US 12,284,027 B2
Flexible capacity satellite communications system
Mark J. Miller, Vista, CA (US); and Charles N. Pateros, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Assigned to Viasat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by Viasat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/408,143.
Application 18/408,143 is a continuation of application No. 18/095,385, filed on Jan. 10, 2023, granted, now 11,909,508.
Application 18/095,385 is a continuation of application No. 17/487,408, filed on Sep. 28, 2021, granted, now 11,637,629, issued on Apr. 25, 2023.
Application 17/487,408 is a continuation of application No. 16/658,487, filed on Oct. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,171,721, issued on Nov. 9, 2021.
Application 16/658,487 is a continuation of application No. 16/216,009, filed on Dec. 11, 2018, granted, now 10,498,433, issued on Dec. 3, 2019.
Application 16/216,009 is a continuation of application No. 14/887,147, filed on Oct. 19, 2015, granted, now 10,313,002, issued on Jun. 4, 2019.
Application 14/887,147 is a continuation of application No. 13/666,112, filed on Nov. 1, 2012, granted, now 9,184,829, issued on Nov. 10, 2015.
Application 13/666,112 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2011/034845, filed on May 2, 2011.
Application PCT/US2011/034845 is a continuation of application No. 13/098,213, filed on Apr. 29, 2011, granted, now 8,218,476, issued on Jul. 10, 2012.
Application PCT/US2011/034845 is a continuation of application No. 13/098,334, filed on Apr. 29, 2011, granted, now 8,144,643, issued on Mar. 27, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/375,384, filed on Aug. 20, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/330,377, filed on May 2, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2024/0283530 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04B 7/212 (2006.01); H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H04B 7/204 (2006.01)
CPC H04B 7/212 (2013.01) [H04B 7/18515 (2013.01); H04B 7/18541 (2013.01); H04B 7/18543 (2013.01); H04B 7/2041 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for communications at a satellite, comprising:
receiving, at the satellite from a ground station, a change to a beam hopping sequence stored at the satellite;
changing the beam hopping sequence stored at the satellite;
determining, at the satellite, that a new weight set for the beam hopping sequence stored at the satellite has been received and outputting weights of the new weight set to a plurality of beamforming networks of the satellite;
providing, at the satellite, a strobe signal to the plurality of beamforming networks to cause the plurality of beamforming networks to load the weights of the new weight set synchronously with the strobe signal;
receiving data, via pathway hardware of the satellite in accordance with a sequence of timeslots, from a ground station of a communication system; and
transmitting the received data, via the pathway hardware of the satellite in accordance with the sequence of timeslots, and via a plurality of beams created by the plurality of beamforming networks in accordance with the changed beam hopping sequence stored at the satellite.