# US 8,751,064 B2 · Methods and systems for satellite integrated communications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,064 B2 - Document ID: US8751064B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/547,425 - Filed: 2012-07-12 - Published: 2013-01-17 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-13 - Assignees: Riverside Research Institute - Applicants: John E. Ploschnitznig - Inventors: John E. Ploschnitznig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751064B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/18517: {Transmission equipment in earth stations} - H04B 7/18563: {Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems (data switching networks H04L12/00)} - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Systems and methods for integrate satellite communications. A network of upward facing antennas placed on top of cell phone towers is established. Each upward facing antenna has a footprint at the altitude of a particular satellite orbit. Upward facing antennas are placed on cell towers so as to establish a continuous coverage over the orbit of a satellite(s) thereby allowing continuous communication using cellular technology with the satellite(s) on orbit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A satellite communication system, comprising: a plurality of first antennas each at a fixed non-mobile location, and each configured to communicate with a non-geostationary satellite traveling along an orbital path, the plurality of first antennas each configured to transmit a communication signal upwardly, the communication signal forming an orbital intercept area along the orbital path, the non-geostationary satellite being adapted to receive the communication signal when traversing the orbital intercept area, the plurality of first antennas forming a series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas, the series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas covering a continuous extent of a substantial portion of the orbital path; a plurality of communication stations, each of the plurality of first antennas being secured to respective ones of the plurality of communication stations, the plurality of communication stations operatively connected to a communication network; and a user device having processing capability and adapted to store a satellite tasking application, the user device adapted to communicate with the non-geostationary satellite using the satellite tasking application and the communication network, wherein the satellite tasking application is adapted to prompt a user of the user device with one or more menus configured to assist the user in developing a task to be communicated to the non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication stations are adapted to receive satellite data transmitted from the non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of communication stations is at least one of a building, tower and special purpose structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of second antennas each secured to respective ones of the plurality of communication stations, the plurality of second antennas each configured to communicate with at least one other of the plurality of communication stations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The satellite communication system of claim 4, wherein the second antenna is a cellular antenna. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, wherein a beam width of the signal is defined by a diameter of the orbital intercept area through which the non-geostationary satellite is configured to pass, the beam width being narrower than a satellite antenna beam width configured to surround an individual one of the first antennas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The satellite communication system of claim 6, wherein the diameter of the beam width is substantially the same for the plurality of first antennas. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, wherein the signal is directed toward a region of the sky substantially above a visible horizon. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, wherein input provided by a user of the user device running the satellite tasking application is communicated to the non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, wherein the user device is adapted to receive satellite data, reformat the satellite data into a format chosen by the user and display the reformatted satellite data on the user device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, wherein the user device is a mobile device using wireless communications. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The satellite communication system of claim 1, further comprising: a satellite tasking server being operatively connected to the communication network, the satellite tasking server storing a first set of tasking commands used in tasking the non-geostationary satellite, the satellite tasking server adapted to be accessed by the user device by way of the communication network for communicating with the non-geostationary satellite using the first set of tasking commands. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The satellite communication system of claim 12, wherein the satellite tasking server maintains at least one second set of tasking commands uniquely suited for tasking another non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 14 A satellite communication system, comprising: a plurality of first antennas each at a fixed non-mobile location, and each configured to communicate with a non-geostationary satellite traveling along an orbital path, the plurality of first antennas each configured to transmit a communication signal upwardly, the communication signal forming an orbital intercept area along the orbital path, the non-geostationary satellite being adapted to receive the communication signal when traversing the orbital intercept area, the plurality of first antennas forming a series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas, the series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas covering a continuous extent of a substantial portion of the orbital path; a plurality of communication stations, each of the plurality of first antennas being secured to respective ones of the plurality of communication stations, the plurality of communication stations operatively connected to a communication network; and a user device having processing capability and adapted to store a satellite tasking application, the user device adapted to communicate with the non-geostationary satellite using the satellite tasking application and the communication network, wherein the satellite tasking server maintains a list of satellites, the non-geostationary satellite being selected by a processor based at least in-part on an ability of the non-geostationary satellite to obtain requested data. ### Claim 15 A satellite communication system comprising: a plurality of communication stations forming at least part of a communication network, each of the plurality of communication stations including a first and second antennas, the first antennas of the plurality of communication stations together forming a plurality of first antennas, the first antennas each at a fixed non-mobile location and configured to transmit a communication signal upwardly, the communication signal forming an orbital intercept area along the orbital path, the non-geostationary satellite being adapted to receive the communication signal when traversing the orbital intercept area, the plurality of first antennas forming a series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas, the series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas covering a continuous extent of a substantial portion of the orbital path, each of the second antennas configured to communicate with at least one other of the plurality of communication stations; and a user device having a processor and a data store operatively connected thereto, the data store storing a satellite tasking application, the satellite tasking application when executed by the processor communicates instructions from the user device to the non-geostationary satellite using the communication network, wherein the satellite tasking application is adapted to prompt a user of the user device with one or more menus configured to assist the user in developing a task to be communicated to the non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, further comprising: a satellite tasking server operatively connected to the communication network, the satellite tasking server storing tasking commands for tasking the non-geostationary satellite, the satellite tasking server adapted to be accessed by the user device by way of the communication network for communicating with the non-geostationary satellite using the tasking commands. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein the user device is adapted to reformat data received from the non-geostationary satellite into a format selected by the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of communication stations are adapted to receive satellite data transmitted from the non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of communication stations is at least one of a building, tower and special purpose structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the second antennas is a cellular antenna. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein each of the first antennas transmits a signal upwardly, a beam width of the signal is defined by a diameter of the orbital intercept area through which the non-geostationary satellite is configured to pass, the beam width being narrower than a satellite antenna beam width configured to surround an individual one of the first antennas. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The satellite communication system of claim 21, wherein the diameter of the beam width is substantially the same for the plurality of first antennas. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The satellite communication system of claim 21, wherein the signal is directed toward a region of the sky substantially above a visible horizon. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein input provided by a user of the user device running the satellite tasking application is communicated to the non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 25 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein the user device includes a processor and data store operatively connected thereto, the data store storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the user device to receive satellite data, reformat the satellite data into a format chosen by the user and display the reformatted satellite data on the user device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 15) The satellite communication system of claim 15, wherein the user device is a mobile device using wireless communications. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The satellite communication system of claim 16, further comprising: a satellite tasking server being operatively connected to the communication network, the satellite tasking server storing a first set of tasking commands used in tasking the non-geostationary satellite, the satellite tasking server adapted to be accessed by the user device by way of the communication network for communicating with the non-geostationary satellite using the first set of tasking commands. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The satellite communication system of claim 27, wherein the satellite tasking server maintains at least one second set of tasking commands uniquely suited for tasking another non-geostationary satellite. ### Claim 29 A satellite communication system comprising: a plurality of communication stations forming at least part of a communication network, each of the plurality of communication stations including a first and second antennas, the first antennas of the plurality of communication stations together forming a plurality of first antennas, the first antennas each at a fixed non-mobile location and configured to transmit a communication signal upwardly, the communication signal forming an orbital intercept area along the orbital path, the non-geostationary satellite being adapted to receive the communication signal when traversing the orbital intercept area, the plurality of first antennas forming a series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas, the series of partially overlapping orbital intercept areas covering a continuous extent of a substantial portion of the orbital path, each of the second antennas configured to communicate with at least one other of the plurality of communication stations; a user device having a processor and a data store operatively connected thereto, the data store storing a satellite tasking application, the satellite tasking application when executed by the processor communicates instructions from the user device to the non-geostationary satellite using the communication network; and a satellite tasking server operatively connected to the communication network, the satellite tasking server storing a first set of tasking commands for tasking the non-geostationary satellite, the satellite tasking server adapted to be accessed by the user device by way of the communication network for communicating with the non-geostationary satellite using the first set of tasking commands, wherein the satellite tasking server maintains a list of satellites, the non-geostationary satellite being selected by a processor based at least in-part on an ability of the non-geostationary satellite to obtain requested data.