H04B7/18534
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for allocating communications traffic through a plurality of satellites of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites, each of the plurality of satellites being oriented, at any given time when in view of a ground station, at a particular elevation angle, comprising the steps of: providing each of the plurality of satellites with a receiver for receiving communication links from the ground station, a transmitter for transmitting communication links to user terminals, a receiver for receiving communication links from user terminals, and a transmitter for transmitting communication links to the ground station; in response to a request for service, determining if a highest elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; if yes, assigning a new communication link to the highest elevation angle satellite; if no, determining if a lower elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; and if yes, assigning a new communication link to a lower elevation angle satellite.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if the satellite has already been assigned a predetermined maximum number of communication links.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if the satellite is transmitting at or near to a power level that corresponds to a maximum peak flux density.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each satellite transmits a plurality of beams to the earth, and wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if a beam to which the new communication link would be assigned is operating at a maximum predetermined power level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each satellite transmits a plurality of beams to the earth, and wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if a beam to which the new communication link would be assigned is transmitting at or near to a power level that corresponds to a maximum peak flux density.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the steps of assigning include the further steps of: determining if the communication link is to be operated in a diversity reception mode at the corresponding user's terminal; if yes, determining if at least one next lower elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; and if yes, also assigning the communication link to the next lower elevation angle satellite such that the communication link is simultaneously established through at least two of the satellites.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 and including a step of initiating the request for service with a user terminal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 and including a step of initiating the request for service through a ground station.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for handing off a communication link from one satellite to another satellite a constellation of low earth orbit satellites, each of the plurality of satellites being oriented, at any given time when in view of a ground station, at a particular elevation angle, comprising the steps of: providing each of the plurality of satellites with a receiver for receiving communication links from the ground station, a transmitter for transmitting communication links to user terminals, a receiver for receiving communication links from user terminals, and a transmitter for transmitting communication links to the ground station; in response to a handoff requirement, determining if a highest elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; if yes, assigning the handoff communication link as a new communication link to the highest elevation angle satellite; if no, determining if a lower elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; and if yes, assigning the handoff communication link as a new communication link to a lower elevation angle satellite.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if the satellite has already been assigned a predetermined maximum number of communication links.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if the satellite is transmitting at or near to a power level that corresponds to a maximum peak flux density.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein each satellite transmits a plurality of beams to the earth, and wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if a beam to which the new communication link would be assigned is operating at a maximum predetermined power level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein each satellite transmits a plurality of beams to the earth, and wherein the steps of determining each include a step of determining if a beam to which the new communication link would be assigned is transmitting at or near to a power level that corresponds to a maximum peak flux density.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of the steps of assigning include the further steps of: determining if the handoff communication link is to be operated in a diversity reception mode at the corresponding user's terminal; if yes, determining if at least one next lower elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link; and if yes, also assigning the handoff communication link to the next lower elevation angle satellite such that the handoff communication link is simultaneously established through at least two of the satellites.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
211 words
A communication system, comprising: a constellation of earth orbiting satellites individual ones of which each comprise means for receiving a plurality of communication feeder links from at least one ground station and means for transmitting the received communication feeder links to a plurality of terrestrially located user terminals; and at least one ground station including means for transmitting said plurality of communication feeder links to at least one of said satellites and further comprising means for coupling said plurality of feeder links to a terrestrially located telecommunications system; wherein each of the plurality of satellites is oriented, at any given time when in view of said at least one ground station, at a particular elevation angle, and further comprising, means, responsive to a request for service to establish a communication link, for determining if a highest elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link and, if yes, for assigning a new communication link to the highest elevation angle satellite, said determining means being further responsive, if the highest elevation angle satellite cannot be assigned a new communication link, for determining if a lower elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link and, if yes, for assigning a new communication link to the lower highest elevation angle satellite.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a communication system control means that is bidirectionally coupled to said at least one ground station through a data link, and wherein said determining means determines if a satellite has already been assigned a predetermined maximum number of communication links based at least in part on information received through said data link.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a communication system control means that is bidirectionally coupled to said at least one ground station through a data link, and wherein said determining means determines if a satellite is transmitting at or near to a power level that corresponds to a maximum peak flux density based at least in part on information received through said data link.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
81 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 15 wherein each satellite transmits a plurality of beams to the earth, and further comprising a communication system control means that is bidirectionally coupled to said at least one ground station through a data link, and wherein said determining means determines if a beam to which the new communication link would be assigned is operating at a maximum predetermined power level based at least in part on information received through said data link.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
78 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 15 wherein each satellite transmits a plurality of beams to the earth, and further comprising a communication system control means that is bidirectionally coupled to said at least one ground station through a data link, and wherein said determining means determines if a beam to which the new communication link would be assigned is transmitting at or near to a power level that corresponds to a maximum peak flux density.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
A communication system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said determining means further comprises: means for determining if the communication link is to be operated in a diversity reception mode at the corresponding user's terminal and, if yes, for determining if at least one next lower elevation angle satellite can be assigned a new communications link and, if yes, for also assigning the communication link to the next lower elevation angle satellite such that the communication link is simultaneously established through at least two of the satellites.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for allocating communications traffic through a plurality of satellites of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites, each of the plurality of satellites being oriented, at any given time when in view of a ground station, at a particular elevation angle, comprising the steps of: providing each of the plurality of satellites with a receiver for receiving spread spectrum communication links from the ground station, a transmitter for transmitting spread spectrum communication links to user terminals, a receiver for receiving spread spectrum communication links from user terminals, and a transmitter for transmitting spread spectrum communication links to the ground station; in response to a request for service to establish a new spread spectrum communication link, determining in order, starting with a highest elevation angle satellite, whether each of the satellites that are in view of the ground station can be assigned an additional communications link; and assigning the new communication link to at least two of the satellites.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for allocating communications traffic through a plurality of satellites of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites, each of the plurality of satellites being oriented, at any given time when in view of a ground station, at a particular elevation angle, comprising the steps of: providing each of the plurality of satellites with a receiver for receiving spread spectrum communication links from the ground station, a transmitter for transmitting spread spectrum communication links to user terminals, a receiver for receiving spread spectrum communication links from user terminals, and a transmitter for transmitting spread spectrum communication links to the ground station; in response to a request to handoff an existing communication link, determining in order, starting with a highest elevation angle satellite, whether each of the satellites that are in view of the ground station can be assigned an additional communications link; and assigning the handoff communication link to at least two of the satellites.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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