Systems and methods for satellite communications with mobile terrestrial terminals

Abstract

A system of satellite communications provides high throughput data transmission rates for mobile terrestrial terminals. The system may allow point to point communication between two terrestrial terminals. Further, the system may allow point to multipoint communication from an initiating terrestrial terminal to a plurality of target terrestrial terminals. Still further, the system may allow multipoint to multipoint communication from a plurality of initiating terrestrial terminals to a plurality of target terrestrial terminals. The satellites in the system may utilizes on-board functionality such as routing, network management and other data handling functionality. Further, the satellites in the system may communicate amongst each other and route signals through in-box and inter-box communication.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the systems and methods according to the present invention are described in the figures identified below and in the detailed description that follows.

FIG. 1 shows a high level view of an embodiment of a system and method, according to the present invention, for providing satellite communications.

FIG. 2 shows a high level view of an embodiment of a system and method, according to the present invention, for providing satellite communications.

FIG. 3 shows a high-level schematic view of the architecture in an embodiment of a system and method according to the present invention, with an emphasis on the satellite side of the system.

FIG. 4 shows a high-level view of the software of a satellite in an embodiment of a system and method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a high-level view of the architecture of a satellite in an embodiment of a system and method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a high-level view of the architecture of a terrestrial terminal in an embodiment of a system and method according to the present invention.

FIGS. 7-20 show, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for providing satellite communications service to a customer.

FIG. 21 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for building, expanding or enhancing a satellite communications system.

FIG. 22 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for building, expanding or enhancing a satellite communications system.

FIG. 23 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for initiating customer/user control of a satellite.

FIG. 24 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for providing customer/user control of an antenna on a satellite.

FIG. 25 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for providing tracking of a target terrestrial terminal through steering an antenna on a satellite.

FIG. 26 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for a closed loop antenna steering method.

FIG. 27 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for providing customer/user control of the movement of a satellite.

FIG. 28 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for providing tracking of a target terrestrial terminal through the movement of a satellite.

FIG. 29 shows, in flowchart form, steps associated with an embodiment of a method, according to the present invention, for a closed loop satellite movement method.

FIG. 30 shows a high-level view of an embodiment of a system and method, according to the present invention, for providing satellite communications.

FIG. 31 shows a view of intersatellite communication geometry.

FIG. 32 shows a high-level view of satellite interference from a non-compliant terminal antenna.

Claims

1. A satellite communications system for transmitting to mobile terrestrial terminals, the system comprising: an initiating terrestrial terminal containing at least one antenna for sending an uplink signal to a satellite;at least one satellite comprising at least one of the group consisting of (i) hardware and (ii) software components to manage changes in capacity and interference associated with the uplink signal, and to balance power and multiplexing into downlink signals, the satellites comprising: at least one of the group consisting of (i) hardware and (ii) software components for on-board processing and network management; andone or a plurality of steerable antennas; andat least one target terrestrial terminal containing at least one antenna for receiving a downlink signal from a satellite.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one satellite has a launch mass of 800 kg or less.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the satellites further comprise a propulsion system for slow transit orbit.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the on-board processing is performed by at least one software component.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the at least one software component employs at least one database.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and the satellites occupy a single orbital slot.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and each satellite occupies a distinct orbital slot.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and the satellites occupy a combination of shared and distinct orbital slots.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites occupying an orbital box, and the changes in capacity and interference are managed through in-box communication and routing.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite occupies one of the group consisting of (i) geostationary orbits, (ii) geosynchronous orbits, (iii) Molniya orbits, (iv) low earth orbits, and (v) middle earth orbits.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and the network management functionality is shared by a plurality of satellites.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the network management functionality is shared by the plurality of satellites and terrestrial terminals.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and a first satellite that receives network status information is configured to route the information to all other satellites in the system.

14. The system according to claim 13 wherein the network status information provides parameters to dynamically reconfigure the system.

15. The system according to claim 13 wherein the first satellite is further operative to adjust to the failure of another satellite by dynamically routing a signal to an alternate satellite.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and a satellite that receives network status information is configured to route the information to a terrestrial terminal within the satellite's footprint.

17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the network status information is routed to the terrestrial terminals via a downlink broadcast.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal is mobile.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal is operative to transmit and receive a high bandwidth signal.

20. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal further comprises at least one of the group consisting of (i) antenna, (ii) software, and (iii) hardware, to communicate with the satellites.

21. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal 22 further comprises an antenna of between 75 cm2 and 2000 cm2 in area.

22. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal further comprises an antenna design that comprises at least one of the group consisting of (i) reflector, and (ii) phased array.

23. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal is further operative to send an uplink signal transmitted on the Ku-band.

24. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal is further operative to monitor and store data from a geoposition sensor.

25. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites and the at least one terrestrial terminal is further operative to determine, from a plurality of satellites in the system, a satellite with which to communicate that best satisfies a set of preselected constraints.

26. The system according to claim 25 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal is further operative to perform automatic satellite line-up and acquisition.

27. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one terrestrial terminal is further operative to store information in a data structure.

28. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and at least one satellite is operative to perform network control hub functionality.

29. The system according to claim 28 wherein the satellites are further operative to perform data handling functions without a terrestrial hub.

30. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and each of the satellites utilizes at least one of the group consisting of (i) regenerative payload, and (ii) high power transponders.

31. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and each satellite further comprises multiple software engines to perform on-board data handling functions.

32. The system according to claim 31 wherein the software engines run on a plurality of processors.

33. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one satellite comprises a plurality of satellites, and each satellite further comprises software for processing and storing preselected satellite usage information.

34. The system according to claim 33 wherein the preselected satellite usage information comprises at least one of the group consisting of (i) billing information, (ii) detailed terrestrial terminal antenna performance characteristics, (iii) RF component characteristics, (iv) parameters for link performance calculation, (v) up and downlink frequency, (vi) quality of service requirements, and (vii) prioritization class.

35. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna broadcasts at least one of the group consisting of (i) uni-cast, and (ii) multi-cast signals, to the target terrestrial terminal.

36. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna is capable of generating spot beams.

37. The system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one target terrestrial terminal has the same capabilities as the initiating terrestrial terminal.

38. The system according to claim 37 wherein the at least one target terrestrial terminal has at least one of the group consisting of (i) hardware components, and (ii) software components, that is different from the initiating terrestrial terminal.

39. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system transmits data throughput greater than required to permit voice communications.

40. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system has data throughput capacity of 500 kbps or greater.

41. A method of initiating satellite communications service, comprising the steps of: entering an authorization code into an initiating terrestrial terminal;searching for the nearest satellite in the network; andauthorizing communication to the nearest satellite in the network.

42. The method according to claim 41 wherein the authorization code is pre-assigned to the initiating terrestrial terminal.

43. The method according to claim 41 wherein the authorization code is pre-assigned to a user of the system.

44. The method according to claim 41 wherein the authorization code is distributed to a user of the system whereby the user can use any terrestrial terminal.

45. The method according to claim 41 wherein the authorization code is specific to a type of vehicle.

46. The method according to claim 41 wherein the initiating terrestrial terminal requires and unpacks at least one of a password and other security information.

47. The method according to claim 41 wherein the initiating terrestrial terminal comprises internal processing software for analyzing the satellites potentially available for communication and selects a satellite based on the analysis.

48. A method of using a satellite communications service to transmit a communication between two terrestrial terminals, comprising the steps of: sending a communication via an uplink frequency from an initiating terrestrial terminal located in an earth segment to a satellite in a satellite communications network located in a space segment;assembling a request signal that requests service from the space segment via the satellite;analyzing alternate routes to reach a target terrestrial terminal;creating a request signal packet;searching for, acquiring, and lining up an antenna to transmit communication parameters to a chosen satellite;sending a request signal to the chosen satellite;receiving the request signal;initiating a connection between the initiating terrestrial terminal and the target terrestrial terminal;repackaging the request signal into a downlink signal;passing the downlink signal to an on-board software engine;sending the downlink signal to the target terrestrial terminal;checking the target terrestrial terminal for traffic; andallocating channels and channel parameters for communication between the initiating terrestrial terminal and the target terrestrial terminal.

49. The method according to claim 48 wherein the satellite is chosen manually by an operator of the initiating terrestrial terminal.

50. The method according to claim 48 wherein the satellite communications network comprises a plurality of satellites, and a plurality of candidate satellites for receiving the request signal are selected by an operator of the initiating terrestrial terminal, the initiating terrestrial terminal comprising software that compares the plurality of candidate satellites against a list of available satellites that is constantly updated via a network status updates channel.

51. The method according to claim 48 wherein the request signal specifies a target terrestrial terminal listed by orbital box, satellite, beam, type of service, and bandwidth required.

52. The method according to claim 48 wherein the initiating terrestrial terminal determines a route from the alternate routes based on latency, traffic, capacity limits, and other information on the network status updates channel.

53. The method according to claim 48 wherein the initiating terrestrial terminal comprises a software engine to search for and acquire option files from a satellite hub.

54. The method according to claim 48 wherein receivers in the chosen satellite payload receive the request signal.

55. The method according to claim 54 wherein the receivers unpack the request signal.

56. The method according to claim 55 wherein the receivers further unpack a header that contains a routing address and authentication code.

57. The method according to claim 55 wherein the unpacked signal is sent to an on-board software engine for processing.

58. The method according to claim 56 wherein the unpacked signal is sent to an on-board software engine for processing, and the on-board software engine authenticates the authentication code using a security protocol.

59. The method according to claim 58 wherein the authenticated signal is transferred to another on-board software engine to route the authenticated signal.

60. The method according to claim 59 wherein the authenticated signal is transferred to another on-board software engine for processing.

61. The method according to claim 60 wherein the on-board software engine appends the authenticated signal with the routing address and a new authentication code and sends the signal back to the satellite transmitter.

62. The method according to claim 48 wherein the on-board software engine determines whether the request signal is a service signal, command signal, or a network signal.

63. The method according to claim 62 wherein the request signal is routed to different on-board software engines depending on whether the signal is determined to be a service signal, command signal, or a network signal.

64. The method according to claim 48 wherein the on-board software engine performs routing to add a routing address back into a control channel in the initiating terrestrial terminal.

65. The method according to claim 48 wherein the on-board software engine performs authentication to generate an appropriate authentication code.

66. The method according to claim 48 further comprising the step of routing the downlink signal to a target satellite via in-box or inter-box communication.

67. The method according to claim 66 wherein an on-board software engine of the target satellite generates a new request signal packet with a new routing address, authentication code, and request signal content appropriate to the target satellite.

68. The method according to claim 67 further comprising the step of sending the new request signal packet to an inter-satellite link.

69. The method according to claim 68 further comprising the step of generating a series of confirmation of service signal packets back to the initiating terrestrial terminal.

70. The method according to claim 67 further comprising the step of updating dynamic network information and passing the update to all terminals the dynamic network covers and to all other satellites in the space segment through a chain satellite-to-satellite via a network status update broadcast.

71. A method of monitoring an incident of an unauthorized satellite signal from an accessing terminal, comprising the steps of: logging the origin of the signal;sending a message to a network and a sub-network administrator; andsending an access denied message back on a command channel of the accessing terminal.

72. The method according to claim 71 further comprising the step of logging the incident and origin of the signal in a database on-board a satellite.

73. A method of authenticating a signal on-board a satellite via an on-board software engine to generate an appropriate authentication code, comprising the steps of: combining a routing address and authentication code to make a confirmation of service signal packet;forming a second confirmation of service signal packet for a target terrestrial terminal;generating two denial of service signal packets if the target terrestrial terminal is busy; andsending all service signal packets to a transmitter.

74. The method according to claim 73 further comprising the step of repackaging the signal via the transmitter with appropriate channel parameters into a downlink signal to the target terrestrial terminal.

75. A method for enabling terminal to terminal communication, comprising the steps of: configuring a communication channel and sending a start of communication service signal packet to a chosen satellite;receiving the start of communication service signal packet, authenticating it, and routing it appropriately to other satellites or other target terrestrial terminals;having the target terrestrial terminals perform at least one of the steps of (i) entering a listening mode and (ii) submitting a return request signal;receiving, unpacking, authenticating, and interpreting a start of the service signal;sending a channel open handshaking signal back to the initiating terrestrial via the chosen satellite;receiving, authenticating, and routing the channel open handshaking signal; andbeginning transmission from the initiating terrestrial terminal after receiving, unpacking, authenticating, and interpreting the channel open handshaking signal.

76. The method according to claim 75 wherein the service signal packet is received by an on-board software engine.

77. The method according to claim 75 wherein open handshaking signal is received by an on-board software engine.

78. A method for ending transmission between terminals, comprising the steps of: sending a termination signal from a transmitting terrestrial terminal to a satellite;receiving the termination signal and terminating the connection from the satellite;transmitting the termination from the satellite to the target terrestrial terminal; andclosing a configured channel via the target terrestrial terminal.

79. The method according to claim 78 wherein the target terrestrial terminal is distributed over several satellites.

80. The method according to claim 79 wherein an on-board software engine of a satellite creates a single information of service package and sends the package to appropriate satellites.

81. A method of multiple point-to-point communications, comprising the steps of: identifying a need for two-way communications from an on-board software engine;directing a confirmation of service signal, which includes instructions to allocate both receive and transmit channels, at target terrestrial terminals; andstarting a broadcast from a terrestrial terminal.

82. The method according to claim 81 wherein the terrestrial terminal waits for a channel open handshaking signal before starting the broadcast.

83. The method according to claim 81 wherein the terrestrial terminal does not wait for a channel open handshaking signal before starting the broadcast.