US 12,074,684 B2
Flexible capacity satellite constellation
Mark D. Dankberg, Encinitas, CA (US)
Assigned to ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by ViaSat, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/965,232.
Application 16/885,892 is a division of application No. 15/748,139, granted, now 10,707,952, issued on Jul. 7, 2020, previously published as PCT/US2016/044081, filed on Jul. 26, 2016.
Application 17/965,232 is a continuation of application No. 17/351,571, filed on Jun. 18, 2021, granted, now 11,502,745.
Application 17/351,571 is a continuation of application No. 16/885,892, filed on May 28, 2020, granted, now 11,070,282, issued on Jul. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/199,800, filed on Jul. 31, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0112202 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H01Q 1/28 (2006.01); H04B 7/204 (2006.01)
CPC H04B 7/18515 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/288 (2013.01); H04B 7/18513 (2013.01); H04B 7/2041 (2013.01); H04B 7/2046 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a constellation of satellites moving in non-geosynchronous orbits, each satellite having a plurality of non-processed pathways with switched pathway couplings, the method comprising:
communicatively coupling a first ground terminal in a first location to a second ground terminal in a second location via a bent-pipe signal path through the constellation, the bent-pipe signal path comprising a first set of terra-links and a first set of one or more cross-links and defined by a switched pathway configuration that controls respective switched pathway couplings in two or more of the satellites; and
adapting the bent-pipe signal path responsive to a change in which satellites in the constellation illuminate the first and second ground terminals, to maintain the communicative coupling between the first and second ground terminals, wherein the bent-pipe signal path after the adapting comprises a second set of terra-links and a second set of one or more cross-links.