Autonomous geolocation and message communication system and method

A device for communicating geolocation and messages to a receiving station, comprising:

• a) means for receiving signals by the device from a position determining system;
• b) means for determining a geolocation of the device from the received position determining signals;
• c) means for determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation, the receiving station geolocation, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device;
• and
• d) means for transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to the low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration when the low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station, for relay to the receiving station by the low earth orbit satellite.

A system for communicating geolocation and messages from a device to a receiving station, comprising:

• a) a position determining system for transmitting position determining signals;
• b) a device for:
• 1) receiving the position determining signals;
• 2) determining geolocation of the device;
• 3) determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and a receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation the receiving station geolocation, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device;
• and
• 4) transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to a low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration;
• c) a low earth orbit satellite for receiving the geolocation and messages from the device and transmitting such information to a receiving station;
• and
• d) a receiving station for receiving the geolocation and messages, processing such information, and displaying such information.

A microprocessor-implemented computer program for communicating geolocation and messages from a device to a receiving station, comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving signals by the device from a position determining system by controlling a geolocation data and time signal receiver;
• b) determining a current geolocation of the device from the received position determining signals;
• c) determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation, the receiving station geolocation and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device;
• and
• d) transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to the low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration when the low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station, for relay to the receiving station, by controlling transmission of a device satellite transmitter.