SATELLITE COMMUNICATION HAVING DISTINCT LOW PRIORITY INFORMATION BROADCAST INTO ADJACENT SUB-REGIONS

摘要

A satellite communication system using hierarchical modulation to transmit a plurality of modulated signals to sub-regions within a region. Each modulated signal includes high priority content and low priority content. The system includes a satellite equipped with a plurality of satellite transmitters coupled to a plurality of antenna elements, e.g. a phased array of antenna elements. The antenna elements are utilized selectively to direct a modulated signal from a satellite transmitter to a distinct sub-region. The satellite transmitters and antenna also cooperate to broadcast the high-priority content to the region such that a ground receiver traveling from a first sub-region to an adjacent second sub-region adjacent will not experience a loss of high-priority content. First low-priority content of a first modulated signal directed to the first sub-region is independent of second low-priority content of a second modulated signal directed to the second sub-region.

主权项

1. A satellite communication system using hierarchical modulation to transmit a plurality of modulated signals to a region, each modulated signal comprising high priority content and low priority content, said system comprising:
a satellite equipped with a plurality of satellite transmitters coupled to a plurality of antenna elements, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are utilized selectively to direct a modulated signal from a satellite transmitter to a distinct sub-region within the region, wherein the plurality of satellite transmitters and the plurality of antenna cooperate to broadcast the high-priority content to the region such that a ground receiver traveling from a first sub-region to a second sub-region adjacent to the first sub-region will not experience a loss of high-priority content, wherein first low-priority content of a first modulated signal directed to the first sub-region is independent of second low-priority content of a second modulated signal directed to the second sub-region.