Method for managing intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system

A computer readable medium containing software instructions that, upon execution by at least one digital computer, causes the at least one digital computer to manage intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system for a satellite operating in an orbital plane, the computer readable medium comprising:

• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to determine that a transition area has been entered;
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to sever a neighbor intersatellite link with a leading neighbor satellite in a neighboring orbital plane;
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to sever a remaining neighbor intersatellite link with a remaining neighbor satellite in a neighboring orbital plane;
• and
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to sever all seam intersatellite links with satellites in a seam orbital plane.

A computer readable medium containing software instructions that, upon execution by at least one digital computer, causes the at least one digital computer to manage intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system for a satellite operating in an orbital plane, the computer readable medium comprising:

• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to establish an initial set of neighbor intersatellite links to satellites of a neighboring orbital plane to produce minimum offset;
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to determine that the initial set of neighbor intersatellite links to the satellites of the neighboring orbital plane will not produce minimum offset for a subsequent pass;
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to, when entering a mesh area, sever all neighbor intersatellite links;
• and
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to establish a new set of neighbor intersatellite links to satellites of the neighboring orbital plane to produce minimum offset in a subsequent pass.

A computer readable medium containing software instructions that, upon execution by at least one digital computer, causes the at least one digital computer to manage intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system for a satellite operating in an orbital plane, the computer readable medium comprising:

• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to determine that the satellite has reached a threshold latitude;
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to establish a seam intersatellite link with a nearest satellite in a seam orbital plane;
• and
• a plurality of software instructions that cause the digital computer to operate to cause the satellite to, when the nearest satellite in the seam orbital plane is at an approximately equal latitude, establish a seam intersatellite link with a next satellite in the seam orbital plane.

A method for managing intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system for a satellite operating in an orbital plane, the method comprising:

• establishing an initial set of neighbor intersatellite links to satellites of a neighboring orbital plane to produce minimum offset;
• determining that the initial set of neighbor intersatellite links to the satellites of the neighboring orbital plane will not produce minimum offset for a subsequent pass;
• establishing a new set of neighbor intersatellite links to satellites of the neighboring orbital plane to produce minimum offset in a subsequent pass;
• determining that establishing the new set of neighbor intersatellite links should be delayed to reduce the affect on communication load;
• and
• establishing the new set of neighbor intersatellite links after a delay.

A method for managing intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system for a satellite operating in an orbital plane, the method comprising:

• determining that a transition area has been entered;
• severing, by the satellite, a neighbor intersatellite link with a leading neighbor satellite in a neighboring orbital plane;
• severing, by the satellite, a remaining neighbor intersatellite link with a remaining neighbor satellite in a neighboring orbital plane;
• and
• severing, by the satellite, all seam intersatellite links with satellites in a seam orbital plane.

A method for managing intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system for a satellite operating in an orbital plane, the method comprising:

• establishing an initial set of neighbor intersatellite links to satellites of a neighboring orbital plane to produce minimum offset;
• determining that the initial set of neighbor intersatellite to the satellites of the neighboring orbital plane will not produce minimum offset for a subsequent pass;
• severing all neighbor intersatellite links when entering a mesh area;
• and
• establishing a new set of neighbor intersatellite links to satellites of the neighboring orbital plane to produce minimum offset in a subsequent pass.

A method for managing intersatellite links in a low earth orbit satellite system for a satellite operating in an orbital plane, the method comprising:

• determining that a threshold latitude has been reached;
• establishing a seam intersatellite link with a nearest satellite in a seam orbital plane;
• and
• when the nearest satellite in the seam orbital plane is at an approximately equal latitude, establishing a seam intersatellite link with a next satellite in the seam orbital plane.