Managing satellite communications in flexible form factors

Abstract

A node of a wireless sensing system automatically switches from using a primary satellite network to using a backup satellite network. The node uses primary parameters of the primary satellite network to determine when the primary satellite network is unavailable. The node determines, based on backup parameters for the backup satellite network, an expected availability of the backup satellite network, and establishes, during the expected availability, a communication connection with the backup satellite network. To reduce battery usage of at least one tape node of a wireless tracking system, a gateway node receives a wireless satellite signal from at least one navigation satellite of a satellite navigation system, decodes Ephemeris data therefrom, and distributes the Ephemeris data to the at least one tape node via a low-powered wireless communication interface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.