Patent ID: 8600292

Claim:
A method for enhancing communication coverage in a multi-beam satellite system in which a plurality of beams provide coverage to a geographical region using a pattern of signal beams, comprising: assigning, by a satellite, a respective set of signal parameters to each of the plurality of beams, including assigning a first set of signal parameters to a primary beam and assigning a second set of signal parameters to a secondary beam; transmitting, by the satellite, to a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs), signals via the plurality of beams; communicating, via at least the primary beam and the secondary beam, communication signals with at least one of the plurality of WCDs according to at least a subset of the first set of signal parameters assigned to the primary beam; and transmitting, by the satellite, the communication signals received via at least the primary beam and the secondary beam to at least one gateway via a backhaul transmission.