Autonomous geolocation and message communication system and method
First Claim
1. A method for communicating geolocation and messages from a device to a receiving station, comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving signals by the device from a position determining system;
b) determining a geolocation of the device from the received position determining signals;
c) determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation, the receiving station geolocation, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and
d) transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to the low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration when the low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station, for relay to the receiving station by the low earth orbit satellite.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for transmitting information to a receiving station via one or more Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites includes a device which is capable of operating autonomously to transmit signals to a selected LEO satellite for relay to a receiving station identifying the device and its geolocation including longitude and latitude and/or speed, altitude and heading or course. The device includes a microprocessor which operates a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving GPS signals to identify its geolocation and precise time. A nonvolatile memory onboard the device stores LEO satellite ephemeris data, and identification, operational and message formatting information to enable the device to transmit information including voice, data and/or the geolocation of the device to a selected LEO satellite, such as the next visible LEO satellite, for relay to a receiving station. The device may be operated to select the next visible LEO satellite for transmission of information when the satellite is visible and the device is within the LEO satellite visibility range or footprint. Alternatively, the device may select one or more LEO satellites for transmission at selected times and may store information, including geolocation data, when a selected LEO satellite is visible.
74 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A method for communicating geolocation and messages from a device to a receiving station, comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving signals by the device from a position determining system; b) determining a geolocation of the device from the received position determining signals; c) determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation, the receiving station geolocation, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and d) transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to the low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration when the low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station, for relay to the receiving station by the low earth orbit satellite. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A device for communicating geolocation and messages to a receiving station, comprising:
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a) means for receiving signals by the device from a position determining system; b) means for determining a geolocation of the device from the received position determining signals; c) means for determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation, the receiving station geolocation, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and d) means for transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to the low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration when the low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station, for relay to the receiving station by the low earth orbit satellite. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for communicating geolocation and messages from a device to a receiving station, comprising:
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a) a position determining system for transmitting position determining signals; b) a device for; 1) receiving the position determining signals; 2) determining geolocation of the device; 3) determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and a receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation the receiving station geolocation, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and 4) transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to a low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration; c) a low earth orbit satellite for receiving the geolocation and messages from the device and transmitting such information to a receiving station; and d) a receiving station for receiving the geolocation and messages, processing such information, and displaying such information. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A microprocessor-implemented computer program for communicating geolocation and messages from a device to a receiving station, comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving signals by the device from a position determining system by controlling a geolocation data and time signal receiver; b) determining a current geolocation of the device from the received position determining signals; c) determining a visibility time duration when a low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station by using a current time, the device geolocation, the receiving station geolocation and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and d) transmitting the geolocation and messages from the device to the low earth orbit satellite during the visibility time duration when the low earth orbit satellite is visible to both the device and the receiving station, for relay to the receiving station, by controlling transmission of a device satellite transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification