Satellite communication with low probability of detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A satellite system comprising:
- a first backbone satellite orbiting in a first orbit; and
a host satellite orbiting in the first orbit and configured to be physically near the first backbone satellite, the host satellite transmitting information directly to the first backbone satellite via an omni-directional communication scheme and receiving information from the first backbone satellite via a proxy satellite through which the information is relayed.
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Abstract
Host satellites [120] in a satellite network [100] are implemented with a low probability of detection by third parties. Transmissions from the host satellites may be made via omni-directional antennas using relatively low signal power. These transmissions are received by a backbone satellite [110] in an orbit local to the host satellite. All transmissions to the host satellite are performed by another backbone satellite.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A satellite system comprising:
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a first backbone satellite orbiting in a first orbit; and
a host satellite orbiting in the first orbit and configured to be physically near the first backbone satellite, the host satellite transmitting information directly to the first backbone satellite via an omni-directional communication scheme and receiving information from the first backbone satellite via a proxy satellite through which the information is relayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A first backbone satellite comprising:
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a first input/output device configured to receive communications from a host satellite using omni-directional radio frequency links; and
a second input/output device configured to transmit communications ultimately destined for the host satellite using directional communication links aimed at a second backbone satellite, the second backbone satellite configured to relay the communications ultimately destined for the host satellite to the host satellite. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A host satellite in a satellite network, the host satellite comprising:
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means for transmitting information to a destination in the satellite network by broadcasting the information to a first backbone satellite located proximate to the host satellite and traveling in a same orbit as the host satellite; and
means for receiving information from a second backbone satellite that is traveling in a different orbit than the orbit of the host satellite. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of communicating with a low probability of detection in a satellite system, the method comprising:
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receiving information, intended for a host satellite, at a first backbone satellite that is located proximate to and in a same orbit as the host satellite;
forwarding the information to the host via a second backbone satellite that is in an orbit different from the orbit of the first backbone satellite and the host satellite; and
directly receiving information transmitted from the host satellite at the first backbone satellite. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, implemented in a backbone satellite, comprising:
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determining a current satellite to use as a proxy for transmitting information to a host satellite;
informing a previous satellite that was being used as the proxy that the previous satellite is no longer the proxy; and
informing the current satellite that the current satellite is to act as the proxy for the backbone satellite to forward information ultimately intended for the host satellite directly to the host satellite. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification