Systems and methods for tracking mobile terrestrial terminals for satellite communications

Abstract

System and methods provide tracking capabilities by one or a plurality of satellites for a mobile terrestrial terminal. A user requests that a satellite track a particular mobile terrestrial terminal. If the user privilege level allows for this level of control, the satellite adjusts to track the identified terminal. One method for tracking involves the use of a steerable antenna in which the antenna steers to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. Another method for tracking involves moving the satellite itself to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. The tracking functionality may utilize a closed loop tracking method.

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 method for allowing a user to access control of one or more of the following: (i) a satellite, and (ii) satellite components, comprising the steps of: sending a request signal from an initiating terrestrial terminal;unpacking the request signal from a receiving satellite and routing the request to a software engine;identifying a privilege level associated with the initiating terrestrial terminal;determining from the request whether the initiating terrestrial terminal has a privilege level corresponding to, or exceeding, the identified privilege level;sending a denial of service signal to the initiating terrestrial terminal if the privilege level determined from the request does not meet or exceed the identified privilege level; andsending a confirmation of service signal to the initiating terrestrial terminal if the determined privilege level meets or exceeds the identified privilege level.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the receiving satellite comprises a database that stores privilege levels each associated with at least one of a plurality of users and a plurality of terrestrial terminals.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the request signal specifies a request for manual control of one or a plurality of steerable antennas on the receiving satellite.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the initiating terrestrial terminal automatically transmits position data to the receiving satellite if the initiating terrestrial terminal is approved for controlling one or a plurality of the steerable antennas.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the initiating terrestrial terminal automatically transmits geoposition data to the receiving satellite when the initiating terrestrial terminal moves.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the receiving satellite receives, unpacks, and uses the geoposition data to change the antenna pointing direction.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the receiving satellite further transmits geoposition data of the antenna to the initiating terrestrial terminal.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the request signal is sent from the initiating terrestrial terminal on an encrypted channel.

9. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a confirmation of service signal to at least one other terrestrial terminal in a same network as the initiating terrestrial terminal.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of detecting a jammer on a particular satellite beam and informing the user of the detected jammer.

11. A method for tracking mobile terrestrial terminals, comprising the steps of: submitting target terminal identification data into an initiating terrestrial terminal;packing the target terminal identification data into an uplink signal;sending the uplink signal to a satellite having an on-board processor;receiving, unpacking, and routing the uplink signal to the on-board processor;determining the current position of the target terminal; andsteering an antenna on the satellite to ensure the coverage area of the antenna includes the current position of the target terminal.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of submitting geoposition data of the target terminal into the initiating terrestrial terminal.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of packing the target terminal geoposition data into an uplink signal.

14. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of continuously tracking the target terminal until an interrupt command is encountered.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the interrupt command results from the user requesting tracking termination.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the interrupt command results from steering the antenna outside of a preselected area.

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the interrupt command results from preselected triggers.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the preselected triggers comprise at least one from the group consisting of (i) billing, (ii) geographical constraints, (iii) interference, and (iv) general system coverage constraints.

19. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of sending new geoposition data of the antenna to one or a plurality of other terrestrial terminals in a same network as the initiating terrestrial terminal.

20. The method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of conducting signal level measurements to calculate the geoposition of a jamming signal by triangulation.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the signal level measurements are conducted when the coverage area of the antenna is changed.

22. The method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of conducting triangulation measurements by stepwise change of the satellite coverage area.

23. The method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of routing the geoposition of the jamming signal to the initiating terrestrial terminal.

24. A method for manually controlling a satellite, comprising the steps of: requesting manual control of the satellite;receiving the request via a request signal;determining a privilege level of the user;determining if the privilege level corresponds to a preselected criterion and, if so, sending a confirmation of service signal to an initiating terrestrial terminal;inputting geoposition data corresponding to a desired satellite coverage area into the initiating terrestrial terminal;packaging the geoposition data into a payload command signal;receiving and unpacking the payload command signal and routing the signal to a software engine;based on the geoposition data, moving the satellite to a specified location; andsending new geoposition data to the initiating terrestrial terminal.

25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of terminating the manual control of the satellite.

26. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of inputting new geoposition data.

27. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of sending a confirmation of service signal to at least one other terrestrial terminal in a same network as the initiating terrestrial terminal.

28. The method according to claim 26 further comprising the step of sending the new geoposition data to at least one other terrestrial terminal in a same network as the initiating terrestrial terminal.

29. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of enabling the user to be aware of a jammer on a particular satellite beam.

30. A method for tracking mobile terrestrial terminals, comprising the steps of: submitting target terminal identification data into an initiating terrestrial terminal;packing the target terminal identification data into an uplink signal;sending the uplink signal to a satellite;receiving, unpacking, and routing the uplink signal to a processor on-board the satellite;determining the current position of the target terminal; andchanging the orbital position of the satellite to ensure the coverage area of the satellite includes the current position of the target terminal.

31. The method according to claim 30 further comprising the step of submitting geoposition data of the target terminal into the initiating terrestrial terminal.

32. The method according to claim 31 further comprising the step of packing the target terminal geoposition data into an uplink signal.

33. The method according to claim 30 further comprising the step of continuously tracking the target terminal until an interrupt command is encountered.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein the interrupt command results from the user requesting tracking termination.

35. The method according to claim 33 wherein the interrupt command results from steering the antenna outside of a preselected area.

36. The method according to claim 33 wherein the interrupt command results from preselected triggers.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein the preselected triggers comprise at least one from the group consisting of (i) billing, (ii) geographical constraints, (iii) interference, and (iv) general system coverage constraints.

38. The method according to claim 30 further comprising the step of maintaining the orbital position of the satellite while steering an antenna on the satellite to ensure the coverage area of the antenna includes the current position of the target terminal if the orbital position moves outside a predetermined area.

39. The method according to claim 38 further comprising the step of maintaining the position of the antenna on the satellite while changing the orbital position of the satellite to ensure the coverage area of the antenna includes the current position of the target terminal if the antenna points outside a predetermined area.