Non-interfering utilization of non-geostationary satellite frequency band for geostationary satellite communication
View Patent ↗A method, satellite and system utilizes non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) frequency spectrum in geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellite communication in a non-interfering manner. A ground station transmits signals to a GSO satellite using a GSO frequency band and an extended frequency spectrum including the NGSO frequency band whenever a noninterference situation exists, i.e., when an NGSO satellite is not in-line between the earth terminal and the GSO satellite or when the NGSO satellite is not utilizing the NGSO band of interest. A command module is provided to instruct the ground station to transmit signals to the GSO satellite using the GSO frequency band and the extended frequency spectrum.
1. A command center of a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite communication system comprising:
a data processing unit for identifying an occurrence of an in-line event involving a GSO satellite and a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite; and
a network control unit coupled to the data processing unit for (i) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, a GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a NGSO signal on a primary basis; and (ii) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.
2. The command center of claim 1 , further comprising:
a satellite control unit coupled to the data processing unit for (i) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal at least partially occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis; and (ii) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.
3. The command center of claim 2 , wherein the satellite control unit instructs the GSO satellite via a separate telemetry link transmitted by a separate GSO earth station.
4. The command center of claim 1 , wherein the data processing unit identifies an occurrence of an in-line event based on orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.
5. The command center of claim 4 , further comprising:
a memory unit coupled to the data processing unit for storing the orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.
6. The command center of claim 5 , wherein the data processing unit is further for modifying the memory unit with updated orbital ephemeris data.
7. The command center of claim 1 , further comprising:
an acquisition unit coupled to the data processing unit for obtaining orbital ephemeris data of one or more NGSO satellite constellations.
8. The command center of claim 1 , wherein the command center is located at one location on earth.
9. The command center of claim 1 , wherein the command center is distributed among a plurality of locations on earth.
10. The command center of claim 1 , wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in the Ka-band.
11. The command center of claim 1 , wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in a proximate range of a GSO frequency spectrum allocated to a GSO signal.
12. A system of a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite communication system comprising:
means for identifying an occurrence of an in-line event involving a GSO satellite and a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite; and
means for (i) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, a GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a NGSO signal on a primary basis; and (ii) instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.
13. A method for operating a command center of a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite communication system comprising:
identifying an occurrence of an in-line event involving a GSO satellite and a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite;
instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, a GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal at least partially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to a NGSO signal on a primary basis; and
instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO earth station to transmit to the GSO satellite a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is not identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal at least partially occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis; and
instructing, if occurrence of an in-line event is identified, the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station a signal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein instructing the GSO satellite to transmit to the GSO earth station includes instructing a separate GSO earth station to transmit instructions to the GSO satellite via a separate telemetry link.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein identifying is based on orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
storing the orbital ephemeris data of the NGSO satellite.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
modifying the stored orbital ephemeris data with updated orbital ephemeris data.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
obtaining orbital ephemeris data of one or more NGSO satellite constellations.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in the Ka-band.
21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis is in a proximate range of a GSO frequency spectrum allocated to a GSO signal.