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In a satellite cellular communication system, subscriber traffic is shared between satellites whose antenna coverage patterns overlap during some portion of their orbit. When the power consumption of one satellite exceeds a predetermined level, subscriber units are transferred to cells of a second s

In a satellite cellular communication system, subscriber traffic is shared between satellites whose antenna coverage patterns overlap during some portion of their orbit. When the power consumption of one satellite exceeds a predetermined level, subscriber units are transferred to cells of a second satellite whose antenna coverage pattern overlaps that of the first satellite. After the subscriber units are transferred, channel assignments are redone to prevent interference with subscriber units in other cells.

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A method of dynamically distributing traffic load among satellite nodes in a communication system comprising the steps of: monitoring a power consumption level of a first satellite node having a first antenna coverage pattern comprised of a first plurality of antenna beams, said first plurality of a

A method of dynamically distributing traffic load among satellite nodes in a communication system comprising the steps of: monitoring a power consumption level of a first satellite node having a first antenna coverage pattern comprised of a first plurality of antenna beams, said first plurality of antenna beams having a first antenna beam; and communicating with a subscriber unit over a first communication channel within said first antenna beam, the communicating step contributing to said power consumption level, when the monitoring step determines that said power consumption level exceeds a predetermined level, the method further comprises the steps of: identifying a second satellite node having a second antenna coverage pattern comprised of a second plurality of antenna beams which at least partially overlaps said first antenna coverage pattern creating an overlap region, said second plurality having a second antenna beam that at least partially overlaps said first antenna beam; transferring communications with said subscriber unit from said first satellite node to said second satellite by switching off said first communication channel within said first antenna beam, and switching on said first communication channel in said second antenna beam; and communicating with said subscriber unit over said first communication channel within said second antenna beam after the transferring step, the communicating step contributing to a power consumption level of said second satellite node.