Extraterrestrial communications systems and methods including ancillary extraterrestrial components

• US 20050239457A1
• Filed: 04/20/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D., Levin, Lon C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• 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 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

A system for communications on an extraterrestrial body may include a space-based component and an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body. The space-based component may be configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body over a satellite frequency band wherein the space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body. The ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body. Moreover, the ancillary extraterrestrial component may reuse at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to relay communications therebetween. Related methods are also discussed.

Claims

1. A system for communications on an extraterrestrial body, the system comprising:

a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body over a satellite frequency band wherein the space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body; and

an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body that is configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body, wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component reuses at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band, and wherein the space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the space-based component is configured to relay communications between first and second radioterminals on the extraterrestrial body using at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component is configured to relay communications between first and second radioterminals on the extraterrestrial body reusing the at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the space-based component are configured to relay communications between first and second terminals on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the first and second radioterminals are relayed through both the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the space-based component.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of radioterminals comprise a plurality of mobile radiotelephone terminals configured to provide full duplex voice communications.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein each of the radioterminals is configured to provide digital data communications.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component is one of a plurality of ancillary extraterrestrial components on the extraterrestrial body with each ancillary extraterrestrial component defining a respective coverage area on the extraterrestrial body.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial components reuse a plurality of frequencies of the satellite frequency band wherein the plurality of frequencies are shared among the plurality of ancillary extraterrestrial components according to a frequency reuse pattern to reduce interference between adjacent ancillary extraterrestrial components.

9. A system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second space-based component that is configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on earth over a second satellite frequency band wherein the second space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the earth, wherein the first space-based component, the second space-based component, and the ancillary extraterrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween.

10. A system according to claim 9 further comprising:

an ancillary terrestrial component on earth that is configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on earth, wherein the ancillary terrestrial component reuses at least one satellite frequency of the second satellite frequency band, and wherein the second space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein the first satellite frequency band and the second satellite frequency band comprise substantially the same satellite frequency band.

12. A system according to claim 9 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body and the ancillary terrestrial component on earth are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the ancillary extraterrestrial component and ancillary terrestrial components.

13. A system according to claim 9 wherein the first space-based component and the second space-based component are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the first and second space-based components.

14. A system according to claim 9 wherein the first space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the first space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component.

15. A system according to claim 9 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the second space-based component are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the second space-based component.

16. An extraterrestrial communications system comprising:

a first space-based component that is configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on an extraterrestrial body wherein the first space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body;

an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body that is configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body, wherein the first space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween;

a second space-based component that is configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on earth wherein the second space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting earth; and

an ancillary terrestrial component on earth that is configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on earth, wherein the second space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween;

wherein the first space-based component, the ancillary extraterrestrial component, the second space-based component, and the ancillary terrestrial component are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body and a radioterminal on earth such that communications between the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body and the radioterminal on earth are relayed through at least two of the first space-based component, the ancillary extraterrestrial component, the second space-based component, and/or the ancillary terrestrial component.

17. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the first space-based component is configured to provide wireless communications over a first satellite frequency band and wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component is configured to reuse at least one satellite frequency of the first satellite frequency band.

18. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 17 wherein the second space-based component is configured to provide wireless communications over a second satellite frequency band and wherein the ancillary terrestrial component is configured to reuse at least one satellite frequency of the second satellite frequency band.

19. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 18 wherein the first and second satellite frequency bands comprise substantially the same satellite frequency band.

20. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the first space-based component is configured to relay communications between first and second radioterminals on the extraterrestrial body.

21. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component is configured to relay communications between first and second radioterminals on the extraterrestrial body.

22. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the first space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component are configured to relay communications between first and second radioterminals on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the first and second radioterminals are relayed through both the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the first space-based component.

23. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the radioterminals located on earth and on the extraterrestrial body comprise mobile radiotelephone terminals configured to provide full duplex voice communications.

24. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the radioterminals located on earth and on the extraterrestrial body are configured to provide digital data communications.

25. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component is one of a plurality of ancillary extraterrestrial components on the extraterrestrial body with each ancillary extraterrestrial component defining a respective coverage area on the extraterrestrial body.

26. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 25 wherein the first space-based component is configured to provide wireless communications over a first satellite frequency band, wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component is configured to reuse a plurality of satellite frequencies of the first satellite frequency band, and wherein the plurality of frequencies are shared among the plurality of ancillary extraterrestrial components according to a reuse pattern to reduce interference between adjacent extraterrestrial components.

27. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body and the ancillary terrestrial component on earth are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the ancillary terrestrial component.

28. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the first space-based component and the second space-based component are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the first space-based component and the second space-based component.

29. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the first space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the first space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component.

30. An extraterrestrial communications system according to claim 16 wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the second space-based component are configured to relay communications between a radioterminal on earth and a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body such that communications between the radioterminal on earth and the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body are relayed through both the ancillary extraterrestrial component and the second space-based component.

31. A communications system comprising:

a space-based component that is configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on earth over a satellite frequency band wherein the space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting earth; and

an ancillary terrestrial component on earth that is configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on earth, wherein the ancillary terrestrial component reuses at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band, and wherein the space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween, and wherein at least one of the space-based component and/or the ancillary terrestrial component is configured to relay communications between one of the plurality of radioterminals located on earth and a radioterminal located on an extraterrestrial body.

32. A communications system according to claim 31 further comprising:

a second space-based component that is configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body over a second satellite frequency band wherein the second space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body, wherein the first space-based component, the second space-based component, and the ancillary terrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween.

33. A communications system according to claim 33claim 32 further comprising:

an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body that is configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body, wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component reuses at least one satellite frequency of the second satellite frequency band, and wherein the second space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component are configured to relay communications therebetween.

34. A communications system according to claim 33 wherein the first satellite frequency band and the second satellite frequency band comprise substantially the same satellite frequency band.

35. A method of operating a communications system comprising a space-based component including at least one satellite orbiting an extraterrestrial body and an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body, the method comprising:

providing wireless communications from the space-based component with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body over a satellite frequency band;

providing wireless communications from the ancillary extraterrestrial component with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body, wherein the ancillary extraterrestrial component reuses at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band; and

relaying communications between the space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component.

36. A method of operating a communications system comprising a first space-based component including at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body, an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body, a second space-based component including at least one satellite orbiting earth, and an ancillary terrestrial component on earth, the method comprising:

providing wireless communications from the first space-based component with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body;

providing wireless communications from the ancillary extraterrestrial component with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body;

relaying communications between the first space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component;

providing wireless communications form the second space-based component with a plurality of radioterminals located on earth;

providing wireless communications form the ancillary terrestrial component with the plurality of radioterminals located on earth;

relaying communications between the second space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component; and

relaying communications between a radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body and a radioterminal on earth such that communications between the radioterminal on the extraterrestrial body and the radioterminal on earth are relayed through at least two of the first space-based component, the ancillary extraterrestrial component, the second space-based component, and/or the ancillary terrestrial component.

37. A method of operating a communications system comprising a space-based component including at least one satellite orbiting earth, and an ancillary terrestrial component on earth, the method comprising:

providing wireless communications from the space-based component with a plurality of radioterminals located on earth over a satellite frequency band;

providing wireless communications from the ancillary terrestrial component with the plurality of radioterminals located on earth, wherein the ancillary terrestrial component reuses at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band;

relaying communications between the space-based component and the ancillary terrestrial component; and

relaying communications between one of the plurality of radioterminals located on earth and a radioterminal located on an extraterrestrial body using at least one of the space-based component and/or the extraterrestrial component.