Patent ID: 6339707
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A global wideband satellite-based communications system, comprising:a plurality of GEO satellites in a geostationary earth orbit constellation, and a plurality of MEO satellites in a medium earth orbit, each one of said GEO satellites having at least two intersatellite links, a first link for communicating with one of said plurality of MEO satellites and a second link for communicating with another one of said GEO satellites, and each one of said GEO and MEO satellites having uplink and downlink antennas for receiving and transmitting signals from and to earth, a full digital packet switch, a bent-pipe repeater, and a hybrid switch, controlled by said controller, for routing traffic from one beam that is destined for another beam through said full digital packet switch bypassing said bent-pipe repeater.