Patent ID: 6115366
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A system for managing a satellite and a number of broadcast stations for generating programs for transmission to remote radio receivers on broadcast channels via the satellite, the system comprising:a satellite control system configured to generate control signals for controlling the attitude and orbit of said satellite, and data processing control signals for controlling on-board processing of said programs uplinked to said satellite via said broadcast stations and routing to downlink time division multiplexed carriers;at least one telemetry, range and control system connected to said satellite control system and configured to communicate with said satellite to provide said control signals and said data processing signals from said satellite control system to said satellite; anda mission control system connected to said satellite control system and to said broadcast stations, said mission control system being operable to assign selected ones of said broadcast channels to service providers desiring to transmit at least one of said programs via said satellite, to store channel data relating to said assignments of said broadcast channels and provide said channel data to said satellite control system, and to bill said service providers according to the number of said broadcast channels assigned thereto, said mission control system providing said service providers with a plurality of options comprising number of said broadcast channels to be reserved for uplink transmission, dates and times of day for using said reserved broadcast channels, and which of a number of time division multiplexed signals in a number of beams associated with said satellite are to be used for downlink transmission, said mission control system being operable to indicate to said satellite control system which of time division multiplexed signals in said beams are to be used and said satellite control system generating corresponding said data processing signals for routing of said program to selected ones of said beams.