How LEO Satellites Switch Beams for Speed and Avoid Interference
This patent describes a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system that provides global internet by switching users to faster, focused beams when needed, while also preventing interference with older, higher-orbit satellites.
Original patent title: “Dual LEO satellite system and method for global coverage”
This patent describes a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system that provides global internet by switching users to faster, focused beams when needed, while also preventing interference with older, higher-orbit satellites. Granted to Telesat Technology in 2024 with 10 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This satellite communication system uses a group of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), along with user terminals and a central Gateway. Initially, satellites broadcast signals using a "Wide Area Coverage beam" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). When a user needs more internet speed, their user terminal sends a request for "high-capacity beam coverage" (Claim 1). In response, the satellite switches that user to a "higher bandwidth, narrow, steerable beam" (Claim 1), which is pointed directly at their location. The system also prevents interference with older, Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites by having the Gateway switch its connection to a different LEO satellite that is far enough away from any GEO satellite, based on a calculated angle (Claim 1).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover satellite systems that operate solely with a single type of beam, without the ability to switch between wide-area and narrow, steerable beams.
- Does not cover systems where the high-capacity beam is not specifically 'narrow' and 'steerable' as described in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1.
- Does not cover systems where the user terminal does not initiate a 'request' for high-capacity beam coverage.
- Does not cover satellite systems that are not in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), such as those in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) or Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).
- Does not cover systems where the Gateway avoids GEO satellite interference using methods other than switching to an alternate LEO satellite with a specific angular separation.
- Does not cover systems that do not include a Gateway that performs the described interference avoidance function.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the system's ability to dynamically allocate bandwidth by switching from a broad coverage beam to a focused, steerable beam upon user request, combined with a specific Gateway-level strategy to avoid interference with GEO satellites.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Telesat Lightspeed
Starlink
OneWeb
Project Kuiper
Most modern LEO broadband satellite constellations
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses key challenges for modern LEO satellite constellations aiming to provide global broadband internet. It details a method for efficiently delivering high-speed data on demand while crucially managing radio interference with existing geostationary satellites. This allows LEO systems to coexist and expand without disrupting established communication networks.
Filed
June 10, 2022
Granted
February 13, 2024
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Telesat Technology Corp, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing its Lightspeed LEO constellation, which aims to provide global broadband services. Other major players in the LEO satellite internet space, such as SpaceX with Starlink, Amazon with Project Kuiper, and OneWeb, are also building similar large-scale constellations that address challenges like beamforming and interference management.
Market impact
The filing and granting of patents like this reflect the intense competition and rapid innovation in the LEO satellite broadband market. This patent provides a framework for managing two critical aspects: delivering high-capacity service efficiently and ensuring compatibility with existing space infrastructure. Such inventions are essential for the continued expansion and viability of LEO constellations, enabling new global connectivity options and potentially challenging traditional internet service providers.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This satellite communication system uses a group of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), along with user terminals and a central Gateway. Initially, satellites broadcast signals using a "Wide Area Coverage beam" (Claim 1). When a user needs more internet speed, their user terminal sends a request for "high-capacity beam coverage" (Claim 1). In response, the satellite switches that user to a "higher bandwidth, narrow, steerable beam" (Claim 1), which is pointed directly at their location. The system also prevents interference with older, Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites by having the Gateway switch its connection to a different LEO satellite that is far enough away from any GEO satellite, based on a calculated angle (Claim 1).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the system's ability to dynamically allocate bandwidth by switching from a broad coverage beam to a focused, steerable beam upon user request, combined with a specific Gateway-level strategy to avoid interference with GEO satellites.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover satellite systems that operate solely with a single type of beam, without the ability to switch between wide-area and narrow, steerable beams.
- Does not cover systems where the high-capacity beam is not specifically 'narrow' and 'steerable' as described in Claim 1.
- Does not cover systems where the user terminal does not initiate a 'request' for high-capacity beam coverage.
- Does not cover satellite systems that are not in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), such as those in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) or Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).
- Does not cover systems where the Gateway avoids GEO satellite interference using methods other than switching to an alternate LEO satellite with a specific angular separation.
- Does not cover systems that do not include a Gateway that performs the described interference avoidance function.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
7/20
Moderate scope
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$25K – $81K
Midpoint $50K · 15.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
10 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
WENDLING, D. (2024). How LEO Satellites Switch Beams for Speed and Avoid Interference (U.S. Patent No. 11,902,010). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11902010/dual-leo-satellite-system-and-method-for-global-coverage
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How LEO Satellites Switch Beams for Speed and Avoid Interference cover?
This patent describes a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system that provides global internet by switching users to faster, focused beams when needed, while also preventing interference with older, higher-orbit satellites.
Who owns patent US 11902010?
Telesat Technology owns this patent, granted in 2024.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 10, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses key challenges for modern LEO satellite constellations aiming to provide global broadband internet. It details a method for efficiently delivering high-speed data on demand while crucially managing radio interference with existing geostationary satellites. This allows LEO systems to coexist and expand without disrupting established communication networks.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover satellite systems that operate solely with a single type of beam, without the ability to switch between wide-area and narrow, steerable beams.
Patent monitoring