Patent ID: 8270899
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A satellite communications network having a ground-based beamforming (GBBF) system, said network comprising: a satellite, said satellite comprising a satellite communications payload, said satellite communications payload comprising a satellite return path and a satellite forward path; at least one gateway, communicatively coupled with the satellite via a feeder link; a plurality of user terminals, each communicatively coupled with the satellite by a user link; a plurality of pointing beacon stations adapted to transmit and receive signals to and from the satellite; wherein: the satellite communications payload comprises a satellite tracking master reference oscillator and a calibration network; and the GBBF system further comprises a master reference oscillator and a gateway tracking master reference oscillator; and the GBBF system: the GBBF system corrects amplitude and phase errors of the plurality of return path signals by: