Satellite operating system, architecture, testing and radio communication system
AssigneeSpire Globe, Inc.
InventorsPeter Platzer, Joel Spark, Jesse Trutna, Jeroen Cappaert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cubesat communication system implementing addressable data packet for transmitting information collected by the cubesat to one or more receive-only ground stations. The cubesat may transmit information to the receive-only ground stations according to a scheduler. The receive-only ground stations may receive information from the cubesat without sending any commands to the cubesat to prompt transmission and re-transmit to a central common station using a bent pipe streaming protocol. Information between the cubesat and the ground station may be transmitted via a connectionless, datagram network protocol.
Claims20
A launch capable cubesat for placement in low earth orbit, comprising:
- a computer processor programmed to establish communications with (i) orbiting satellites that comprise a satellite network, and (ii) ground station receivers configured to receive transmissions from said cubesats;
- a sensor for obtaining data;
- a memory for local storage of said data and software instructions for controlling said processor;
- and
- a wireless transmitter, responsive to said processor to transmit data and commands in accordance with said programming;
- wherein said transmissions include information identifying a receiver.
An orbit satellite communication system in a communication network, comprising:
- a sensor detecting information;
- a transmitter of a first orbit satellite capable of establishing a first transmission link with a second orbit satellite in the network, the second orbit satellite having a second transmission link with a ground station;
- and
- a program controlled processor in communication with the sensor and the transmitter, the processor transmitting the detected information to the ground station by:
- dividing the detected information into a plurality of data packets;
- determining a destination address uniquely identifying the second orbit satellite in the network;
- and
- transmitting the data packets to the destination address via the first transmission link for further transmission to the ground station via the second transmission link.
A method of relaying information received from an orbit satellite to a ground station, comprising:
- receiving, via a ground receiver, data packets from the orbit satellite via a first transmission link;
- determining, by a processor, a destination address uniquely identifying a ground station;
- and
- transmitting properly addressed data packets by a second transmission link to a central command center.
A method of transmitting information from an orbit satellite communication system to a ground station, comprising:
- detecting information by a sensor of a first orbit satellite;
- dividing, by a processor, the detected information into a plurality of data packets;
- determining a destination address uniquely identifying a second orbit satellite, wherein the second orbit satellite has a first transmission link with a ground station;
- and
- transmitting the data packets to the destination address via a second transmission link for further transmission to the ground station via the first transmission link.
A ground station system, comprising:
- a software-defined radio (SDR) system configured to modulate and demodulate radio signals;
- and
- a processor in communication with the SDR system configured to:
- receive data packets broadcast by a satellite via the SDR system;
- identify from the data packets a source address that uniquely identifies the satellite;
- and
- assemble the data packets associated with the source address to form a message.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.