Viasat, Inc.

Wildblue Communications, Inc.

Remberto Martin

Erwin C Hudson

Anil K Agarwal

Clifford K Burdick

James E Petranovich

Donald Wesley Becker

Raymond L Mills

Erwin Hudson

Embodiments provide high-throughput, hub-and-spoke satellite communications with geographically non-overlapping user beams and full frequency reuse. For example, a coverage area of a satellite is segmented into multiple candidate coverage zones, and an associated consumption demand is determined for each candidate coverage zone. Fixed spot beams are assigned to a subset of the candidate coverage zones according to highest associated consumption demands, such that each fixed spot beam corresponds to at least one candidate coverage zone to service an associated beam coverage area that is geographically non-overlapping with beam coverage areas of all other fixed spot beams, and each fixed spot beam is allocated full use of a same spectrum. One or more steerable beams selectively cover lower consumption demand zones.

High-throughput satellite with sparse fixed user beam coverage

Embodiments provide techniques for dynamic spot beam assignment in a geostationary satellite communications network. For example, a ground processing node in the geostationary satellite network can monitor spot beam coverage area location and can detect a beam drift trigger indicating present drifting of one or more coverage areas. Ground terminals can be identified as serviced by spot beams associated with the drifting coverage area(s) and as experiencing a signal quality impact from the drifting. The ground terminal node can compute an update to a beam assignment map having a reassignment of the identified user terminals from their presently servicing spot beams to another of the spot beams in a manner that seeks to address at least some of the signal quality impact identified as associated with the drifting. Some embodiments further account for load balancing, and/or other factors, and/or can maintain stateful communications between the reassigned user terminals and the geostationary satellite.

Dynamic satellite beam assignment

In one embodiment, a satellite communications system includes first and second receivers, splitters, and combiners. The first receiver is configured to receive a first microwave communications signal; and the first splitter is coupled to the first receiver and configured to split the first microwave communications signal into at least first and second channels. The second receiver is configured to receive a second microwave communications signal; and the second splitter is coupled to the second receiver and configured to split the second microwave communications signal into at least third and fourth channels. The first combiner is coupled to the first and second splitters and configured to combine the first and third channels to form a third microwave communications signal; and the second combiner is coupled to the first and second splitters and configured to combine the second and fourth channels to form a fourth microwave communications signal.

Incrementally increasing deployment of gateways

According to one embodiment, a method for use in managing satellite communications includes: receiving, at a first earth-based gateway antenna system, one or more microwave communication signals from a substantially geostationary satellite; monitoring for a performance change in at least one signal from the satellite; and, in response to detecting a performance change in the at least one signal, transmitting instructions to the satellite to transmit at least a portion of the one or more microwave communication signals to a second earth-based gateway antenna system.

Redundant communication path for satellite communication data

Disclosed is a satellite beam pointing system that uses color encoded signals from subscribers to align antennas on a satellite and to align the satellite. Subscribers detect the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio of signals that are transmitted from the satellite. The values of the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio data are encoded in signals that are transmitted back to a ground station that color encodes the data and graphically displays the signal strength and signal-to-noise ratio of the subscriber received signals. The actual beam projection can then be determined and the satellite antennas moved, so that the actual beam projection coincides with the intended beam projection. Also, the satellite can be properly oriented using this technique.

Antenna and satellite alignment using beam projections

A device for measuring the received signal strength at an Earth station antenna has the capability to provide an accurate pointing indication when the frequency bands and other key characteristics of the satellite signals are not uniform over the coverage area. The device has an input port, a plurality of passive or active signal filters, a filter selector and an output port. The device may further contain a signal amplifier with automatic or manual gain control. A plurality of filters is provided which may be coupled singularly or in combination between the input port and the output port. Each filter or combination of filters is associated with a particular geographic area and capable of allowing the satellite signal assigned to that geographic area to pass while attenuating or blocking other signals, noise and interference. The filter selector is used to connect the appropriate filter or combination of filters between the input port and the output port. A signal amplifier with manual or automatic gain control may be included to provide an output signal at the desired signal level. The output port may be connected to a power measuring unit, antenna pointing meter or other similar device to provide an accurate antenna pointing indication in the particular geographic area corresponding to the filter or filter combination selected.

Growing community of inventors

Centennial, CO, United States of America

Remberto Martin