Patent ID: 6324381
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A system for providing high frequency data communications in a satellite-based communications network, the system comprising:a plurality of communications satellites (12) each having uplink and downlink antennas (38,44) capable of receiving and transmitting a plurality of signals utilizing spot beams to a plurality of coverage areas (43) at a predetermined range of frequencies, the plurality of satellites (12) each further having uplink and downlink antenna beam switches (39,41) coupled to the uplink and downlink antennas (38,44) respectively for selecting a reconfigurable subset of the plurality of coverage areas (43) so as to provide satellite communications to a subset of the plurality of coverage areas (43), and the plurality of satellites (12) each having a primary communication payload (32) for receiving and transmitting signals at a primary range of frequencies in each of the plurality of coverage areas (43) in the subset and a secondary communication payload (34) for receiving and transmitting signals at a secondary range of frequencies in each of the plurality of coverage areas (43) in the subset upon drop-out of the primary communication payload (32);a plurality of dedicated communications links between a source location in one of the plurality of coverage areas (43) and a destination location in another one of the plurality of coverage areas (43), the plurality of dedicated communications links each being assigned an exclusive time interval for transmitting and receiving communications signals to and from each of the plurality of satellites (12); anda plurality of user terminals (16) disposed in the plurality of source locations and destination locations for transmit-ting and receiving signals to and from each other via the plurality of communications satellites (12) utilizing one of the plurality of dedicated communications links, and each of the plurality of user terminals (16) having a primary communication antenna (64) for transmitting and receiving signals to each of the plurality of satellites (12) at the primary range of frequencies.