In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna assembly configured to transmit and receive beams in time-varying directions, and a beam steering controller configured to determine a first beam pointing vector by searching for a satellite from a plurality of satellites included in the communication system. The antenna assembly maintains a communication link with a satellite of the plurality of satellites by determining a plurality of beam pointing vectors that converge to increasing signal quality measurements, the satellite associated with the first beam pointing vector. The beam steering controller is configured to obtain, from the satellite, satellite ephemeris information of the satellite and one or more of remaining satellites of the plurality of satellites. The beam steering controller is configured to determine an orientation of the antenna assembly based on the satellite ephemeris information and the plurality of beam pointing vectors.

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna assembly configured to transmit and receive beams in time-varying directions, and a beam steering controller configured to determine a first beam pointing vector by searching for a satellite included in the communication system. The antenna assembly maintains a communication link with the satellite in a direction associated with the beam pointing vector, the satellite associated with the beam pointing vector. The beam steering controller is configured to obtain, from the satellite, satellite ephemeris information of the satellite and one or more additional satellites. The beam steering controller is configured to determine an orientation of the antenna assembly based on the satellite ephemeris information and the beam pointing vector.

In an embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna assembly configured to transmit and receive beams in time-varying directions, and a beam steering controller configured to determine a first beam pointing vector by searching for a satellite included in the communication system. The antenna assembly maintains a communication link with the satellite in a direction associated with the beam pointing vector, the satellite associated with the beam pointing vector. The beam steering controller is configured to obtain, from the satellite, satellite ephemeris information of the satellite and one or more additional satellites. The beam steering controller is configured to determine an orientation of the antenna assembly based on the satellite ephemeris information and the beam pointing vector.

A device and method are provided for tracking a signal in a satellite-on-the-move application using an antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency. An antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency is used to receive, from a remote device, a first signal at a first frequency with a first beam direction, and the antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency is used to communicate with the remote device a second signal at a second frequency, the second frequency offset from the first frequency and with a second beam direction offset in angle from the first beam direction. A periodic physical scan of the antenna about a current pointing direction of the antenna is performed over a prescribed time period, a strength of the received first signal over the prescribed time period is compared to a predetermined signal profile. A pointing direction of the antenna is adjusted based on the comparison, whereby adjusting causes the first signal to converge to the predetermined signal profile resulting in a strength of the second signal to peak.

A device and method are provided for tracking a signal in a satellite-on-the-move application using an antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency. An antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency is used to receive, from a remote device, a first signal at a first frequency with a first beam direction, and the antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency is used to communicate with the remote device a second signal at a second frequency, the second frequency offset from the first frequency and with a second beam direction offset in angle from the first beam direction. A periodic physical scan of the antenna about a current pointing direction of the antenna is performed over a prescribed time period, a strength of the received first signal over the prescribed time period is compared to a predetermined signal profile. A pointing direction of the antenna is adjusted based on the comparison, whereby adjusting causes the first signal to converge to the predetermined signal profile resulting in a strength of the second signal to peak.

In an embodiment, a method includes determining a first beam pointing vector associated with an antenna assembly by searching for a satellite from a plurality of satellites. The method includes maintaining a communication link with the satellite by determining a plurality of beam pointing vectors that converge to a signal quality value. The method includes obtaining, from the satellite, satellite ephemeris information of the satellite and one or more of remaining satellites of the plurality of satellites. The method includes determining an estimated orientation of the antenna assembly based on the plurality of beam pointing vectors.

In an embodiment, a method includes determining a first beam pointing vector associated with an antenna assembly by searching for a satellite from a plurality of satellites. The method includes maintaining a communication link with the satellite by determining a plurality of beam pointing vectors that converge to a signal quality value. The method includes obtaining, from the satellite, satellite ephemeris information of the satellite and one or more of remaining satellites of the plurality of satellites. The method includes determining an estimated orientation of the antenna assembly based on the plurality of beam pointing vectors.

A method performed by a ground station antenna system for tracking a non-Geo satellite. A signal is received from the satellite and a signal quality metric associated with the signal is estimated. A first tracking mode is selected and implemented when the estimated signal quality metric is below a threshold, in which the signal is demodulated to obtain demodulated signal quality metric (DSQM) estimates, and then a first tracking operation is performed to point an antenna beam at the satellite based on the DSQM estimates. A second tracking mode is selected and implemented when the estimated signal quality metric is above the threshold, in which signal strength estimates of the signal are obtained and then a second tracking operation is performed to point the antenna beam at the satellite based at least in part on the signal strength estimates.

A method performed by a ground station antenna system for tracking a non-Geo satellite. A signal is received from the satellite and a signal quality metric associated with the signal is estimated. A first tracking mode is selected and implemented when the estimated signal quality metric is below a threshold, in which the signal is demodulated to obtain demodulated signal quality metric (DSQM) estimates, and then a first tracking operation is performed to point an antenna beam at the satellite based on the DSQM estimates. A second tracking mode is selected and implemented when the estimated signal quality metric is above the threshold, in which signal strength estimates of the signal are obtained and then a second tracking operation is performed to point the antenna beam at the satellite based at least in part on the signal strength estimates.