Sam C Houston

US Patent:

6336030, Jan 1, 2002

Filed:

Mar 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/800919

Inventors:

Sam W. Houston - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Carl S. Anselmo - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Daniel P. Sullivan - Palos Verdes Estates CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04B 700

US Classification:

455 132, 455 121, 455 133, 455427

Abstract:

A satellite-based communications system operating at high data rates includes a plurality of communications satellites each having an uplink and a downlink antenna for receiving and transmitting a plurality of spot beams which may be fixed or scanned. The fixed beams may be directed to areas of high satellite use. The scanned beams may be rapidly scanned between areas of use insufficient to support a dedicated beam. The scanned beam allows potentially nearly ubiquitous coverage by using high frequency beams. To rapidly scan, beam forming networks have a plurality of phase coefficients that may be changed so that the angle of the beam may change. A controller coupled to the beam forming network may be used to change the phase coefficients in response to beam inputs such as the desired beam and configurations of the other beams on the satellite.

US Patent:

62723170, Aug 7, 2001

Filed:

Sep 23, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/159332

Inventors:

Sam W. Houston - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Carl S. Anselmo - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Daniel P. Sullivan - Palos Verdes Estates CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04B 7185

US Classification:

455 131

Abstract:

A satellite-based communications system operating at high data rates includes a plurality of communications satellites each having an uplink and a downlink antenna for receiving and transmitting a plurality of spot beams which may be fixed or scanned. The fixed beams may be directed to areas of high satellite use. The scanned beams may be rapidly scanned between areas of use insufficient to support a dedicated beam. The scanned beam allows potentially nearly ubiquitous coverage by using high frequency beams. To rapidly scan, beam forming networks have a plurality of phase coefficients that may be changed so that the angle of the beam may change. A controller coupled to the beam forming network may be used to change the phase coefficients in response to beam inputs such as the desired beam and configurations of the other beams on the satellite.

US Patent:

63243814, Nov 27, 2001

Filed:

Aug 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/634261

Inventors:

Carl S. Anselmo - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Sam W. Houston - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Daniel P. Sullivan - Palos Verdes Estates CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04B 7185

US Classification:

455 121

Abstract:

A satellite-based communications system operating at high data rates includes a plurality of communications satellites each having an uplink and a downlink antenna for receiving and transmitting a plurality of spot beams corresponding to a plurality of coverage areas at a plurality of frequencies. The system further includes a plurality of dedicated communications links between a source location in one of the plurality of coverage areas and a destination location in another one of the plurality of coverage areas wherein the plurality of dedicated communications links are each assigned an exclusive time interval for transmitting and receiving communications signals to and from each of the plurality of satellites. The plurality of satellites each have an uplink and downlink antenna beam switch coupled to the uplink and downlink antennas for selecting a reconfigurable subset of the plurality of spot beams based on the time interval. The plurality of satellites each further have a primary communication payload for receiving and transmitting signals at a primary range of frequencies in each of the plurality of spot beams and a secondary communication payload for receiving and transmitting signals at a secondary range of frequencies in each of the plurality of spot beams upon occurring a drop-out of the primary communication payload.

US Patent:

61252611, Sep 26, 2000

Filed:

Jun 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/867672

Inventors:

Carl S. Anselmo - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Sam W. Houston - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Daniel P. Sullivan - Palos Verdes Estates CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H04Q 720

US Classification:

455 121

Abstract:

A satellite-based communications system operating at high data rates includes a plurality of communications satellites each having an uplink and a downlink antenna for receiving and transmitting a plurality of spot beams corresponding to a plurality of coverage areas at a plurality of frequencies. The system further includes a plurality of dedicated communications links between a source location in one of the plurality of coverage areas and a destination location in another one of the plurality of coverage areas wherein the plurality of dedicated communications links are each assigned an exclusive time interval for transmitting and receiving communications signals to and from each of the plurality of satellites. The plurality of satellites each have an uplink and downlink antenna beam switch coupled to the uplink and downlink antennas for selecting a reconfigurable subset of the plurality of spot beams based on the time interval. The plurality of satellites each further have a primary communication payload for receiving and transmitting signals at a primary range of frequencies in each of the plurality of spot beams and a secondary communication payload for receiving and transmitting signals at a secondary range of frequencies in each of the plurality of spot beams upon occurring a drop-out of the primary communication payload.