• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:

    公开号:NL1007404A1
    申请号:NL1007404
    申请日:1997-10-30
    公开日:1998-05-27
    发明作者:Kenneth Lee Sowles；James Powers Redden；Peter Joseph Armbruster；Daniel Richard Tayloe
    申请人:Motorola Inc；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Space Based Communication Systems Technical Field
    This invention generally relates to space-based telecommunications systems and in particular satellites in different orbits that transmit satellite control information to each other.
    Background of the invention
    Some satellites in conventional satellite telecommunication systems have the ability to communicate with neighboring satellites that share the same orbit height. This intermediate satellite connection is referred to as cross connections, in which the cross connections transfer voice and / or data from one satellite to another satellite. If a base station located on Earth transmits command information that is destined for a satellite other than the first satellite that receives the information, command information may have passed through many cross links before the satellite selected to command the receive information, actually receive it. Such transfer of data or information from one satellite to another satellite is generally referred to as jumping. Jumping consumes valuable energy and bandwidth, especially when transmitting command information from many different satellites. Accordingly, there is a significant need for a satellite telecommunication system that reduces the number of jumps that are performed before satellite control information or commands are received by the destination satellite. In addition, using cross connections for satellite control information can consume cross connection bandwidth, which could be used to transfer revenue generating traffic. Such traffic includes, but is not limited to, voice, data or fax information. Accordingly, there is a significant need for a satellite telecommunication system that minimizes satellite control traffic on the crossings, thereby maximizing available bandwidth for revenue generating traffic.
    Brief description of the drawings
    Fig. 1 shows a high-level diagram of a satellite telecommunication system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
    Fig. 2 shows an example of a very simplified diagram of a satellite.
    Description of the preferred output formats
    The present invention is useful in that a network of satellites in geosynchronous orbits can communicate with a network of satellites in a low earth orbit. By transmitting satellite control information and commands via the geosynchronous satellites, no cross-connections in low earth orbit are required to transmit this information. A base station (i.e., a satellite control facility) communicates directly with a geosynchronous satellite, which in turn transmits this directly to the individual satellites in a low or medium Earth orbit. A geosynchronous satellite will at some point have line of sight and therefore direct communication with several satellites in a low Earth orbit. By connecting three or four geosynchronous satellites, each satellite will be visible in a low Earth orbit.
    Fig. 1 shows a very simplified diagram of satellite telecommunication system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, telecommunication system 10 includes at least two satellites 20 and 22, a certain number of subscriber units 30 and at least one base station 40. Generally, satellites 20 and 22, subscriber units 30 and base station 40 of telecommunication system 10 can be considered a network of nodes. All nodes of telecommunication system 10 are involved or may be involved in data communication with other nodes of telecommunication system 10 via telecommunication connections. In addition, all nodes of telecommunication system 10 are or may be involved with other telephone devices distributed around the world via public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) and / or conventional ground-based communications devices coupled to a PSTN via conventional ground-based base stations.
    A "satellite," as used herein, means a man-made object or vehicle intended to orbit the Earth. A "constellation" means a number of satellites placed in orbits to provide a specified coverage (eg radio communication, remote sensing, etc.) of a portion of. multiple parts of or the entire earth. A constellation typically includes multiple rings (or planes) of satellites and can have an even number of satellites in each plane, although this is not essential.
    The present invention is applicable to space-based telecommunications systems 10 that map specific regions of the Earth to specific cells on the Earth, and preferably to systems 10 that move cells across the surface of the Earth. Satellites 20 can be a single satellite or one of several satellites 20 in a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth. The present invention is also applicable to space-based telecommunications systems 10 with satellites 20 orbiting the earth at any angle of inclination, including polar, equatorial, inclined or other orbital patterns. The present invention is applicable to systems 10 where full coverage of the earth is not achieved (i.e., where "holes" are present in the telecommunications coverage provided by the constellation) and systems 10 where multiple coverage of portions of the Earth occurs (i.e. more than one satellite is in sight at a specific point on the Earth's surface).
    In the preferred embodiment, satellites 20 have a low earth orbit, while satellite 22 is a geosynchronous satellite. In an alternative embodiment, satellites 20 can rotate in a medium Earth orbit, while satellite 22 is a geosynchronous satellite. In a further alternative embodiment, satellites 20 can rotate in a low earth orbit, while satellite 22 rotates in a medium earth orbit. There may be more than one satellite 22 serving satellites 20, and these satellites 22 may be able to communicate with each other. Low Earth orbit satellites are typically in an altitude range of 700 km to 1400 km (440 to 800 miles), while medium Earth orbit satellites are at an altitude of about 10,000 km (6200 miles) and geosynchronous satellites are located at an altitude of approximately 36,000 km (23,000 miles).
    Each satellite 20 communicates with other nearby satellites 20 via cross connections. These cross connections are the backbone of space based telecommunications system 6. Therefore, a call or user communication, including but not limited to voice, fax and data from subscriber unit 30 may be present at any point on or near the surface of the earth, routed via satellite 20 or a constellation of satellites to within range of substantially any other point on the surface of the Earth. Communication can be routed up to a subscriber unit 30 (receiving the call) on or near the surface of the earth from another satellite. How satellite 20 physically communicates (e.g. spread spectrum technique) with subscriber units 30 and base station 40 is known to those skilled in the art.
    Satellite 20 communicates with satellite 22 through a cross connection when satellite 20 is in sight of satellite 22. Satellite 20 is not always in sight of satellite 22, but is in sight of satellite 22 for a period of time during its orbit around the earth. In alternative embodiments, there are multiple satellites 22 where each satellite 20 is able to communicate with one of the satellites 22 regardless of where they orbit the Earth. In addition, each satellite 22 may be able to communicate with neighboring satellites 22.
    Cross connections between satellites 20 and 22 transmit satellite control information. including but not limited to satellite commands, telemetry, traffic routing vectors, establishing traffic connections, disconnect messages, cell channel frequency, satellite maneuvering commands, cell termination schedules. Satellite control information may further include telephony radio link management data, such as time-stamped bundle on / off tables, time-stamped bundle-related radio channel data such as assignment and clearing of radio sources, and time-stamped bundle-related broadcast channel data.
    Satellite 22 receives satellite control information for one or more satellites from base station 40 and communicates it to the appropriate satellites 20. Because satellite 22 communicates satellite control information to satellites 20, the cross links between satellites 20 can only transmit user information (for example, voice, fax and data) to support a call from one subscriber unit 30 to another subscriber unit 30.
    Subscriber units 30 may be located anywhere on the surface of the Earth or in the atmosphere above the Earth. Mobile telecommunication systems 10 can accommodate any number of subscriber units 30. Subscriber units 30 are preferably communication devices capable of receiving voice and / or data from satellites 20 and / or base stations 40. For example, subscriber units 30 are portable, mobile satellite cellular phones adapted to send and receive messages from satellites 20 and / or base stations 40. Furthermore, subscriber units 30 may be computers capable of transmitting email messages, video signals or facsimile-signal and, to name a few.
    How subscriber units 30 physically transmit speech and / or data to and receive speech and / or data from satellites 20 is known to those skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, subscriber unit 30 communicates with satellite 20 using a limited portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which is divided into several channels. The channels are preferably L-band, K-band, S-band frequency channels or a combination thereof, but may be Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and / or Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) ) and / or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communication or a combination thereof. Other methods can be used as known to the skilled person.
    Base station 40 communicates with and controls satellites 20 via satellite 22. There may be multiple base stations 40. placed in different areas of the earth. For example, a base station may be located in Honolulu, a further base station in Los Angeles and a further base station in Washington, D.C. Base stations 40 may provide satellite signaling commands to satellite 22 so that satellites 22 and 20 maintain their proper orbit and perform other essential household tasks. Base stations 40 may additionally be responsible for receiving voice and / or data from satellites 20. How base station 40 physically communicates (e.g. spread spectrum) with satellites 22 and 20 and / or subscriber units 30 is known to those skilled in the art.
    Fig. 2 shows an example of a very simplified diagram of satellite 20 or 22. Satellite 20 includes at least two transceivers 30, processor 34 and memory 36. Some transceivers 30 from satellite 20 are capable of transmitting and receiving satellite control information from satellite 22, while other transceivers are capable of transmitting and receiving user information (e.g., voice, fax and / or data) from other neighboring satellites 20, subscriber units 30 and base stations 40. Some transceivers 30 from satellite 22 are capable of transmitting and receiving satellite control information from satellite 22 and from base station 40. Processor 34 controls the entire operation of satellite 20. 22 and may be responsible for running software application programs. Memory 36 stores the software programs executed by processor 34. Although one processor 34 and one memory unit 36 are shown in FIG. 2, those skilled in the art understand that more than one processor and memory can be used in satellites 20 and 22. The number of processors and the size of the memory is not important to the present invention.
    The advantages of the present invention concern the elimination of the need to use cross-links of satellites in a low earth orbit to provide control information to other satellites in a low earth orbit. Another advantage is that only one jump is required to transfer satellite control information from satellite 22 to satellite 20. This allows satellite control commands to reach the particular satellite in a low Earth orbit much faster. A further advantage is that bandwidth previously used for control information can be transmitted by satellite 22, allowing more bandwidth for revenue generating traffic.
    Accordingly, it is the object of the appended claims to include all modifications of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the following combinations are possible: geosynchronous satellite 22. which communicates with satellites 20 in low or medium earth orbits, or satellite 22 in medium earth orbits. which communicates with satellites 20 in a low earth orbit.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [1]
    A space based communications system comprising: a first satellite (22) orbiting the earth at a first height; and a second satellite (20) coupled to the first satellite (22) via a telecommunications link that orbits the earth at a second height different from the first height, the first satellite (22) and the second satellite (22) satellite control information to transmit each other.
    [2]
    The space based communication system of claim 1, wherein the first satellite (22) is in a geosynchronous orbit around the Earth.
    [3]
    The space based communication system of claim 2, wherein the second satellite (20) is in a medium Earth-to-Earth orbit.
    [4]
    The space based communication system of claim 2, wherein the second satellite (20) is in a low earth orbit around the earth.
    [5]
    Space based communication system according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunication connection is a high frequency connection.
    [6]
    The space based communication system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication connection is an optical connection.
    [7]
    The space based communications system of claim 1, further comprising: a base station (40) capable of transmitting and receiving first high frequency signals; and at least one subscriber unit (30) capable of transmitting and receiving second high-frequency signals; and wherein the first satellite (22) comprises: a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the first high-frequency signals to the base station (40) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting third high-frequency signals to the second satellite (20); and wherein the second satellite (20) comprises: a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the third high frequency signals to the first satellite (22) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the second high frequency signals to the subscriber unit (30).
    [8]
    The space based communication system of claim 1, further comprising; a base station (40) capable of transmitting and receiving first high-frequency signals; and at least one subscriber unit (30) capable of transmitting and receiving second high-frequency signals; and wherein the first satellite (22) comprises: a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the first high frequency signals to the base station (40) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting optical signals to the second satellite (20); and wherein the second satellite (20) comprises; a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the optical signals to the first satellite (22) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the second radio frequency signals to the subscriber unit (30).
    [9]
    The space based communications system of claim 1, further comprising: a base station (40) capable of transmitting and receiving optical signals; and at least one subscriber unit (30) capable of transmitting and receiving first high-frequency signals; and wherein the first satellite (22) comprises: a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the optical signals to the base station (40) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting second high frequency signals to the second satellite (20); and wherein the second satellite (20) comprises: a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the second high frequency signals to the first satellite (22) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the first high frequency signals to the subscriber unit (30).
    [10]
    The space based communications system of claim 1, further comprising: a base station (40) capable of transmitting and receiving first optical signals; and at least one subscriber unit (30) capable of transmitting and receiving high-frequency signals; and wherein the first satellite (22) comprises: a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the first optical signals to the base station (40) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting second optical signals to the second satellite (20); and wherein the second satellite (20) comprises: a first transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the second optical signals to the first satellite (22) and a second transceiver capable of receiving and transmitting the high frequency signals to the subscriber unit (30).
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    US5543813A|1996-08-06|System for determining and registering location of mobile terminal for communication system with non-geosynchronous satellites
    US6766987B2|2004-07-27|Satellite system and method of deploying same
    US7890052B2|2011-02-15|Stratospheric-based communication system for mobile users using additional phased array elements for interference rejection
    US6804515B1|2004-10-12|Transportable infrastructure for airborne cellular system
    US5594940A|1997-01-14|Statistically robust traffic modeling method and apparatus
    US5826169A|1998-10-20|Admission control system and method in space-based mobile telecommunication system
    WO1996010872A1|1996-04-11|Dynamic mapping apparatus for mobile unit acquisition and method therefor
    US6208625B1|2001-03-27|Method and apparatus for increasing call-handling capacity using a multi-tier satellite network
    US6920309B1|2005-07-19|User positioning technique for multi-platform communication system
    US6490448B1|2002-12-03|Snap to grid variable beam size digital beamforming system
    WO2016200452A2|2016-12-15|Satellite laser communications relay network
    NL1007404A1|1998-05-27|Space based communication systems.
    US6292659B1|2001-09-18|Global telecommunications system with distributed virtual networks and method of operation therefor
    RU2160963C2|2000-12-20|Radio communication system using geostationary and non- geostationary satellites
    EP1158698A2|2001-11-28|A multi-platform wireless communication system for a variety of different user types
    RU97100944A|1999-02-20|RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING GEOSTATIONARY AND NON-GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES
    US6522636B1|2003-02-18|Satellite communications system and method with real-time power-based flow control
    GB2281014A|1995-02-15|Mobile satellite communication system using non-geosynchronous orbiting satellites
    Lamminen1999|Mobile satellite systems
    US6173156B1|2001-01-09|Global message delivery system and method using GEO and Non-GEO satellites
    RU2169433C1|2001-06-20|Multifunctional space telecommunication system
    WO1998010601A1|1998-03-12|Subscriber localisation system in a telecommunication network
    Archer et al.1996|Leveraging commercial technology for SATCOM 2000
    Blamont1998|Towards an integrated space system
    Pal1999|Satellite Based Mobile Communication—A perspective
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    TW399375B|2000-07-21|
    ITRM970628A1|1998-05-26|
    FR2756439A1|1998-05-29|
    IL121764D0|1998-02-22|
    KR19980042704A|1998-08-17|
    JPH10163947A|1998-06-19|
    GB9722728D0|1997-12-24|
    CN1184385A|1998-06-10|
    IT1295433B1|1999-05-12|
    BR9705135A|1999-05-18|
    CA2221003A1|1998-05-25|
    DE19751160A1|1998-06-25|
    GB2319700A|1998-05-27|
    RU97119431A|1999-10-27|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    DE3644176C2|1986-12-23|1989-04-06|Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm Gmbh, 8012 Ottobrunn, De|
    GB8801008D0|1988-01-18|1988-02-17|British Aerospace|Acquisition system for multiple access optical communication system|
    US5218467A|1990-12-28|1993-06-08|Nasa And Laser Data Technology, Inc.|Multi-access laser communications transceiver system|
    FR2706102B1|1993-06-02|1995-07-07|Alcatel Espace|Memory relay system for observation satellites.|
    US5579536A|1994-06-13|1996-11-26|Motorola, Inc.|Method and apparatus for establishing communication links between non-stationary communication units|
    CA2179130A1|1995-08-31|1997-03-01|Kadathur S. Natarajan|System and methods of supporting connection-oriented services in a network with changing topology|
    US5906337A|1995-10-03|1999-05-25|Trw Inc.|Multiple altitude satellite relay system and method|AU3635301A|1999-12-17|2001-06-25|General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.|Satellite relay method and apparatus|
    EP1158701A3|2000-05-22|2003-11-05|TRW Inc.|Apparatus for contolling the routing in a satellite communication system|
    US7822067B2|2003-08-08|2010-10-26|Qualcomm Incorporated|Header compression enhancement for broadcast/multicast services|
    AU2004319490B8|2003-12-29|2011-06-23|Peersat Llc|Inter-satellite crosslink communications system, apparatus, method and computer program product|
    DE102008006432B4|2008-01-28|2014-12-31|Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.|System for requesting data transfer from one or more earth observation satellites to one or more ground stations|
    FR2954635B1|2009-12-17|2016-03-11|Astrium Sas|HYBRID SPATIAL SYSTEM BASED ON A CONSTELLATION OF SATELLITES IN LOW ORBIT ACTING AS SPACE REPEATERS TO IMPROVE THE EMISSION AND RECEPTION OF GEOSTATIONARY SIGNALS|
    CA2927217A1|2016-04-14|2017-10-14|Telesat Canada|Dual leo satellite system and method for global coverage|
    JP2019516321A|2016-04-28|2019-06-13|クラウド コンステレーション コーポレイション|Intermediate satellite network for cross strapping and local network congestion|
    FR3083944B1|2018-07-12|2020-07-03|Thales|HIGH-SPEED SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE POWER SATELLITE PROVIDING ON-BOARD PROCESSING|
    法律状态:
    1998-08-03| AD1A| A request for search or an international type search has been filed|
    2001-11-01| RD2N| Patents in respect of which a decision has been taken or a report has been made (novelty report)|Effective date: 20010907 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US75346396A| true| 1996-11-25|1996-11-25|
    US75346396|1996-11-25|
    [返回顶部]