US 2023/0403744 A1 · SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING INITIAL COMMUNICATION WITH SATELLITE SYSTEM

Abstract

A satellite constellation provides communication between user terminals (UTs) and ground stations that connect to other networks, such as the Internet. Satellites transmit beacon transmissions to particular areas on Earth as particular times. The beacon transmissions include information used by a UT to use a random access channel (RACH) uplink to request communication. Responsive to the request, encryption is established between the satellite and the UT. The satellite may then allocate uplink resources, send data to the UT on a downlink, and so forth. The UT receives additional data about future handovers to other satellites. Based on previously received data the UT may quickly re-establish communication with a satellite after an interruption, such as due to a power outage at the UT. If the previously received data has expired, the UT may again use a beacon transmission.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a first satellite comprising:
a first network interface;
and
a first set of one or more processors executing instructions to:
transmit a first initial network entry (INE) broadcast using the first network interface, wherein the first INE broadcast comprises first data indicative of a first subbeam identifier and a first set of symbols associated with random access channel (RACH) operation;
receive a first request from a first user terminal (UT);
assign a first UT identifier (UT-ID) to the first UT;
transmit a first response comprising the first UT-ID;
and
transmit second data addressed to the first UT-ID, wherein the second data comprises a second subbeam identifier, and a second set of symbols associated with RACH operation.

7 more elements

A method comprising:

transmitting, by a first satellite, a first initial network entry (INE) broadcast, wherein the first INE broadcast comprises first data indicative of a first subbeam identifier and a first set of symbols associated with random access channel (RACH) operation;
receiving, by the first satellite, a first request from a first user terminal (UT);
determining a first UT identifier (UT-ID) that is associated with the first UT;
transmitting, by the first satellite, a first response comprising the first UT-ID;
and
transmitting, by the first satellite using the first UT-ID, second data to the first UT-ID, wherein the second data comprises a second subbeam identifier, a second set of symbols associated with RACH operation, and the first UT-ID.

3 more elements

A first satellite comprising:

a first network interface;
and
a first set of one or more processors executing instructions to:
communicate at a first time, using the first network interface, with a first user terminal (UT) using a first subbeam, wherein the first UT is associated with a first UT identifier (UT-ID);
transmit, to the first UT, first data indicative of a transfer of communication service at a later time of the first UT from the first satellite to a second satellite;
transmit first system information using the first network interface, wherein the first system information comprises second data indicative of a first set of symbols associated with random access channel (RACH) operation;
receive a first request from the first UT using the first subbeam;
assign a second UT-ID to the first UT;
transmit a first response comprising the second UT-ID;
transmit third data, wherein the third data specifies communication resources on an uplink to the first satellite that are allocated to the second UT-ID;
receive fourth data comprising the first UT-ID, wherein the fourth data is received via the communication resources specified by the third data;
determine the first UT-ID received in the fourth data corresponds to the first UT associated with the first time;
and
transmit fifth data that is addressed to the first UT-ID, wherein the fifth data comprises a second set of symbols associated with RACH operation.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System for establishing initial communication with satellite system

Life of this patent

System for establishing initial communication with satellite system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20