The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1997
Dennis Paul Diekelman, Tempe, AZ (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an economically viable satellite communication system (100) for voice, data, and video using satellite diversity to augment capacity of the system, to mitigate the effects of network operational issues such as the effects of satellite failure and/or satellite blockage, and to maintain service links (180) in a cost-effective manner. Satellite diversity is incorporated into the communication architecture, along with the ability to utilize all satellites (110) within a communication range (or view) of one or more service regions (197). Management methods are used to allocate satellite diversity to enhance service and mitigate network operational issues. Satellite constellation (120) is designed to maximize the availability of satellite diversity as a resource. The method and apparatus described herein also provide a satellite communication system (100) having flexibility to adapt to changing demand and capacity requirements in various service regions (197) and to unknown or unanticipated changes in demand developing over time after the satellite communication system (100) has been deployed in whole or part.