{
  "patent_number": "US 10998965",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How High-Altitude Satellites Relay Data for Fast-Moving Low-Orbit Satellites",
  "original_title": "High throughput satellites and methods of operating high throughput satellites for relaying data between low earth orbit satellites to endpoints",
  "summary": "This patent describes how a high-throughput satellite (HTS) in a fixed orbit can dynamically track and relay data from fast-moving low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to ground stations by precisely switching its focused radio beams.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent details a method for a high-throughput satellite (HTS) to act as a data relay for low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The system first predicts the path of an orbiting LEO satellite (Claim 1). Based on this predicted path, it identifies a sequence of specific radio beams, called spot beams, on the HTS that have compatible radio properties, known as 'matching color re-use polarization' (Claim 1). This information is then sent to the HTS, instructing it to seamlessly hand off the communication link from one spot beam to the next as the LEO satellite moves, ensuring a continuous connection (Claim 1). For example, if a LEO satellite is transmitting weather data, the HTS would anticipate its movement across its coverage area and automatically switch the focused radio beam to maintain a strong inter-satellite link, even adjusting data transmission settings (MODCOD) if ground station weather degrades the signal (Claim 2, 4).",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover relaying data between satellites without using a High Throughput Satellite (HTS).",
    "Does not cover inter-satellite links that do not involve dynamically assigning spot beams based on a LEO satellite's trajectory.",
    "Does not cover maintaining an inter-satellite link without considering 'matching color re-use polarization' for the spot beams.",
    "Does not cover direct communication from a LEO satellite to a ground station without an HTS acting as a relay.",
    "Does not cover systems where the HTS spot beams are static and do not adapt to the LEO satellite's movement."
  ],
  "filed": "2019-12-31",
  "granted": "2021-05-04",
  "expires": "2039-12-31",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/asia-satellite-telecommunications-co",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Kat Fan YIP",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/kat-fan-yip"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fred Chun Yin VONG",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/fred-chun-yin-vong"
    },
    {
      "name": "Harry Yin Chung LEUNG",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/harry-yin-chung-leung"
    },
    {
      "name": "Man Hei CHAN",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/man-hei-chan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Roger Shun Hong TONG",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/roger-shun-hong-tong"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hai Hu",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/hai-hu"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 23,
  "tags": [
    "telecommunications",
    "aerospace",
    "software",
    "consumer_electronics"
  ],
  "abstract": "A high throughput satellite (HTS) and a method of operating the HTS for relaying data between a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a target ground station, where the HTS provides spot beams for a spot beam coverage area. The method of operating the HTS includes: determining an estimated trajectory of an orbiting LEO satellite; assigning a plurality of assigned spot beams having a matching color re-use polarization; and transmitting assignments of the plurality of assigned spot beams to the high throughput satellite to cause the high throughput satellite to maintain the inter-satellite link via a first spot beam and one or more assigned subsequent spot beams having the matching color re-use polarization.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10998965/high-throughput-satellites-and-methods-of-operating-high-throughput-satellites-f",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10998965/high-throughput-satellites-and-methods-of-operating-high-throughput-satellites-f/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10998965",
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}