Patent ID: 8326217

Claim:
A method for controlling an antenna of a satellite in a satellite communications network, wherein the satellite comprises an on-board software processor and the antenna is steerable and has a coverage footprint, the method comprising the steps of: (a) packing an uplink signal with data in connection with a target terrestrial terminal in the satellite communications network and sending the uplink signal to the satellite, wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of identification data, geoposition data and combinations thereof; (b) receiving, demodulating and unpacking the uplink signal to determine the current geoposition of the target terrestrial terminal; (c) comparing geoposition data corresponding to the center of the current coverage footprint of the antenna to be controlled with the current geoposition of the target terrestrial terminal; (d) creating an error value based on the comparison; and (e) correcting the error by steering the antenna to be controlled to ensure coverage of the target terrestrial terminal, wherein steps (b)-(e) are performed in real time by the on-board software processor.