Dual layer satellite communications system and geostationary satellite therefor
US6023605A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 8, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/1851
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The system allows a plurality of earth stations to communicate with one another by relaying transmission signals via satellites circling the earth in high earth and low earth orbits. A geostationary satellite operates in a geostationary orbit, while a plurality of low-earth orbiting satellites circle the earth in low-earth orbits. Those satellites serve as repeaters for the communications between a first earth station and a second earth station. Tracking relay means, disposed in the geostationary satellite, tracks only a limited number of low-earth orbiting satellites within an orbital range that corresponds to a predetermined area on the earth. Accordingly, the tracking relay means relays transmission signals of the second earth station to the low-earth orbiting satellites only when they are within the orbital range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.