SATELLITE AIDED LOCATION TRACKING AND DATA SERVICES USING GEOSYNCHRONOUS AND LOW EARTH ORBIT SATELLITES WITH GLOBAL LOCATING SYSTEM

• US 20080233970A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rana, Abdul, Burtner, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,010,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station

Abstract

A system and method for satellite aided location tracking and data services using geosynchronous (GEO) and low earth orbit (LEO) satellites with global locating system. In one embodiment, a mobile terminal is designed for communication with both GEO and LEO satellites. This dual satellite functionality enables the asset tracking service to provide service across international service areas without hardware modification or reconfiguration of the mobile terminal device.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first receiver for receiving signals from a plurality of global positioning system satellites;

a second receiver for receiving signals from a geosynchronous satellite; and

a transmitter module that includes a geosynchronous satellite transmitter and a low earth orbit satellite transmitter, wherein the mobile terminal selectively transmits, under control of a processor, measurements taken from said received global positioning system satellite signals to a centralized location via one of a geosynchronous satellite and a low earth orbit satellite, said measurements being used by said centralized location to calculate a position of the mobile terminal.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said second receiver receives configuration information from said geosynchronous satellite.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said second receiver receives reference information in a pilot signal from said geosynchronous satellite.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein said second receiver is part of a receiver module that also includes a low earth orbit satellite receiver.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein said receiver module receives configuration information from said low earth orbit satellite.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein said receiver module receives reference information from said low earth orbit satellite.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a selection of one of said geosynchronous satellite transmitter and said low earth orbit satellite transmitter occurs at a time proximate to activation of the mobile terminal.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a selection of one of said geosynchronous satellite transmitter and said low earth orbit satellite transmitter occurs in a reconfiguration process after activation.

9. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first receiver for receiving signals from a plurality of global positioning system satellites; and

a transmitter module that includes a geosynchronous satellite transmitter and a low earth orbit satellite transmitter, wherein the mobile terminal selectively transmits, under control of a processor, measurements taken from said received global positioning system satellite signals to a centralized location via one of a geosynchronous satellite and a low earth orbit satellite, said measurements being used by said centralized location to calculate a position of the mobile terminal.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising a second receiver that receives configuration information from said geosynchronous satellite.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising a second receiver that receives reference information in a pilot signal from said geosynchronous satellite.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein said transmitter module transmits using a time division multiple access protocol.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein said transmitter module transmits at a scheduled time.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein said transmitter module transmits in response to an occurrence of an event.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein said transmitter module transmits upon a request produced by said centralized facility.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein said transmitter module transmits sensor information along with said measurements.

17. A satellite communication method, comprising:

receiving global positioning system signals from a plurality of global positioning system satellites;

receiving signals from a geosynchronous satellite; and

transmitting measurements taken from said received global positioning system satellite signals to a centralized location via a low earth orbit satellite, said measurements being used by said centralized location to calculate a position of the mobile terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving from said geosynchronous satellite comprises receiving configuration information.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said receiving from said geosynchronous satellite comprises receiving reference information in a pilot signal.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting sensor information along with said measurements.