Patent ID: 6073011
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method of controlling system capacity in a satellite-based cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of communication satellites orbiting above a commonly-covered region of the earth and a plurality of mobile cellular stations which are capable of transmissions with at least a plurality of said orbiting communication satellites during at least some interval of time, said commonly-covered region having a plurality of grids, each of said grids having a plurality of mobile cellular stations, comprising the steps of:determining a power utilization factor for each of said communication satellites required to supply one of said transmissions to each of a plurality of said grids; andassigning each of said plurality of grids to at least one of said orbiting communication satellites to handle communications between said plurality of grids and said orbiting communications satellite, wherein said assignments minimize the maximum single-satellite power required for said satellite-based cellular telecommunications system to supply transmissions to each of said plurality of grids.