Patent ID: 8712321

Claim:
A satellite communication system, comprising: an initially deployed first multi-beam satellite providing a first communication service to a plurality of first satellite beam coverage regions via a plurality of fixed location beams; a later deployed second multi-beam satellite providing a second communication service to a plurality of second satellite beam coverage regions via a plurality of fixed location beams, wherein the plurality of second satellite beam coverage regions comprises: i. a first elevated demand region located at least partially within a first one of the plurality of first satellite beam coverage regions, and ii. a second elevated demand region located at least partially within a second one of the plurality of first satellite beam coverage regions, wherein the first and second elevated demand regions are associated with elevated levels of communication service demand; and a fleet management device communicatively coupled to the satellites, the fleet management device configured to: transition a first plurality of terminals from the first communication service to the second communication service, the first plurality of terminals located in the first elevated demand region and initially associated with a first fixed location beam of the first satellite, such that the first plurality of terminals are then associated with a first fixed location beam of the second satellite; and transition a second plurality of terminals from the first communication service to the second communication service, the second plurality of terminals located in the second elevated demand region and initially associated with a second fixed location beam of the first satellite, such that the second plurality of terminals are then associated with a second fixed location beam of the second satellite.