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Method and apparatus for predicting service availability for a ground-to-satellite radio of a communication system

  • US 6,070,051 A
  • Filed: 11/03/1997
  • Issued: 05/30/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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.

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