Method and apparatus for predicting service availability for a ground-to-satellite radio of a communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for predicting a ground-to-satellite terminal'"'"'s percentage of successful communication linkage time to one or more satellites of a satellite communication system based upon proximity of an antenna of the radio, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a terminal blockage profile based upon a location of the antenna of the ground-to-satellite terminal;
receiving a satellite blockage profile of one or more satellites;
using the terminal blockage profile and the satellite blockage profile to determine a percentage of successful communication linkage time between the terminal and at least one satellite, wherein the step of using includes the substeps of;
(a) determining, for a particular time instance, whether at least one satellite is in clear view of the antenna;
(b) recording a result of step (a);
(c) adjusting the particular time instance to obtain a different time instance;
(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) over a predetermined time period; and
(e) using the recorded results to determine the percentage of successful communication linkage time.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus predicts a ground-to-satellite terminal'"'"'s (16) percentage of successful communication linkage time to at least one satellite of a communication system in response to a terminal blockage profile (410), as created from the location of an antenna of the terminal, and a satellite blockage profile (412). The prediction may also be based upon a weather model data base (358) corresponding to the area where the terminal is located.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for predicting a ground-to-satellite terminal'"'"'s percentage of successful communication linkage time to one or more satellites of a satellite communication system based upon proximity of an antenna of the radio, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a terminal blockage profile based upon a location of the antenna of the ground-to-satellite terminal; receiving a satellite blockage profile of one or more satellites; using the terminal blockage profile and the satellite blockage profile to determine a percentage of successful communication linkage time between the terminal and at least one satellite, wherein the step of using includes the substeps of; (a) determining, for a particular time instance, whether at least one satellite is in clear view of the antenna; (b) recording a result of step (a); (c) adjusting the particular time instance to obtain a different time instance; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) over a predetermined time period; and (e) using the recorded results to determine the percentage of successful communication linkage time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An apparatus for predicting a ground-to-satellite terminal'"'"'s percentage of successful communication linkage time to one or more satellites of a satellite communication system based upon proximity of an antenna of the terminal, comprising:
-
a memory having terminal blockage profile data, corresponding to a field of view of a location of the antenna, and satellite blockage profile data stored thereon; and a service predictor unit, responsive to the terminal blockage profile and the satellite blockage profile, for determining a percentage of successful communication linkage time between the terminal and at least one satellite of the satellite communication system, wherein the service predictor unit includes; means for determining, for a particular time instance, whether at least one satellite is in clear view of the antenna; means for recording an output of the means for determining; means for adjusting the particular time instance to obtain a different time instance; and means, responsive to the means for recording to determine the percentage of successful communication linkage time. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A method for predicting a ground-to-satellite terminal'"'"'s percentage of successful communication linkage time to one or more satellites of a satellite communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a terminal blockage profile based upon a location of the antenna of the ground-to-satellite terminal; storing the terminal blockage profile in a storage device; receiving a satellite blockage profile of one or more satellites; storing the satellite blockage profile; receiving a weather model data base; and
using the terminal blockage profile, the satellite blockage profile and the weather model data base to determine a percentage of successful communication linkage time between the terminal and at least one satellite, wherein the step of using includes the steps of;(a) determining, for a particular time instance, whether at least one satellite is in clear view of the antenna; (b) recording a result of step (a); (c) adjusting the particular time instance to obtain a different time instance; (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) over a predetermined time period; and (e) using the recorded results to determine the percentage of successful communication linkage time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification