Patent ID: 6307507
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
A method of operating a satellite-based communications node having a phased-array antenna that operates in one of a plurality of modes, the phased-array antenna comprising a computer and a beamformer, the method comprising:the computer determining a desired mode of operation;the computer applying antenna data to the beamformer to cause the phased-array antenna to operate in the desired mode of operation;the computer selecting and weighting antenna elements using the antenna data;the phased-array antenna is operated as a diffused-beam antenna;the phased-array antenna is operated to generate a plurality of focused-beam antenna patterns;the number of antenna elements selected is any subset, including a subset of just one antenna element, of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the antenna data applied to the beamformer includes appropriate amplitude-control information, or phase-control information, or both amplitude-control and phase-control information, to provide a diffused-beam antenna pattern; andthe satellite-communications node is enabled to communicate with a terrestrial communications node via a communications channel having a relatively low bandwidth.