{
  "patent_number": "US 11902010",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How LEO Satellites Switch Beams for Speed and Avoid Interference",
  "original_title": "Dual LEO satellite system and method for global coverage",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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).",
  "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."
  ],
  "filed": "2022-06-10",
  "granted": "2024-02-13",
  "expires": "2042-06-10",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Telesat Technology",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/telesat-technology",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "David WENDLING",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/david-wendling"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "telecommunications",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software"
  ],
  "abstract": "The present invention relates to satellite systems and more particularly, to the provision of a satellite system and method for communications applications, with global coverage. An optimal method of providing global broadband connectivity has been discovered which uses two different LEO constellations with inter-satellite links among the satellites in each constellation, and inter-satellite links between the constellations. The first constellation is deployed in a polar LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 99.5 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1000 km. The second constellation is deployed in an inclined LEO orbit with a preferred inclination of 37.4 degrees and a preferred altitude of 1250 km.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11902010/dual-leo-satellite-system-and-method-for-global-coverage",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11902010/dual-leo-satellite-system-and-method-for-global-coverage/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11902010",
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}