Methods and systems for reducing location update procedures in satellite communications systems

摘要

A user terminal is registered with a satellite communications system including a plurality of satellite spot beam transmitters; wherein each of the satellite spot beam transmitters defines a respective spot beam. A periodic oscillation of two adjacent satellite spot beam transmitters results in a change of geographic coverage for the respective adjacent spot beams so that the user terminal can be alternatingly covered by the first and second spot beams when the user terminal is stationary. Upon determining that the user terminal is alternatingly covered by the first and second spot beams, the user terminal is registered with a spot beam pair for both the first and second adjacent spot beams and the spot beam pair registration is stored in the user terminal memory. Communications operations between the user terminal and the satellite communications system may be terminated and later re-established, whereupon the user terminal reregisters with the spot beam pair registration stored in memory. Related user terminals are also discussed.