Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for establishing a partnering scheme having dynamic cross-links between satellites of a satellite communication system that are travelling in different, non-adjacent orbital planes and in different directions. The present invention provides a definitive set of dynamic cross-links for a satellite positioned within a first orbital plane traveling in a first direction, such as an ascending direction, with a satellite positioned in a non-adjacent orbital plane and traveling in a second direction, such as an descending direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocating service beams (72, 76) to communication units (80-84) (CUs) ascertains (124) the location of a CU (81) attempting to access the communication system (30), and determines (126) whether a currently active service beam (72) is capable of providing service to the CU (81). If so, a ground position aim point (90) is determined (134), and the active service beam (72) is steered (142) to the ground position aim point (90). If not, a new service beam (76) is provided (132) to the CU (83). When a call is terminated (162), a new ground position aim point (92) is determined (168) and the service beam (72) is steered (170) to the new ground position aim point (92). If no remaining CUs are being serviced by the service beam, the service beam is deactivated is (166).

Abstract: A method for managing resource usage within a cellular communications system (10) having at least one satellite (12) and, capable of communicating with the satellite(s) (12), at least one controlling station (28) and multiple ground terminals (26). The controlling station (28) predicts (372, 380) system communication traffic and operating capabilities for a future period; generates (216) a system plan (250) and an individual operational plan (270-30n) for each satellite (12) based on the prediction; distributes (222) each individual operational plan (270-30n) to each corresponding satellite (12); monitors (226) execution of the system plan (250) during the future period to determine (228) whether the plan is operating acceptably and when the plan is not operating acceptably (228), generates (216) a new plan, or portion thereof, to alleviate the unacceptable operation; and repeats the foregoing steps for additional future periods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing communication links between communication units that travel in different, determinable directions. The method includes the steps of calculating communication link boundary corridors, generating operational plans that inform the communication units how to establish and maintain a communication link, transmitting the operational plans to the communication units, and establishing links according to the operational plans. The apparatus includes a control segment that generates the operational plans and transmits them to the communication units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a radio for communicating between a terrestrial station and a satellite by (i) selecting one of a number of predetermined computational methods for computing longitudes of particular satellite ground path equator crossings based on minimum and maximum ground path latitudes and terrestrial station coverage perimeter latitudes, (ii) determining a first range of longitudes of satellite ground path equator crossings corresponding to the coverage perimeter, (iii) determining with the selected method, a first time of day when a first equator crossing has a longitude falling within the first range of longitudes, (iv) determining first and second time intervals for satellite ground path position to move from the first equator crossing into and out of the coverage perimeter and (v) activating the radio during a time determined from a combination of the first time of day and the first and second time intervals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling operations of a cellular communication system having multiple satellites, multiple subscriber units which communicate through the multiple satellites, and a system control segment which creates a subscriber traffic prediction and manages operation of the communication system. The method includes the steps of decomposing a traffic prediction request into regional traffic requests; determining a regional traffic prediction for each regional traffic request based on past regional traffic history; and combining the regional traffic requests into a consolidated subscriber traffic prediction. The subscriber traffic prediction is then used to determine a system operational plan which controls operations of the communication system.