SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIVIDING THE COVERAGE AREA THEREOF

摘要

Disclosed is a satellite communication system that utilizes a method for dividing a coverage area wherein cells of different sizes or shapes are mixed together and a frequency repetition pattern is established. A beam formation device of a satellite which performs communication between multiple earth stations defines the outer perimeter of the coverage area, divides the coverage area into multiple small areas, for example, defines a coordinate grid of a polar coordinate system, and for example, calculates, with respect to the Cartesian coordinates, the boundary coordinates of circular basic cells that are circumscribed circles of regular hexagons or basic cells of regular hexagons which are arranged with the respective edges and apexes thereof in contact, defines multiple new cells by converting the coordinates of the boundaries of the basic cells of the Cartesian coordinates to the coordinates of the boundaries of the polar coordinate system, and appropriately sets the amplitude and phase for multiple antenna elements to form multiple beams in the direction of each of the multiple new cells.