Geolocation communications method during visibility between an earth-orbit satellite and a transmitter and receiver
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, a speed value, and a heading value of the device from the received position determining signals;
c) determining automatically and autonomously a visibility reduction based on proximate deployment constraints stored in the device and the device heading value;
d) 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, the visibility reduction, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and
e) transmitting the geolocation, the speed value, the heading value, 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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the geolocation of an object such as a vehicle traversing the earth'"'"'s surface or airborne thereabove includes employing a device which is capable of operating autonomously to transmit signals to a selected low earth orbit (LEO) satellite for relay to a receiving station whose position is known, identifying the device and its geolocation, speed, altitude and/or heading. The device includes a microcomputer which operates a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for receiving GPS signals to identify the device geolocation and the precise time. A nonvolatile memory on board the device stores LEO satellite ephemeris data, satellite operational and message formatting parameters, LEO satellite visibility footprint data and visibility contour information for the device caused by obstacles which are permanently or temporarily in proximity to the device during deployment and which block transmission of signals between the device and the LEO satellite, depending on relative positions. Geolocation information is transmitted to a LEO satellite for relay to the receiving station after calculation of covisibility of the satellite with the receiving station and the transmitter antenna for the device, taking into account the device visibility contour and heading. The device transmitter antenna may have a steering mechanism for causing the antenna to be aimed at a predetermined azimuth and elevation wherein the transmitted signals will be intercepted by the LEO satellite.
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Citations
62 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, a speed value, and a heading value of the device from the received position determining signals; c) determining automatically and autonomously a visibility reduction based on proximate deployment constraints stored in the device and the device heading value; d) 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, the visibility reduction, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and e) transmitting the geolocation, the speed value, the heading value, 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, 26, 27, 28, 59)
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29. 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, a speed value, and a heading value of the device from the received position determining signals; c) means for determining automatically and autonomously a visibility reduction based on proximate deployment constraints stored in the device and the device heading value; d) 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, the visibility reduction, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and e) 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 (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 60)
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47. 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 a geolocation, a speed value, and a heading value of the device; 3) determining automatically and autonomously a visibility reduction based on proximate deployment constraints stored in the device and the device heading value; 4) 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, the visibility reduction, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and 5) transmitting geolocation, the speed value, the heading value, 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, the speed value, the heading value, and messages from the device and transmitting such information to a receiving station; and d) a receiving station for receiving the geolocation, the speed value, the heading value, and messages, processing such information, and displaying such information. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 61)
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53. 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, a speed value, and a heading value of the device from the received position determining signals; c) determining automatically and autonomously a visibility reduction based on proximate deployment constraints stored in the device and the device heading; d) 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, the visibility reduction, and low earth orbit satellite ephemeris data stored in the device; and e) transmitting the geolocation, the speed value, the heading value, 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 (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 62)
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Specification