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US 10,651,925 B2Granted
Experimental smartphone ground station grid system
AssigneeUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
InventorPaul J. Darby, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This system and method provides for a plurality of satellite ground stations, distributed across some geographic region, and for these regions in turn to be scalable to cover large regions, including across the Earth or in orbit with planets or other celestial bodies using a combination of low-orbit satellites, terrestrial participant devices, and cloud-based communications. The invention in its simplest form is intended to solve the short temporal window problem inherent to the scenario where a single base or ground station is trying to track and communicate with a low-end OSAT or even a cube-satellite.
Claims42
A distributed digital network system for orchestrated and coordinated control of surface to satellite, satellite to surface, and surface to surface communications comprising:
- (a) at least one Participant Devices (PD);
- (b) at least one Orbiting Satellite (OSAT);
- and
- (c) a Computational Cloud;
- wherein the orchestration and coordination of communications between the PD and OSAT is controlled by the Computational Cloud;
- wherein the orchestration and coordination of communications between PDs is controlled by the Computational Cloud;
- and
- wherein the Computational Cloud controls communications on a time-slot-by-time-slot basis to each said PD for the duration of the OSAT's orbital pass.
5 more elements
A method for improving communication between at least one Participant Device (PD) and at least one additional Participant Device (APD) comprising:
- (a) placing at least one PD in or near the APD's orbital projection;
- wherein said PD comprises a radio and a ground station;
- wherein a Computational Cloud commands the radio to communicate with the APD;
- and
- wherein said APD comprises a satellite transceiver and a radio antenna;
- (b) providing said Computational Cloud that is connected to at least one PD comprising:
- (i) a Module 1, comprising an Ephemeris Software Module and a database of calculated and stored data regarding the at least one APD's predicted orbital position with respect to time and geographic locations;
- (ii) a Module 2, comprising a PD Registry Module;
- (iii) a Module 3, comprising a PD Communications Profile Planning Software Module;
- wherein Module 3 is capable of issuing PD Issued Temporal Control, Communications, and Instrumentation Profile (ITCCIP) for each PD on a time-slot-by-time-slot-basis;
- wherein said ITCCIP is further comprised of Radio Communications Parameters (RCPs) and basic Instrumentation Parameters (IMPs);
- (iv) a Module 4, comprising a Communications Software Module, wherein Module 4 facilitates all communication between said Module 3 and said PD;
- (iv) a Module 5, comprising a Multi-Satellite Radio Path Predictor Module;
- wherein Module 5 stores and contains a three dimensional data representation of said at least one APD's static radio antenna pattern;
- wherein Module 5 is capable of predicting how said at least one APD's three dimensional radio antenna pattern projection will impinge a selected location and the time at which the impingement will be made;
- (vi) a Module 6, comprising a Message/PD Apportionment Module;
- wherein Module 6 supports said Module 3 by allowing messages to be communicated to be fragmented and apportioned to the appropriate PD;
- (vii) a Module 7, comprising a Composite Pre-Tuned Instrument Module, and wherein Modules 3, 4, and 7 provide IMP functionality;
- (viii) a Module 8, comprising a Mobile Control Module, wherein Module 8 controls PD mobility and motion control;
- wherein at least one PD is connected to the Computational Cloud;
- wherein said Module 1 provides its current and predicted at least one APD location data to Module 3;
- wherein said Module 2 provides registry data and PD location data to Module 3;
- and
- wherein said Module 4 serves as the interface function between Module 2 and said PD with Module 4;
- (c) Module 3 functionally divides the at least one APD's orbital pass over an area containing PDs into time-slots, and, prior to or during the at least one APD's orbital pass over the area containing said PDs, communicates an ITCCIP for each PD on a time-slot-by-time-slot-basis;
- (d) Module 3 coordinates with Module 5 to send measurement data obtained from the PDs under IMP control to Module 5, request that Module 5 perform predictive analysis on the data, and receive Module 5's Satellite Radio Pattern Spatial-Temporal Predictions (SRPSTPs);
- (e) Module 3 utilizes the data provided by Modules 1, 2, and 5 to determine the appropriate RCPs and IMPs and their applicable time slots;
- (f) the PDs perform the actions dictated by the RCPs and IMPS on a time-slot-by-time-slot basis;
- (g) Module 4 confirms that Module 3's transmission and receipt of ITCCIP and communication messages are routed to and from the correct PD;
- (h) the PD is configured by time slot, in accordance with Module 3's assigned IMPS, to report its time-stamped actual measurements of received measurements as the PD's radio receives communications from said OSAT or from other PDs;
- (i) the PD sends its actual measurement data to Module 4;
- and
- (j) Module 4 forwards the actual measurement data and measurement conditions to Module 5.
30 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.