Patent ID: 6366775
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
In a satellite having a footprint on the surface of the earth, a method of decreasing the acquisition time of a signal, said method comprising the steps of:projecting a plurality of broadcast beams from the satellite toward the surface of the earth, wherein each of the broadcast beams is substantially narrower than the footprint on the surface of the earth; for each one of the plurality of broadcast beams, projecting a corresponding acquisition beam from the satellite toward the surface of the earth, wherein each corresponding acquisition beam is substantially narrower than the footprint on the surface of the earth, thereby creating a plurality of broadcast acquisition beam pairs; sweeping each of the plurality of broadcast acquisition beam pairs relative to the earth's surface such that each of the plurality of broadcast acquisition beam pairs paints a substantially different portion of the footprint on the surface of the earth.