US 12,255,728 B2
Spectrum management for satellite constellations
Tusher Chakraborty, Bangalore (IN); and Ranveer Chandra, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/714,890.
Claims priority of application No. 202141057106 (IN), filed on Dec. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0179287 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H04W 16/04 (2009.01); H04W 16/10 (2009.01)
CPC H04B 7/18513 (2013.01) [H04W 16/04 (2013.01); H04W 16/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for managing communication frequencies for communication with a first satellite in a first constellation of satellites, the device comprising:
a processor; and
a computer storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
allocate one of a plurality of communication frequencies to each of a plurality of cells, a communication frequency allocated to one cell being different from a communication frequency allocated to each cell neighboring the one cell such that only one satellite in the first constellation of satellites can have a sub-satellite point in any cell at a time,
determine that a second satellite in a second constellation of satellites has a sub-satellite point in the same cell as the first satellite in the first constellation at the same time and is operating in the same communication frequency as the first satellite,
determine that a neighboring cell to the same cell has an available communication frequency,
select the communication frequency allocated to the neighboring cell for the first satellite in the first constellation, and
transmit the selected communication frequency to the first satellite, wherein the first satellite is configured to communicate with a ground device located in one of the plurality of cells using the selected communication frequency.
 
9. A computer-implemented method for managing communication frequencies for communication with a first satellite in a first constellation of satellites, the method comprising:
allocating one of a plurality of communication frequencies to each of a plurality of cells, a communication frequency allocated to one cell being different from a communication frequency allocated to each cell neighboring the one cell such that only one satellite in the first constellation of satellites can have a sub-satellite point in any cell at a time;
identifying a plurality of sub-satellite points along a ground track of a satellite;
identifying cells of the plurality of cells corresponding to the plurality of sub-satellite points along the ground track of the satellite;
determining that a second satellite in a second constellation of satellites has a sub-satellite point in the same cell as the first satellite in the first constellation at the same time and is operating in the same communication frequency as the first satellite;
determining that a neighboring cell to the same cell has an available communication frequency;
selecting the communication frequency allocated to the neighboring cell for the first satellite in the first constellation; and
transmitting the selected communication frequency to the first satellite, wherein the first satellite is configured to communicate with a ground device located in one of the plurality of cells using the selected communication frequency.
 
17. A non-transitory computer storage medium for comprising a plurality of instructions for managing communication frequencies for communication with a first satellite in a first constellation of satellites that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
allocate one of a plurality of communication frequencies to each of a plurality of cells, a communication frequency allocated to one cell being different from a communication frequency allocated to each cell neighboring the one cell such that only one satellite in the first constellation of satellites can have a sub-satellite point in any cell at a time;
determine that a second satellite in a second constellation of satellites has a sub-satellite point in the same cell as the first satellite in the first constellation at the same time and is operating in the same communication frequency as the first satellite;
determine that a neighboring cell to the same cell has an available communication frequency;
select the communication frequency allocated to the neighboring cell for the first satellite in the first constellation; and
transmit the selected communication frequency to the first satellite, wherein the first satellite is configured to communicate with a ground device located in one of the plurality of cells using the selected communication frequency.