Technique for sharing radio frequency spectrum in multiple satellite

Abstract

A technique for sharing radio frequency spectrum between multiple satellite communication systems. A first and a second satellite communication system each contain a plurality of satellites in a plurality of non-geostationary (non-GSO) Earth orbits. Each of the plurality of non-GSOs has a predefined orbital plane. Within each orbital plane, satellites of the first and second satellite communication systems are alternating, such that each orbital plane contains satellites from each of the satellite systems. In this manner, it is possible to achieve satisfactory discrimination between satellites and Earth-based stations. The Earth-based station of each communication system will communicate with the closest satellite of its respective communication system. In an alternative technique that is particularly useful when an Earth-based station in the first communication system is able to communicate with more than one satellite, a satellite is selected based on the topocentric separation of the satellite from satellites in the second system. The system can also combine alternating satellites within an orbital plane with alternating orbital planes with satellites of each respective communication system.