Energy-efficient communication between sensor and satellite
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsHans-Peter Huth, Florian Zeiger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to methods for a communication between a sensor and a satellite, and sensors for carrying out such a method. The sensor has a transmission unit for transmitting sensor data from the sensor to the satellite and a computing unit for calculating the position of the satellite at a specified point in time. The satellite is configured to receive and forward the sensor data. The method includes calculating a coverage duration using path parameters of the satellite and the position of the sensor, activating the transmission unit of the sensor during a transmission duration based on the calculated coverage duration, and transmitting the sensor data from the sensor to the satellite during the transmission duration.
Claims19
A method for communication between a sensor and a satellite, wherein the sensor has a transmission unit for transmitting sensor data from the sensor to the satellite and a calculation unit for calculating a position of the satellite at a particular instant, and wherein the satellite is configured to receive and forward the sensor data, the method comprising:
- calculating a coverage time period with aid of trajectory parameters of the satellite and a position of the sensor, wherein the coverage time period corresponds to a time period in which the sensor is located in a footprint region of the satellite;
- activating the transmission unit of the sensor during a transmission time period based on the calculated coverage time period, wherein the coverage time period or a part of the coverage time period is selected as the transmission time period;
- and
- transmitting the sensor data from the sensor to the satellite during the transmission time period.
A sensor comprising:
- a calculation unit for calculating a position of a satellite at a particular instant;
- and
- a transmission unit for transmitting sensor data from the sensor to the satellite,
- wherein the calculation unit is configured to calculate a coverage time period with aid of trajectory parameters of the satellite and a position of the sensor, wherein the coverage time period corresponds to a time period in which the sensor is located in a footprint region of the satellite,
- wherein the transmission unit is configured to be activated during a transmission time period based on the calculated coverage time period, the coverage time period or a part thereof being selected as the transmission time period, and
- wherein the transmission unit is furthermore configured to send the sensor data from the sensor to the satellite during the transmission time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.