US 12,597,995 B2Granted

Techniques for implementing LEO satellite networks

AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.

InventorsAli Sajassi, Arman Rezaee, Pradeep Kumar Kathail

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Abstract

Described herein are techniques for implementing a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network and routing communications (e.g., packets) over that network. In embodiments, the techniques may comprise receiving, at a first ground station computing device, a request to determine destination information for a communication, determining, at the first ground station computing device based on information about the communication, a target computing device to which the communication is to be routed, determining, at the first ground station computing based on the target computing device, a location of a destination ground station, determining, at the first ground station computing by mapping orbital data to the location of the destination ground station, a destination satellite, generating the destination information to include at least an address for the destination satellite, and providing the destination information in response to the request.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

receiving, at a first ground station computing device, a request to determine destination information for a communication;
determining, at the first ground station computing device based on information about the communication, a target computing device to which the communication is to be routed;
determining, at the first ground station computing device based on the target computing device, a location of a destination ground station;
determining, at the first ground station computing device based on the location of the destination ground station, at least one destination satellite;
generating, at the first ground station computing device, the destination information to include at least one address for the at least one destination satellite, wherein the at least one destination satellite comprises multiple satellites, and wherein the at least one address for the at least one destination satellite comprises a series of addresses associated with individual satellites of the multiple satellites, and wherein individual addresses of the series of addresses correspond to a different period of time;
and
providing, by the first ground station computing device, the destination information in response to the request.

4 more elements

A ground station computing device comprising:

one or more processors;
and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the ground station computing device to at least:
receive a request to determine destination information for a communication;
determine, based on information about the communication, a target computing device to which the communication is to be routed;
determine, based on the target computing device, a location of a destination ground station;
determine, by mapping orbital data to the location of the destination ground station, at least one destination satellite, wherein the at least one destination satellite comprises multiple satellites, and wherein the at least one address for the at least one destination satellite comprises a series of addresses associated with individual satellites of the multiple satellites, and wherein individual addresses of the series of addresses correspond to a different period of time;
generate the destination information to include at least an address for the at least one destination satellite;
and
provide the destination information in response to the request.

7 more elements

A system comprising:

a network comprising a number of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites;
and
at least two ground stations, a first ground station of the at least two ground stations configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a first LEO satellite of the network, a request to determine destination information for a communication;
determining, based on information about the communication, a target computing device to which the communication is to be routed;
determining, based on the target computing device, a location of a second ground station of the at least two ground stations;
determining, by mapping orbital data to the location of the second ground station, at least one second LEO satellite of the network;
generating the destination information to include at least one address for the at least one second LEO satellite of the network, wherein the at least one second LEO satellite is configured to relay a communication to the second ground station, wherein the at least one second LEO satellite comprises a third LEO satellite during a first period of time and a fourth LEO satellite during a second period of time, and wherein the at least one address comprises both an address for the third LEO satellite and an address for the fourth LEO satellite;
and
providing the destination information in response to the request.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/078,838Filed 9 Dec 2022
Published: US 2024/0195490 A113 Jun 2024
Granted: 7 Apr 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04B 7/18523
Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems: satellite systems for providing broadcast service to terrestrial stations, i.e.…
H04B 7/18584
Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations: arrangements for data networking, i.e. for data packet…
H04B 7/18521
Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systems: systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service
H04W 64/003
Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management: locating network equipment