Satellite navigation system
First Claim
1. A method for operating a satellite navigation system, the system includinga satellite first network comprising global-positioning satellites emitting satellite localization signals;
- a satellite second network comprising a constellation of mobile-communication satellites including optical links for communication within the second network;
the method comprising;
determining a position of at least one of the mobile-communication satellites within the satellite second network using the localization signals emitted by said first network;
using time-delay measurements of the optical links for determining relative positions of the mobile-communication satellites within the second network; and
providing ground-position signals, from selected ones of the mobile-communication satellites, to selected geographical-area cells on the ground;
whereby no ground-position signals are available outside the selected geographical-area cells.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The instant invention relates to a method for establishing a satellite navigation system, using the satellite networks provided for mobile communications, below the geostationary orbit, in particular in LEO (low earth orbiting) or MEO (medium earth orbiting) constellations, as well as its connection to communications satellites in the geostationary orbit. The establishment of satellite navigation networks in accordance with the invention is made possible by means of the employment of special optical ISL (inter-satellite link) terminals with ranging functions in various LEO or MEO satellite networks, and possibly by including GEO satellite constellations.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A method for operating a satellite navigation system, the system including
a satellite first network comprising global-positioning satellites emitting satellite localization signals; -
a satellite second network comprising a constellation of mobile-communication satellites including optical links for communication within the second network; the method comprising; determining a position of at least one of the mobile-communication satellites within the satellite second network using the localization signals emitted by said first network; using time-delay measurements of the optical links for determining relative positions of the mobile-communication satellites within the second network; and providing ground-position signals, from selected ones of the mobile-communication satellites, to selected geographical-area cells on the ground; whereby no ground-position signals are available outside the selected geographical-area cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for operating a satellite navigation system, the system including
a ground first network emitting satellite localization signals; -
a satellite second network comprising a constellation of mobile-communication satellites including optical links for communication within the second network; the method comprising; determining a position of at least one of the mobile-communication satellites within the satellite second network using the localization signals emitted by said first network; using time-delay measurements of the optical links for determining relative positions of the mobile-communication satellites within the second network; and providing ground-position signals, from selected ones of the mobile-communication satellites, to selected geographical-area cells on the ground; whereby no ground-position signals are available outside the selected geographical-area cells. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A method for operating a satellite navigation system, the system including
a satellite first network comprising satellites orbiting in geosynchronous orbits and emitting satellite localization signals; -
a satellite second network comprising a constellation of mobile-communication satellites including optical links for communication within the second network; the method comprising; determining a position of at least one of the mobile-communication satellites within the satellite second network using the localization signals emitted by said first network; using time-delay measurements of the optical links for determining relative positions of the mobile-communication satellites within the second network; and providing ground-position signals, from selected ones of the mobile-communication satellites, to selected geographical-area cells on the ground; whereby no ground-position signals are available outside the selected geographical-area cells. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
Specification