How Satellites Handle Super Fast User Data Using Shared Antennas
This patent describes a satellite system boosting data capacity by having satellites receive high-speed user data, relay it via crosslinks to other satellites, and then send it to ground stations, often using a single antenna for both user and ground connections.
Original patent title: “Satellite system with enhanced payload capacity”
This patent describes a satellite system boosting data capacity by having satellites receive high-speed user data, relay it via crosslinks to other satellites, and then send it to ground stations, often using a single antenna for both user and ground connections. Granted to Space Systems Loral in 2012 with 48 claims and 25 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2028.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for a satellite system to handle a lot of data quickly. A first satellite receives data from a user at a high speed, specifically greater than 30 Mbps (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This receiving antenna is special because it's also designed to work at the same frequency as the "feeder link" (the connection to a ground station) and can even complete a second feeder link itself (Claim 1). The data then travels from this first satellite to a second satellite using a "crosslink" (satellite-to-satellite connection), and finally, the second satellite sends the data down to a "terrestrial gateway" (a ground station) via a "feeder link" (Claim 1). For example, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could send high-speed data to a satellite, which then relays it through the satellite network to a ground station connected to the internet.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Satellite systems where the user-facing antenna cannot also operate at the feeder link frequency band (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Systems where the data rate from the user is consistently 30 Mbps or less (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Satellite systems that do not use crosslinks to forward data between satellites (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Systems where the feeder link does not connect to a terrestrial gateway coupled to a terrestrial data network (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Systems where the user terminal requires a transmitter output power of 50 watts or more, or an aperture size of 1.3 meters or more (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 12).
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 configuring the satellite's user-facing antenna to also operate at the feeder link frequency band, and potentially even complete a feeder link itself (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This dual-use capability allows for more efficient use of satellite hardware and spectrum, enhancing overall payload capacity by streamlining how data is received and then forwarded to ground stations.
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
Starlink (SpaceX)
OneWeb
Project Kuiper (Amazon)
Viasat (for high-throughput satellites)
Government and military satellite communication networks
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the challenge of providing high-speed internet and data services from space, especially to remote or mobile users like UAVs or those in high-latitude regions. By efficiently handling high data rates and using inter-satellite links, it helps overcome limitations of traditional satellite communication, which often require satellites to be in direct view of a ground station to offload data. This approach allows for more flexible and robust global coverage.
Filed
December 24, 2008
Granted
March 13, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like SpaceX (Starlink), OneWeb, and Amazon (Project Kuiper) are actively developing and deploying large constellations of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that rely heavily on inter-satellite crosslinks and high-throughput feeder links to terrestrial gateways. Space Systems Loral, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to be a major player in satellite manufacturing.
Market impact
This patent's concepts contributed to the development of high-throughput satellite (HTS) systems and LEO constellations, which have significantly expanded global internet access. By enabling higher data rates and more flexible routing, it helped pave the way for satellite internet services that can compete with terrestrial broadband in terms of speed and latency, particularly in underserved areas.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for a satellite system to handle a lot of data quickly. A first satellite receives data from a user at a high speed, specifically greater than 30 Mbps (Claim 1). This receiving antenna is special because it's also designed to work at the same frequency as the "feeder link" (the connection to a ground station) and can even complete a second feeder link itself (Claim 1). The data then travels from this first satellite to a second satellite using a "crosslink" (satellite-to-satellite connection), and finally, the second satellite sends the data down to a "terrestrial gateway" (a ground station) via a "feeder link" (Claim 1). For example, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could send high-speed data to a satellite, which then relays it through the satellite network to a ground station connected to the internet.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in configuring the satellite's user-facing antenna to also operate at the feeder link frequency band, and potentially even complete a feeder link itself (Claim 1). This dual-use capability allows for more efficient use of satellite hardware and spectrum, enhancing overall payload capacity by streamlining how data is received and then forwarded to ground stations.
What it does not cover
- Satellite systems where the user-facing antenna cannot also operate at the feeder link frequency band (Claim 1).
- Systems where the data rate from the user is consistently 30 Mbps or less (Claim 1).
- Satellite systems that do not use crosslinks to forward data between satellites (Claim 1).
- Systems where the feeder link does not connect to a terrestrial gateway coupled to a terrestrial data network (Claim 1).
- Systems where the user terminal requires a transmitter output power of 50 watts or more, or an aperture size of 1.3 meters or more (Claim 12).
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
Moderate
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
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
$81K – $258K
Midpoint $161K · 2.4 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
48 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Gelon, W., Nations, W., & Burr, D. (2012). How Satellites Handle Super Fast User Data Using Shared Antennas (U.S. Patent No. 8,135,338). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8135338/satellite-system-with-enhanced-payload-capacity
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 Satellites Handle Super Fast User Data Using Shared Antennas cover?
This patent describes a satellite system boosting data capacity by having satellites receive high-speed user data, relay it via crosslinks to other satellites, and then send it to ground stations, often using a single antenna for both user and ground connections.
Who owns patent US 8135338?
Space Systems Loral owns this patent, granted in 2012.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 24, 2028, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8135338 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 25 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the challenge of providing high-speed internet and data services from space, especially to remote or mobile users like UAVs or those in high-latitude regions. By efficiently handling high data rates and using inter-satellite links, it helps overcome limitations of traditional satellite communication, which often require satellites to be in direct view of a ground station to offload data. This approach allows for more flexible and robust global coverage.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Satellite systems where the user-facing antenna cannot also operate at the feeder link frequency band (Claim 1).
Same assignee
More from Space Systems Loral
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