Global message delivery system and method using GEO and Non-GEO satellites

• US 6,173,156 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CDC Propriete Intellectuelle
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Greenwood, James Edward Jr., Hogg, Gerald J., Worger, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US09/072,061
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 455/13.1, 455/12.1, 455/453, 455/427, 455/430, 455/428, 455/13.4
• US Class Current: 455/13.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18584 Arrangements for data networking, i.e. for data packet routing, for congestion control data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/195 Non-synchronous stations

Abstract

A message processing center (140) is used in a global message delivery system. Message processing center (140) uses at least one GEO satellite (130) and at least one Non-GEO satellite (120) to delivers messages (pages) to a number of ground stations (110) located at various locations on the surface of the earth. Message processing center (140) determines loading for at least one GEO satellite (130) and at least one Non-GEO satellite (120). Message processing center (140) determines available capacity for at least one GEO satellite (130) and at least one Non-GEO satellite (120). Message processing center (140) uses a number of criteria to optimize the delivery of the message data.

Claims

1. A method for broadcasting message s to a plurality of ground stations in a wide area using a Geosynchronous (GEO) satellite, a plurality of Non-GEO satellites, and a control center, said method comprising the steps of:

a) processing in formation, received by said control center, into message data and delivery data, wherein step a) further comprises the steps of;

a1) identifying a group of said plurality of ground stations, said group having a number N of said plurality of ground stations; and

a2) determining locations for said number N of said plurality of ground stations in said group;

b) broadcasting said message data to a first set of said plurality of ground stations using said GEO satellite, wherein step b) further comprises the steps of;

b1) determining loading of said GEO satellite;

b2) determining if capacity is available on said GEO satellite;

b3) when capacity is available on said GEO satellite, identifying a number K of said plurality of ground stations in a first set in said group, said number K being within a broadcast coverage area of said GEO satellite;

b4) determining if said number K should be maximized;

b5) sending said message data to said GEO satellite when said number K should not be maximized; and

b6) comparing said number K to a threshold, when said number K should be maximized; and

c) broadcasting said message data to a second set of said plurality of ground stations using at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites, wherein said method further comprises the steps of;

c1) determining loading of said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites;

c2) determining if capacity is available on said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites; and

c3) when capacity is available on said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites, identifying a number L of said plurality of ground stations in a second set in said group, said number L being within a broadcast coverage area of said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

c4) when capacity is not available on said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites, determining if a message priority level should be changed.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

c5) when said message priority level should be changed, changing said message priority level; and

c6) branching to step b1).

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

c5) when said message priority level should not be changed, refraining from changing said message priority level; and

c6) terminating said method.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

c4) when capacity is available on said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites, sending said message data to said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

c5) determining if said message data has been sent to said number N of said plurality of ground stations.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

c6) when said message data has been sent to said number N of said plurality of ground stations, terminating said method.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

c6) when said message data has not been sent to said number N of said plurality of ground stations, determining if a message priority level should be changed.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

c7) when said message priority level should be changed, changing said message priority level; and

c8) branching to step b1).

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

c7) when said message priority level should not be changed, refraining from changing said message priority level; and

c8) terminating said method.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

b7) sending said message data to said GEO satellite when said number K exceeds said threshold;

b8) determining if said message data has been sent to said number N of said plurality of ground stations;

b9) when said message data has been sent to said number N of said plurality of ground stations, terminating said method; and

b10) when said message data has not been sent to said number N of said plurality of ground stations, sending said message data to said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

b8) sending said message data to said at least one of said plurality of Non-GEO satellites when said number K does not exceed said threshold.