Static and dynamic partnering schemes for satellite cross-links
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsJohn A. Sherman, Dennis P. Diekelman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for establishing a partnering scheme having dynamic cross-links between satellites of a satellite communication system that are travelling in different, non-adjacent orbital planes and in different directions. The present invention provides a definitive set of dynamic cross-links for a satellite positioned within a first orbital plane traveling in a first direction, such as an ascending direction, with a satellite positioned in a non-adjacent orbital plane and traveling in a second direction, such as an descending direction.
Claims22
A method for defining a partnering scheme for each satellite of a satellite constellation, the satellite constellation having a first predetermined number of planes (NUMP) and a second predetermined number of satellites (NUMS) within each of said planes, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) cross-linking a first satellite in a first plane to at least one satellite in said first plane, wherein the identity of the at least one satellite in said first plane is determined according to a scheme based on constellation address nomenclature calculations;
- (b) cross-linking said first satellite to at least one satellite in a second plane, said second plane being in a right adjacent plane with respect to said first plane wherein the identity of the at least one satellite in said second plane is determined according to a scheme based on constellation address nomenclature calculations;
- (c) cross-linking said first satellite to at least one satellite in a third plane, said third plane being in a left adjacent plane with respect to said first plane, wherein the identity of the at least one satellite in said third plane is determined according to a scheme based on constellation address nomenclature calculations;
- and
- (d) further wherein said partnering scheme set forth in steps (a)-(c) for said first satellite in said first plane is common to all satellites in said satellite constellation.
A method for defining a dynamic cross-link partnering scheme for satellites in a satellite constellation having a first predetermined number of planes and a second predetermined number of satellites within each of said planes, the dynamic partnering scheme comprising:
- disconnecting a cross-link between a first satellite in a first plane and a second satellite in a second plane wherein the identity of the second satellite in the second plane is determined according to a formula based on constellation address nomenclature;
- and
- establishing a dynamic cross-link between said first satellite in said first plane with a third satellite in a third plane when said first and third satellites are within a predetermined range from each other, said first and third satellites moving in opposite directions with respect to each other and said third plane being in a non-adjacent plane with respect to said first plane wherein the identity of the third satellite in the third plane is determined according to a formula based on constellation address nomenclature calculations,
- and further wherein said dynamic cross-link partnering scheme set forth is common to all satellites in said satellite constellation.
A method for establishing a common partnering scheme for satellites of a satellite constellation, the satellite constellation having a first predetermined number of planes and a second predetermined number of satellites within each of said planes, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing cross-links for a first satellite of a first plane to at least two other satellites in said satellite constellation wherein said cross-links between said first satellite and said at least two other satellites define a static cross-link portion of a predetermined partnering scheme for said first satellite of said first plane;
- and
- establishing cross-links for all other satellites in said constellation according to a dynamic cross-link,portion of said predetermined partnering scheme,
- wherein said predetermined partnering scheme comprises a set of formulas based on constellation address nomenclature calculations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.