US 11,909,504 B1Granted

Communication with multiple satellite networks

AssigneeHubble Network Inc.

InventorsLouis Legrand, Ben Juda Wild

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Abstract

Techniques for leveraging information from a first satellite network to improve communications with a second satellite network are described. According to some embodiments, an endpoint device in an LPWAN communicates with satellites in a GNSS as well as with satellites in another satellite network (e.g., an LPWAN satellite network). By communicating with the GNSS satellites, the endpoint device is able to determine one or more locations in the sky overhead that provide favorable (e.g., unobstructed) communication paths between the endpoint device and satellites in those locations. Then, using ephemeris data for both satellite constellations, the endpoint device determines a time when one or more satellites of the LPWAN satellite network will be in (or near to) one or more of those same locations. At the determined time, the endpoint device transmits data to be received by the one or more satellites of the LPWAN satellite network.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at an endpoint device via a GNSS receiver of the endpoint device, GNSS ephemeris data for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS);
receiving, at the endpoint device via an LPWAN satellite radio of the endpoint device, satellite ephemeris data for a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) satellite network;
receiving, at the endpoint device via the GNSS receiver, first data from a subset of the satellites of the GNSS, the first data including time data;
determining, based at least on the first data from the subset of the satellites of the GNSS, a location of the endpoint device;
determining, based at least on the first data from the subset of the satellites of the GNSS, signal strengths of satellites in the subset of the satellites of the GNSS;
determining, based at least on the first data from the subset of the satellites of the GNSS, including the time data, the signal strengths of the satellites in the subset of the satellites of the GNSS, and the GNSS ephemeris data, position information for one of the satellites in the subset of the satellites of the GNSS at a time when the first data from the subset of the satellites of the GNSS was received;
determining, based at least on the location of the endpoint device, the position information for the one of the satellites in the subset of the satellites of the GNSS, the time data, and the satellite ephemeris data, a time when a satellite of the LPWAN satellite network will be in a position to receive a transmission from the LPWAN satellite radio of the endpoint device;
and
transmitting second data from the endpoint device via the LPWAN satellite radio at the time when the satellite of the LPWAN satellite network is in the position to receive the transmission.

6 more elements

An endpoint device comprising:

at least one processor;
and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the endpoint device to:
receive GNSS ephemeris data for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS);
receive, via an LPWAN satellite radio of the endpoint device, satellite ephemeris data for a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) satellite network;
receive, via a GNSS receiver of the endpoint device, first data from a satellite of the GNSS, the first data including time data;
determine, based at least on the first data from the satellite of the GNSS, a location of the endpoint device;
determine, based at least on the first data from the satellite of the GNSS, a signal strength of the satellite of the GNSS;
determine, based at least on the first data from the satellite of the GNSS, including the time data, the signal strength of the satellite of the GNSS, and the GNSS ephemeris data, position information for the satellite of the GNSS at a time when the first data from the satellite of the GNSS was received;
determine, based at least on the location of the endpoint device, the position information for the satellite of the GNSS, the time data, and the satellite ephemeris data, a time when a satellite of the LPWAN satellite network will be in a position to receive a transmission from the LPWAN satellite radio of the endpoint device;
and
transmit second data via the LPWAN satellite radio at the time when the satellite of the LPWAN satellite network is in the position to receive the transmission.

9 more elements

A system comprising:

a satellite configured to be placed in low Earth orbit as part of a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) satellite network;
and
an endpoint device including at least one processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the endpoint device to:
receive GNSS ephemeris data for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS);
receive, via an LPWAN satellite radio of the endpoint device, satellite ephemeris data for the LPWAN satellite network;
receive, via a GNSS receiver of the endpoint device, first data from a satellite of the GNSS the first data including time data;
determine, based at least on the first data from the satellite of the GNSS, a location of the endpoint device;
determine, based at least on the first data from the satellite of the GNSS, a signal strength of the satellite of the GNSS;
determine, based at least on the first data from the satellite of the GNSS, including the time data, the signal strength of the satellite of the GNSS, and the GNSS ephemeris data, position information for the satellite of the GNSS at a time when the first data from the satellite of the GNSS was received;
determine, based at least on the location of the endpoint device, the position information for the satellite of the GNSS, the time data, and the satellite ephemeris data, a time when the satellite of the LPWAN satellite network will be in a position to receive a transmission from the LPWAN satellite radio of the endpoint device;
and
transmit second data via the LPWAN satellite radio at the time when the satellite of the LPWAN satellite network is in the position to receive the transmission.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/989,596Filed 17 Nov 2022
Granted: 20 Feb 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04B 7/18513
Systems using a satellite or space-based relay: transmission in a satellite or space-based system
G01S 19/27
Acquisition or tracking or demodulation of signals transmitted by the system: creating, predicting or correcting ephemeris or almanac data within…
G01S 19/42
The satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting…:…
H04B 7/18519
Systems using a satellite or space-based relay: operations control, administration or maintenance

Family

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