VIASAT, INC. (20250062824). Flexible Capacity Satellite Constellation
Flexible Capacity Satellite Constellation
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Mark D. Dankberg of Encinitas CA (US)
Flexible Capacity Satellite Constellation
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20250062824 titled 'Flexible Capacity Satellite Constellation
Original Abstract Submitted
embodiments provide in-flight configuration of satellite pathways to flexibly service terra-link and cross-link traffic in a constellation of non-processed satellites, for example, to facilitate flexible forward-channel and return-channel capacity in a satellite communications system. for example, each satellite in the constellation can include one or more dynamically configurable pathway and switching and/or beamforming can be used to configure each pathway to be a forward-channel pathway or a return-channel pathway in each of a number of timeslots according to a pathway configuration schedule. at least some of the pathways can be further selectively configured, in each timeslot, to carry “terra-link” traffic to and/or from terrestrial terminals and “cross-link” traffic to and/or from one or more other satellites of the constellation.