Extensible satellite communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A satellite network comprising:
- backbone satellites configured to act as routers for data units transmitted through the network, the backbone satellites communicating with one another through inter-satellite links;
user satellites configured to connect with the network via the backbone satellites through access links; and
ground stations configured to connect to the backbone satellites through up/down links, wherein the inter-satellite links and the up/down links include directional transmissions and the access links include omni-directional transmissions from the user satellites.
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Abstract
A satellite network [100] includes backbone satellites [110]. The backbone satellites [110] act as routers for data units transmitted through network [100]. The backbone satellites [110] communicate with one another through inter-satellite links [111]. The satellite network [100] may further include user satellites [120] and ground stations [140]. The user satellites [120] may communicate with the backbone satellites [110] through omni-directional links [112].
85 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A satellite network comprising:
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backbone satellites configured to act as routers for data units transmitted through the network, the backbone satellites communicating with one another through inter-satellite links; user satellites configured to connect with the network via the backbone satellites through access links; and ground stations configured to connect to the backbone satellites through up/down links, wherein the inter-satellite links and the up/down links include directional transmissions and the access links include omni-directional transmissions from the user satellites. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of adding a satellite into a satellite network, the method comprising:
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measuring position data of the satellite; determining, at the satellite, an orbital location of the satellite based on the measured position data; selecting a ground station with which to communicate based on the determined orbital location; receiving, from the selected ground station, at least one of location and orbital information of other satellites in the satellite network; and transmitting, by the satellite, the location of the satellite to the selected ground station to add the satellite to the satellite network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of operating a satellite network including backbone satellites and user satellites, the method comprising:
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receiving position information from the backbone satellites, the position information including location information of the backbone satellites; calculating network topology information based on the position information; and creating inter-satellite links, via directional transmitters/receivers, between the backbone satellites based on the network topology information; communicating packet data through the satellite network over the inter-satellite links; and creating access links, via omni-directional transmitters/receivers, between the backbone satellites and the user satellites. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification