Satellite communication for the Internet of Things
AssigneeHigher Ground LLC
InventorsRobert S. Reis, Mark Evan Russell, Shmuel Shaffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, the techniques herein provide a fully automated satellite-based backhaul system. In particular, a system in accordance with the techniques herein may utilize a satellite communication terminal to allow an Internet of Things (IoT) device (or any device) to be deployed in any location which has a line of sight towards a communication satellite. Specifically, the placement, orientation, and/or communication characteristics of the IoT device and/or satellite communication terminal (or antenna) may be manipulated (e.g., manual adjustment based on calculated directions and/or completely autonomously) to ensure avoidance of interference in any other wireless communication network.
Claims22
A method, comprising:
- determining, by a device, a location of an antenna which has a line of sight towards an intended satellite receiver;
- determining, by the device, based on the location, an orientation of the antenna in which the antenna is pointed in a direction within a range of directions, wherein the orientation ensures, when the antenna is used for transmissions at the location, adequate received signal strength at the intended satellite receiver and prevention of any interference by the transmissions with one or more unintended receivers, the one or more unintended receivers comprising an incumbent point-to-point receiver (PtPR);
- orienting the antenna in the determined orientation;
- confirming, by the device and prior to a transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, that the antenna is placed at the location and is configured in the determined orientation;
- and
- permitting, by the device and only in response to the confirming, the transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, wherein the transmission does not interfere with the one or more unintended receivers.
A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a computer to execute a process comprising:
- determining a location of an antenna which has a line of sight towards an intended satellite receiver;
- determining, based on the location, an orientation of the antenna in which the antenna is pointed in a direction within a range of directions, wherein the orientation ensures, when the antenna is used for transmissions at the location, adequate received signal strength at the intended satellite receiver and prevention of any interference by the transmissions with one or more unintended receivers, the one or more unintended receivers comprising an incumbent point-to-point receiver (PtPR);
- orienting the antenna in the determined orientation;
- confirming, prior to a transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, that the antenna is placed at the location and is configured in the determined orientation;
- and
- permitting, and only in response to the confirming, the transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, wherein the transmission does not interfere with the one or more unintended receivers.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a processor configured to execute one or more process;
- and
- a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
- determine a location of an antenna which has a line of sight towards an intended satellite receiver;
- determine, based on the location, an orientation of the antenna in which the antenna is pointed in a direction within a range of directions, wherein the orientation ensures, when the antenna is used for transmissions at the location, adequate received signal strength at the intended satellite receiver and prevention of any interference by the transmissions with one or more unintended receivers, the one or more unintended receivers comprising an incumbent point-to-point receiver (PtPR);
- orient the antenna in the determined orientation;
- confirm, prior to a transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, that the antenna is placed at the location and is configured in the determined orientation;
- and
- permit, only in response to the confirming, the transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, wherein the transmission does not interfere with the one or more unintended receivers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.