Inter-satellite crosslink communications system, apparatus, method and computer program product

• US 20050143005A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peersat LLC
• Original Assignee: Peersat LLC
• Inventors: Moore, Roscoe M. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/13.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00

Abstract

A communications system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for inter-satellite and inter-spacecraft crosslinks (ISL) with non-ISL optimized antennas on spacecraft. The system includes a mobile communications platform that includes an ISL antenna configured to transmit information to a target satellite through a non-ISL antenna of the target satellite. The mobile communications platform is configured to relay transmissions through the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite to another communications platform. The mobile communications platform includes a controller configured to determine a location of the mobile platform; determine whether the target satellite is within communications range; and prepare a signal for relayed transmissions through a non-ISL antenna of the target satellite to another communications platform in a signal format that is decipherable by this other communications platform.

Claims

1. A communications system configured for use in space, comprising:

a mobile communications platform configured for use in space that includes an inter-satellite link (ISL) antenna configured to transmit information to a target satellite through a non-ISL antenna of the target satellite, wherein

said mobile communications platform includes a controller configured to

determine a location of the mobile platform,

determine whether the target satellite is within communications range, and

prepare a signal for transmission through the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite, and

said mobile communications platform is configured to relay transmissions through the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite to another communications platform.

2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the controller of the mobile communications platform is configured to adapt the mobile communications platform to be able to communicate with the target satellite.

3. The communications system of claim 2, wherein the mobile communications platform is configured to communicate with more than 1 target satellite, comprising:

a table look-up device configured to identify a signaling format for a signal used to communicate with each target satellite;

the ISL antenna is configured to increase its beam width and lower its antenna gain in the direction of any one target satellite; and

the controller is further configured to

determine which zone that the mobile communications platform is located in for each target satellite; and

adapt the mobile communications platform to communicate with each target satellite by changing at least one of frequency, power, modulation, and protocol.

4. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications platform is configured to adapt a data transfer rate thereof based on a capacity of a link formed with the target satellite, wherein

the mobile communications device is further configured to determine if the mobile communications device is located within at least one of a main-lobe and a side-lobe of the target satellite, and

the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite is not configured to track a trajectory of the mobile communications platform.

5. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications platform further comprises:

a determination device configured to determine what radio communication parameters, including signaling format, are associated with the target satellite before the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of the target satellite, said determination device including

an identification device configured to identify the target satellite as being a next communications resource to communicate therewith;

a location device configured to locate the target satellite in a look-up table before attempting to establish a communications link with the target satellite;

an accessing device configured to access information in the look-up table for a particular zone into which the mobile communications platform moves for communicating with the target satellite; and

a transmitting device configured to transmit a signal in the proper signaling format to the target satellite while located in the particular zone of the target satellite before the mobile communications platform is no longer within the communication area of the target satellite.

6. A method for establishing a communications link between an ISL antenna of a mobile communications platform in space and a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite, comprising steps of:

determining a location of the mobile communications platform;

determining whether the target satellite is within the communications range;

preparing a signal for transmission through the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite; and

transmitting information from an ISL antenna of the mobile communications platform through a non-ISL antenna of the target satellite, wherein the target satellite relays transmissions from the mobile communications platform to another communications platform.

14. A computer program product storing instructions for execution on a computer system, which when executed by the computer system, causes the computer system to perform the method recited in claim 6.

7. A mobile communications platform, configured for use in space, and configured to relay transmissions through a non-inter-satellite (non-ISL) link antenna of a target satellite, comprising:

an inter-satellite link (ISL) antenna; and

a controller configured to

determine a location of the mobile communications platform;

determine whether a target satellite is within communications range; and

prepare a signal for transmission via the ISL antenna through the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite to another platform.

8. A method of using an agile radio hosted on a mobile communications platform configured for use in space to relay transmissions through a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite, comprising steps of:

monitoring frequencies in use for radio communications with a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite while the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of the target satellite;

comparing the frequencies identified in said monitoring step with a table of available frequencies stored in memory;

forming a signal to communicate with the target satellite formatted to be compatible with a signaling format used by the target satellite; and

transmitting the signal in an unused frequency spectrum of the target satellite so as to transmit information to the target satellite for a predetermined telecommunications purpose before the mobile communications platform is no longer within the communication area of the target satellite.

9. An agile radio hosted on a mobile communications platform configured for use in space to relay transmissions through a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite, comprising:

a monitoring device configured to monitor frequencies in use for radio communications with a target satellite while the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of a target satellite;

a comparing device configured to compare the frequencies in use with a table of available frequencies stored in memory;

a table look-up device configure to identify a signaling format for a signal used to communicate with the target satellite; and

a transmitter configured to use an unused frequency spectrum within the available frequencies of the target satellite to transmit the signal to the target satellite for a predetermined telecommunications purpose before the mobile communications platform is no longer within the communication area of the target satellite.

10. A method of a mobile communications platform configured to use a look-up table in space to adapt to communicate with non-ISL antenna of a target satellite, comprising steps of:

determining what radio communication parameters, including signaling format, are associated with the target satellite before the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of the target satellite, said determining step including

identifying the target satellite as being a next communication resource to communicate with, and

locating the target satellite in a look-up table before attempting to establish a communications link with the target satellite, and

accessing information in the look-up table for a particular zone into which the mobile communications platform moves for communicating with the target satellite; and

transmitting a signal in the signaling format to the target satellite while located in the particular zone before the mobile communications platform is no longer within the communication area of the target satellite.

11. A mobile communications platform in space configured to use a look-up table to adapt to communicate with a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite, comprising:

a determination device configured to determine what radio communication parameters, including signaling format, are associated with the target satellite before the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of the target satellite, said determination device including

an identification device configured to identify the target satellite as being a next communications resource to communicate therewith;

a location device configured to locate the target satellite in a look-up table before attempting to establish a communications link with the target satellite;

an accessing device configured to access information in the look-up table for a particular zone into which the mobile communications platform moves for communicating with the target satellite; and

a transmitting device configured to transmit a signal in the signaling format to the target satellite while located in the particular zone of the target satellite before the mobile communications platform is no longer within the communication area of the target satellite.

12. A method for using a PeerSat Link Channeler on a mobile communications platform, comprising steps of:

determining an information display standard of an end-user communication terminal while the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite;

using the information display standard to format data to be transmitted from an ISL antenna of the mobile communications platform to a non-ISL antenna of the target satellite;

transmitting the data over a link formed between the ISL antenna on the mobile communications platform and the non-ISL antenna on a target satellite before the mobile communications platform exits the communication area of the target satellite; and

said target satellite relaying the data to the end-user communication terminal.

13. A PeerSat Link Channeler used in a mobile communications platform, comprising:

a determination device configured to determine an information display standard of an end-user communication terminal while the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of a target satellite;

a format device configured to use the information display standards to format data to be transmitted from an ISL antenna of the mobile communications platform to a non-ISL antenna of the target satellite;

a transmitter configured to transmit the data over a link formed between the ISL antenna on the mobile communications platform and the non-ISL antenna on a target satellite before the mobile communications platform exits the communication area of the target satellite; and

said target satellite relaying the data to the end-user communication terminal.

15. A method of using a software defined radio hosted on a mobile communications platform configured for use in space to relay transmissions through a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite, comprising steps of:

looking up signal formatted parameters for use in radio communications with a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite while the mobile communications platform enters a communication area of the target satellite;

comparing the signal formatted parameters with a table of all available modulation waveforms stored in memory;

adapting signal formatted parameters with the software defined radio on board the mobile communications platform to communicate with the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite;

communicating using a signal having signal formatted parameters with the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite to transmit information to the target satellite for a specific telecommunications purpose before the mobile communications platform is no longer within the communication area of the target satellite.

16. A communications system configured for use in space, comprising:

a mobile communications platform that includes an ISL antenna configured to transmit information through a non-ISL antenna of a target satellite using a same transmission format and communication standard that a non-ISL antenna would receive from a conventional ground antenna designed to communicate with the non-ISL antenna, wherein

said mobile communications platform includes a controller configured to

determine a location of the mobile platform,

determine whether the target satellite is within communications range, and

prepare a signal for transmission through the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite that uses the same transmission format and communications standard that the non-ISL antenna normally receives from the conventional ground antenna designed to operate with that non-ISL antenna, and

the mobile communications platform is configured to relay the signal through the non-ISL antenna of the target satellite to another platform.