Simplified Inter-Satellite Link Communications Using Orbital Plane Crossing to Optimize Inter-Satellite Data Transfers
AssigneeLynk Global, Inc.
InventorsTyghe Robert Speidel, Andrew J. Gerber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method and apparatus for inter-satellite communications, transmissions between a satellite and neighboring satellites that share an orbital plane occur via an aft antenna or a forward antenna and transmissions between the satellite and neighboring satellites that do not share an orbital plane occur via the aft antenna or the forward antenna timed during orbital plane crossings. This occurs even if the total path length and number of links is higher than inter-satellite communications that use side-to-side transfers.
Claims20
A method of operating a communications system to transfer a message from a source device to a destination device, the method comprising:
- obtaining, at a satellite, a message;
- obtaining, at the satellite, a message path for the message, wherein the message path accounts for orbital movements of the satellite and other satellites in a constellation;
- determining, at the satellite, based on the message path, a next satellite in the constellation selected from an aft satellite, a forward satellite, a west-crossing cross-plane satellite, or an east-crossing cross-plane satellite;
- and
- sending, from the satellite, the message to the next satellite, wherein the message path indicates the next satellite.
A system for communicating messages from a source device to a destination device comprising:
- a processor for computing a message path for a message;
- a plurality of satellites in a constellation, wherein a satellite is configured to receive and send messages to other satellites in the constellation;
- storage for a message path for the message, wherein the message path accounts for orbital movements of the satellite and other satellites in a constellation;
- a first antenna for sending and receiving messages between the satellite and an aft in-plane satellite or an aft cross-plane satellite;
- a second antenna for sending and receiving messages between the satellite and a forward in-plane satellite or a forward cross-plane satellite;
- logic for determining, at the satellite, based on the message path, a next satellite in the constellation selected from an aft in-plane satellite, a forward in-plane satellite, an aft cross-plane satellite, or a forward cross-plane satellite;
- and
- and radio frequency transmission system for sending or receiving, to or from the satellite, the message from or to the next satellite, based on the message path.
A satellite, for use in a constellation of satellites capable of inter-satellite message forwarding and having orbital planes comprising:
- a processor;
- memory storage for a message;
- memory storage for a representation of at least a portion of a message path, wherein the message path indicates a plurality of satellites in the constellation through which the message is to be forwarded, wherein at least two of the plurality of satellites indicated in the message path are in distinct orbital planes and thus are cross-plane satellites relative to each other;
- an aft antenna for sending and receiving messages between the satellite and an aft in-plane satellite or an aft cross-plane satellite;
- a forward antenna for sending and receiving messages between the satellite and a forward in-plane satellite or a forward cross-plane satellite;
- a radio frequency transmission system for receiving the message and for sending, from the satellite, the message to a next satellite, via the aft antenna or the forward antenna;
- program code, stored in a memory accessible by the processor, wherein the program code is executable by the processor and comprises:
- a) program code for initiating reception of the message;
- b) program code for initiating sending of the message;
- c) program code for computing, obtaining, or extracting the representation of at least a portion of the message path, wherein computation of the representation of at least a portion of the message path accounts for orbital movements of the satellite and other satellites in the constellation;
- and
- d) program code for determining, at the satellite, based on the message path, which of the satellites in the constellation is to be the next satellite, selected from the aft in-plane satellite, the forward in-plane satellite, the aft cross-plane satellite, or the forward cross-plane satellite, where the determination considers orbital plane crossings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.