Systems and methods for tracking mobile terrestrial terminals for satellite communications
AssigneeOverHorizon (Cyprus) PLC
InventorsPer Wahlberg, Kennet Lejnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System and methods provide tracking capabilities by one or a plurality of satellites for a mobile terrestrial terminal. A user requests that a satellite track a particular mobile terrestrial terminal. If the user privilege level allows for this level of control, the satellite adjusts to track the identified terminal. One method for tracking involves the use of a steerable antenna in which the antenna steers to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. Another method for tracking involves moving the satellite itself to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. The tracking functionality may utilize a closed loop tracking method.
Claims39
A method for allowing a user to access control of one or more of the following:
- (i) a satellite, and (ii) satellite components, comprising the steps of:
- sending a request signal from an initiating terrestrial terminal;
- unpacking the request signal from a receiving satellite and routing the request to a software engine;
- identifying a privilege level associated with the initiating terrestrial terminal;
- determining from the request whether the initiating terrestrial terminal has a privilege level corresponding to, or exceeding, the identified privilege level;
- sending a denial of service signal to the initiating terrestrial terminal if the privilege level determined from the request does not meet or exceed the identified privilege level;
- and
- sending a confirmation of service signal to the initiating terrestrial terminal if the determined privilege level meets or exceeds the identified privilege level.
A method for tracking mobile terrestrial terminals, comprising the steps of:
- submitting target terminal identification data into an initiating terrestrial terminal;
- packing the target terminal identification data into an uplink signal;
- sending the uplink signal to a satellite having an on-board processor;
- receiving, unpacking, and routing the uplink signal to the on-board processor;
- determining the current position of the target terminal;
- and
- steering an antenna on the satellite to ensure the coverage area of the antenna includes the current position of the target terminal.
A method for manually controlling a satellite, comprising the steps of:
- requesting manual control of the satellite;
- receiving the request via a request signal;
- determining a privilege level of the user;
- determining if the privilege level corresponds to a preselected criterion and, if so, sending a confirmation of service signal to an initiating terrestrial terminal;
- inputting geoposition data corresponding to a desired satellite coverage area into the initiating terrestrial terminal;
- packaging the geoposition data into a payload command signal;
- receiving and unpacking the payload command signal and routing the signal to a software engine;
- based on the geoposition data, moving the satellite to a specified location;
- and
- sending new geoposition data to the initiating terrestrial terminal.
A method for tracking mobile terrestrial terminals, comprising the steps of:
- submitting target terminal identification data into an initiating terrestrial terminal;
- packing the target terminal identification data into an uplink signal;
- sending the uplink signal to a satellite;
- receiving, unpacking, and routing the uplink signal to a processor on-board the satellite;
- determining the current position of the target terminal;
- and
- changing the orbital position of the satellite to ensure the coverage area of the satellite includes the current position of the target terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.