A Method for Implementing Beam Hopping in a Satellite Communications Network
A method is provided for conveying communications within a satellite communication network, by implementing a beam hopping technique for communicating with half-duplex user terminals.
1 . A method for conveying communications within a satellite communication network, by implementing a beam hopping technique for communicating with half-duplex user terminals.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said method comprises implementing a combination of full and sparse beam-hoping patterns.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said method comprises exchanging communications between the satellite and the user terminals by offsetting ground footprint of transmit and receive beams.
4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising exchanging communications between the satellite and the user terminals while implementing a progressive time shifting between transmit and receive beam-hopping, and wherein the progressive time shifting for a specific user terminal cell is a function of a distance extending between the nadir and said specific user terminal cell.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a number of return channel beams implemented while exchanging communications between the satellite and the user terminals, is higher than a number of forward channel beams.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of implementing a progressive phase shifting between transmit and receive cycles as a function of a distance extending between a cells' group and the satellite's nadir.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of implementing reduction of cycle time by misaligning forward- and return-channel beams.