Space based network for detection and monitoring of global maritime shipping using automatic identification system

• US 20080086267A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ORBCOMM Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ORBCOMM Incorporated
• Inventors: Stolte, John, Hopko, Anthony, Robinson, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/806,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/300
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system

Abstract

A spaced-based system is provided to simultaneously track and monitor one or more ocean going vessels at any point on the earth. The system includes a plurality of space vehicles or satellites. Each satellite includes an AIS communications payload to receive AIS signals including AIS information transmitted from the one or more vessels and to transmit the received AIS information. The system also includes a plurality of ground earth elements. Each ground earth element includes a receiver to receive the AIS information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of satellites to globally track and monitor the one or more vessels based on the AIS information received from the communications payload. The plurality of satellites are distributed in two or more orbital planes located at a substantially common altitude and having a substantially common inclination. In particular, the satellites may be deployed in a low earth orbit constellation.

Claims

1. A spaced-based system to simultaneously track and monitor one or more ocean going vessels at any point on the earth, the system comprising:

a plurality of satellites, each satellite including;

an automatic identification system (AIS) communications payload to receive AIS signals including AIS information transmitted from the one or more vessels and to transmit the received AIS information; and

a plurality of ground earth elements, each ground earth element including;

a receiver to receive the AIS information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of satellites and globally track and monitor the one or more vessels based on the AIS information received from the communications payload, wherein

the plurality of satellites are distributed in two or more orbital planes located at a substantially common altitude and having a substantially common inclination.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more satellites are deployed in a low earth orbital plane.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the AIS information includes one or more of speed of a vessel, position of a vessel, course of a vessel, and identification of a vessel.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications payload includes an antenna to receive AIS messages.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications payload includes a processor to provide on board processing of the AIS messages.

6. The system of claim 6 wherein the communications payload and processor are configured to detect AIS signals within a same frequency and power level.

7. A system to globally track and monitor one or more ocean going vessels transmitting automatic identification system (AIS) information to a plurality of satellites, the system comprising:

a plurality of ground earth elements;

each ground earth element including;

a receiver to wirelessly receive AIS information transmitted from one or more of the plurality of satellites; and

a processing device to globally track and monitor the one or more vessels based on the received AIS information.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the AIS information includes one or more of speed of a vessel, position of a vessel, course of a vessel, and identification of a vessel.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of ground earth elements include one or more communications interfaces for transmitting, tracking, and monitoring information to one or more communications networks.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of ground earth elements include one or more databases for storing AIS data.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of ground earth elements include a user interface to present vessel location information on a virtual map.

12. An automatic identification system (AIS) space vehicle constellation comprising:

a plurality of space vehicles, each space vehicle including;

an AIS communications payload to receive AIS information from vessels and to transmit AIS information to ground earth stations, wherein

the plurality of space vehicles are distributed in two or more orbital planes located at a substantially common altitude and having a substantially common inclination.

13. The constellation of claim 12 wherein the orbital planes are a low earth orbital plane.

14. The constellation of claim 12 wherein the AIS information includes one or more of speed of a vessel, position of a vessel, course of a vessel, and an identification of a vessel.

15. The constellation of claim 12 wherein the plurality of space vehicles and orbital planes are located to provide a constellation to receive signals from vessels globally.

16. An automatic identification system (AIS) communications payload for a space vehicle traveling in a low earth orbit, the communications payload comprising:

an antenna;

a receiver connected to the antenna to receive AIS messages transmitted from a plurality of vessels;

a processor to process the received AIS messages; and

a transmitter to transmit the processed AIS messages to a ground earth element.

17. The AIS payload of claim 16 wherein the processor is configured to process AIS information including one or more of speed of a vessel, position of a vessel, course of a vessel, and an identification of a vessel.

18. The AIS payload of claim 16 wherein the processor is configure to utilize telemetry monitoring criteria to process the received AIS messages.

19. The AIS payload of claim 16 wherein AIS message includes a reported position of a vessel and the processor is configured to compare the reported position to an expected position and tag the AIS message position as suspect when a difference between the reported position and the expected position exceeds a threshold.