Patent ID: 6628920
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A telecommunications satellite for mapping RF signals between feeder links and mobile link beams based on multiple predefined frequency plans, the mobile link beams defining a coverage area of the satellite, each feeder link communicating with a ground station, each feeder link containing feeder link channels, each mobile link beam containing mobile link channels, said satellite comprising:a satellite transceiver receiving and transmitting RF signals in a first frequency range to and from ground stations via feeder links, said transceiver transmitting and receiving RF signals in a second frequency range to and from mobile terminals via mobile link beams; and a processing subsystem mapping mobile link channels and feeder link channels onto one another based on at least two predefined frequency plans implemented by said telecommunications satellite that enable ground stations to perform ground station handovers without a need for at least one of switching, retuning, and resynchronizing the telecommunications satellite.