Method for adding a geostationary component to a non-geostationary satellite network

• US 6,029,935 A
• Filed: 01/22/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Saunders, Oliver W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US09/012,111
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 244/158 R, 455/13.1, 455/12.1, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/427-430, 701/13, 342/352-358
• US Class Current: 244/158.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1007 Communications satellites
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1085 Swarms and constellations
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/242 Orbits and trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/66 Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/118 specially adapted for satellite communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/195 Non-synchronous stations

Abstract

A method is disclosed for adding a geostationary component (201) to a low earth orbit satellite network. The method includes establishing a geostationary orbit for an administration satellite, providing an East-West communications link (218) between a low earth orbit satellite (202) at a polar location and the administration satellite and providing an RF link (216) between a ground based network control center (214) on the ground and the administration satellite. The method also includes the steps of transmitting administration information received by the administration satellite over the RF link (216) from the administration satellite to the low earth orbit satellite (202) over the East-West communications link (218).

Claims

1. A method for adding a geostationary component to a low earth orbit satellite network, the method comprising:

establishing a geostationary orbit for a geostationary component;

providing a first communications link between a satellite in a low earth orbit satellite network at a polar location and said geostationary component;

providing a second communications link between a network control center and said geostationary component;

transmitting administration information for said low earth orbit satellite network to said geostationary component over said second communications link then from said geostationary component to said low earth orbit satellite over said first communications link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing step comprises establishing a geostationary orbit substantially perpendicular to an orbit plane defined by said low earth orbit satellite.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said polar location is the North Pole.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said polar location is the South Pole.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting administration information comprises transmitting routing table information.

5. A hybrid satellite network comprising:

a plurality of low earth orbit satellites defining at least one orbital plane, said plurality of low earth orbit satellites periodically passing over the North Pole and the South Pole;

a geostationary component disposed in a geostationary orbit;

a first communications link connecting said geostationary component to a network control center, said first communications link transmitting administration information for said at least one orbital plane; and

a second communications link connecting said geostationary component and at least one of said low earth orbit satellites located over a Polar location, said second communications link transmitting said administration information.

6. The hybrid satellite network of claim 5, wherein said Polar location is the North Pole.

7. The hybrid satellite network of claim 5, wherein said Polar location is the South Pole.

8. The hybrid satellite network of claim 5, wherein said geostationary component comprises a communications satellite.

9. The hybrid satellite network of claim 5, wherein said administration information comprises routing table information for said at least one orbital plane.

10. The hybrid satellite network of claim 5, wherein said first communications link originates at a ground based network control center.

11. The hybrid satellite network of claim 10, wherein said second communications link is an East-West communications link.

12. The hybrid satellite network of claim 11, wherein said administration information is routing table information.

14. A method for distributing administration information in a satellite communication system, the method comprising:

receiving administration information from a network control center at a geostationary satellite;

establishing a communications link between said geostationary satellite and a low earth orbit satellite at approximately a polar location; and

injecting said administration information from said geostationary satellite into a low earth orbit satellite constellation through said low earth orbit satellite, wherein said administration information is administration information for said low earth orbit satellite constellation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of transmitting administration information comprises transmitting routing table information.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said establishing step comprises establishing an East-West link between said geostationary satellite and low earth orbit satellite at approximately a polar location.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said establishing step comprises establishing an optical link between said geostationary satellite and low earth orbit satellite.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of establishing a geostationary orbit for said geostationary satellite substantially perpendicular to an orbit plane defined by said low earth orbit satellite constellation.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of establishing a communications link between said geostationary satellite and a low earth orbit satellite at approximately a polar location further comprises establishing said communications link at the North Pole.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of establishing a communications link between said geostationary satellite and a low earth orbit satellite at approximately a polar location further comprises establishing said communications link at the South Pole.