LEO Satellite Beam Management Algorithms

A global service LEO constellation aims to provide service to any terminal covered by the constellation planes. To reduce the satellite cost, which is directly related to its power usage and weight, each satellite should be able to service (cover) all the terminals within its Field-of-View (FoV) using the satellites beams in the most efficient way. LEO satellite network vendors use different approaches to handle the user terminals diverse locations. A stepping (or tracking) beam constellation provides service to predefined areas instead of a full coverage. As a result, satellites using stepping beams are more efficient, as power is used only for populated areas. When the constellation shifts, beams are allocated such that each area is serviced by one of the satellites that has the area in its FoV. Stepping beams constellations raise unique and complicated tasks. When admitting a new service area, we should verify it can be covered by a satellite beam at any coverage combination of the moving constellation. The algorithms should take into account the satellite limitations (power, number of beams).Previous works analyzed the overall efficiency of each constellation architecture and the technologies of the on-board beams, while little attention was paid to the algorithm that validates a consistent coverage of new service areas. The major contribution of this paper is a novel algorithm for validating new service areas in a LEO stepping beam constellation.