Patent ID: 6704543
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A satellite communications system for distributing information to user terminals, said system comprising:a satellite in a geosynchronous orbit; a first terminal located in a first spot beam produced by the satellite; a fist hub located within the first spot beam produced by the satellite; a second terminal located in a second spot beam produced by the satellite, the first spot beam being spatially isolated from the second spot beam; a second hub located within the second spot beam produced by the satellite; and a land-based communications network linking the first hub and second hub, said system comprising the first terminal communicating with the second terminal by transmitting the information along the first spot beam to the satellite, the satellite transmitting the information along the first beam to the first hub, the first hub routing the information over the land-based network to the second hub, the second hub transmitting the information along the second spot beam to the satellite, and the satellite transmitting the information along the second spot beam to the second terminal.