System and method for providing dual satellite communications coverage
US6411609B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B7/212
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A satellite communication system uses dual satellite coverage techniques to simulate the provision of full duplex communications in the system. Each subscriber (100) in the system communicates with two satellites (102, 104) that use complementary time division duplex (TDD) frame structures (50, 72) for communicating with the subscriber (100). In one embodiment, each satellite in the system performs a transition between a first TDD frame structure (50) and a second TDD frame structure (72) while travelling through a transition region (102) of an associated orbit (130). Preferably, the transition is performed gradually so that an abrupt reduction in system capacity is avoided. In another embodiment, individual orbital planes in the satellite system are dedicated for use with particular TDD frame structures. A subscriber thus communicates with one satellite in each of two planes during a connection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.