SES has been granted a patent for a method that uses a processing device to assist in placing beams to cover multiple locations on Earth. The method involves grouping the locations into cliques using a clique problem resolution technique, assigning a beam to each clique, and outputting parameters to control the beam source. The patent also covers a system, computer program products, and a method and system for simulating beam placement. GlobalData’s report on SES gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on SES, free-space optical communication was a key innovation area identified from patents. SES's grant share as of June 2023 was 1%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method for placing beams to cover multiple locations on earth
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11683086B2) describes a method and system for assisting in placing beams to cover multiple locations on Earth. The method involves grouping the locations into cliques using a clique problem resolution technique applied to an undirected graph. The vertices of the graph represent the locations, and two vertices are connected by an edge if they can be covered by a single beam. The method assigns a beam to each clique and outputs parameters that can be used to control a beam source to form the assigned beams.
The grouping of locations into cliques can be done by identifying maximal cliques of the graph or by identifying cliques with a number of vertices no larger than a reference number. Additionally, each vertex of the graph can be assigned a weight associated with a bandwidth requirement, and cliques can be identified based on the sum of weights not exceeding a reference weight.
The method takes into account various constraints when assigning beams to cliques, including a maximum number of beams per beam source, beam shape constraints, power limitation constraints, constraints related to frequency spectrum availability, and constraints related to bandwidth requirements of terminals.
The patent also mentions that the beam sources can be satellites or aircraft, such as high-altitude platform stations, high-altitude long endurance aircraft, aerostats, balloons, airships, airplanes, or unmanned aerial vehicles.
The system described in the patent includes a processing device or set of processing devices that perform the grouping of locations, assignment of beams, and output of parameters. The system can also repeat these steps regularly or based on a trigger criterion. The system can obtain information about the locations of terminals on Earth or near the Earth's surface before grouping the locations into cliques. Terminals can transmit their location information to the processing device. The system also includes a beam source that receives parameters for controlling the formation of beams and can receive signals from and transmit signals to terminals at the covered locations.
In summary, the granted patent describes a method and system for efficiently placing beams to cover multiple locations on Earth using a clique problem resolution technique. The method considers various constraints and can be implemented using satellites or aircraft as beam sources. The system includes a processing device, terminals, and a beam source to facilitate the beam placement process.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
