Dynamic routing from space

• US 8,665,777 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DNA Global Solutions
• Original Assignee: DNA Global Solutions
• Inventors: Marshack, David, Nozette, Stewart, Fellows, Andrew, Tudor, Geoffrey, Mehlman, Amy
• Primary Examiner(s): TOWFIGHI, AFSHAWN M
• Application Number:
  US11/969,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 370/318
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18521 Systems of inter linked satellites, i.e. inter satellite service for optical links between satellites H04B10/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1858 Arrangements for data transmission on the physical system, i.e. for data bit transmission between network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location

Abstract

A satellite communication network includes one or more satellites and multiple ground stations, or ground stations. An originating ground station receives an Internet communication, determines when a satellite will be within range, and transmits a stream of data packets including part or all of the communication to the satellite when in communication range. The satellite either forwards the data packets to another satellite, or determines when a destination ground station will be in sight and transmits the data packets to the destination ground station when in range.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at an origin mobile ground station, data via a network, wherein the origin mobile ground station is moving on Earth with a particular heading and velocity;

determining, at the origin mobile ground station, that the data is to be transmitted to a destination ground station via satellite transmission;

determining, at the origin mobile ground station, a future time when the data is to be transmitted;

using a location prediction process executed by the origin mobile ground station, determining, at the origin mobile ground station, a predicted location of the origin mobile ground station at the future time when the data is to be transmitted, based on a current position, heading and velocity of the origin mobile ground station, and predicting a location of satellites in a satellite network at the future time;

based on determining the predicted location of the origin mobile ground station and the predicted location the satellites at the future time, selecting, at the origin mobile ground station, a first satellite in the satellite network that will be within communication range of the predicted location of the origin mobile ground station at the future time when the data is to be transmitted;

determining, at the origin mobile ground station, a first radio frequency and a first data transmission rate supported by the first satellite;

upon the origin mobile ground station reaching the predicted location, establishing communications, using the origin mobile ground station, with the first satellite;

transmitting the data from the origin mobile ground station to the first satellite via the determined first radio frequency and first data transmission rate;

determining, at the origin mobile ground station, when the first satellite will go out of communication range of the origin mobile ground station;

transmitting a request from the origin mobile ground station to the first satellite before the first satellite is determined to go out of communication range, the request asking for verification whether transmission of the data has been completed; and

transmitting, if a response to the request is received verifying that transmission of the data has not been completed or if no response to the request is received, a flag from the origin mobile ground station to the first satellite, the flag indicating that the data is incomplete.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first satellite is a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first satellite is dynamically selected based on Internet Protocol (IP) routing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first satellite is dynamically selected based on ephemeris information of the first satellite.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network includes an Internet network.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising, if a response to the request is received verifying that transmitting of the data has not been completed or if no response to the request is received:

determining, at the origin mobile ground station, a second predicted location of the origin mobile ground station;

based on determining the second predicted location, selecting, at the origin mobile ground station, a second satellite within communication range of the second predicted location;

determining, at the origin mobile ground station, a second radio frequency and a second data transmission rate supported by the second satellite;

transmitting, when the origin mobile ground station reaches the second predicted location, at least a portion of the data from the origin mobile ground station to the second satellite via the determined second radio frequency and second data transmission rate;

determining, at the origin mobile ground station, when the second satellite will go out of communication range of the origin mobile ground station;

transmitting a second request from the origin mobile ground station to the second satellite before second satellite is determined to go out of communication range, the request intended for verifying whether transmitting of the at least the portion of the data has been completed; and

transmitting, if a second response to the second request is received verifying that transmitting of the at least the portion of the data has not been completed or if no response to the second request is received, a second flag from the origin mobile ground station to the second satellite, the flag indicating that the data is incomplete.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a stream of Internet Protocol (IP) packets.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising transmitting an indicia of the predicted location from the origin mobile ground station to the first satellite.

9. A method comprising:

determining, at a first satellite, a first geographical footprint based on a communication capability of the first satellite;

determining, at the first satellite and based on the first geographical footprint, a radio frequency associated with an origin mobile ground station that is within the first geographical footprint, wherein the origin mobile ground station is moving on Earth with a particular heading and velocity;

monitoring, at the first satellite, the radio frequency;

receiving, at the first satellite, data from the origin mobile ground station via the radio frequency;

determining, at the first satellite, a destination ground station based on information included with the data;

executing an orbit propagation process at the first satellite, the orbit propagation process predicting a future location and communication availability of one or more satellites in a satellite network;

dynamically selecting, at the first satellite, a second satellite in the satellite network that is or is predicted to be physically closer to the destination ground station than the first satellite;

determining, at the first satellite, a transmission medium supported by the first satellite and the second satellite; and

transmitting the data from the first satellite to the second satellite via the transmission medium, when the second satellite is determined to be within communication range of the first satellite.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, at the second satellite, data from the first satellite;

determining, at the second satellite, the destination ground station based on the information included with the data received from the first satellite;

determining, at the second satellite, when the destination ground station will be within communication range of the second satellite;

transmitting the data from the second satellite to the destination ground station when the destination ground station is determined to be within communication range of the second satellite; and

erasing, at the second satellite, the data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, at the first satellite, a destination ground station based on header information included with the data;

determining, at the first satellite and based on the first geographical footprint, that the destination ground station is within the first geographical footprint of the first satellite;

determining, at the first satellite, a second radio frequency and a second data transmission rate supported by the destination ground station; and

transmitting, when it is determined that the destination ground station is within the first geographical footprint, the data from the first satellite to the destination ground station via the second radio frequency and the second data transmission rate.

12. The method of claim 9, comprising:

receiving a first portion of the data at the first satellite before the first satellite goes out of communication range of the origin mobile ground station;

receiving a second portion of the data at the first satellite after the first satellite goes out of communication range and re-enters the communication range of the origin mobile ground station;

combining, at the first satellite, the first and second portions of the data; and

transmitting the combined first and second portions of the data to a destination ground station.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:

receiving, at the satellite, a duplicate copy of the first or second portions of the data;

determining that the duplicate copy is a duplicate of the received first or second portions of the data; and

erasing the duplicate copy.

14. The method of claim 9, comprising:

transmitting the data from the first satellite to a second satellite based on determining, at the first satellite, that the second satellite is closer to a destination ground station than the first satellite based on ephemeris information of the first and second satellites;

transmitting the data from the second satellite to a third satellite based on determining, at the second satellite, that the third satellite is closer to the destination ground station than the second satellite based on ephemeris information of the second and third satellites;

transmitting the data from the third satellite to a fourth satellite based on determining, at the third satellite, that the fourth satellite is closer to the destination ground station than the third satellite based on ephemeris information of the third and fourth satellites; and

transmitting the data from the fourth satellite to the destination ground station.

15. The method of claim 9, comprising:

accessing, using the first satellite, ephemeris data calculated by an on-board astrodynamics calculator and received from other available network satellites;

accessing, using the first satellite, an on-board Internet routing table describing distance or cost information associated with the other available network satellites; and

determining, using the first satellite, whether to forward the data to one of the other available network satellites based on the accessed ephemeris data and the on-board Internet routing table.

16. The method of claim 9, comprising:

accessing, using the first satellite, availability data describing current and future availability of other network satellites;

accessing, using the first satellite, ephemeris data calculated by an on-board astrodynamics calculator and received from the other available network satellites;

accessing, using the first satellite, an on-board Internet routing table describing distance or cost information of the other available network satellites;

accessing, using the first satellite, a list of currently available ground stations that do not include a destination ground station; and

determining, using the first satellite, whether to route the data to another available network satellite or to an available ground station included in the list of currently available ground stations based on the availability data, the ephemeris data, and the on-board Internet routing table.

17. A device comprising:

an interface configured to receive data via a network, wherein the interface is associated with an origin mobile ground station that is moving on Earth with a particular heading and velocity;

a processor configured to;

determine that the data is to be transmitted to a destination ground station via satellite transmissions;

determine a future time when the data is to be transmitted;

using a location prediction process executed by the origin mobile ground station, determine a predicted location of the origin mobile ground station at the future time when the data is to be transmitted based on a current position, heading and velocity of the origin mobile ground station, and predict a location of satellites in a satellite network at the future time;

based on determining the predicted location of the origin mobile ground station and the predicted location the satellites at the future time, select a first satellite that will be within communication range of the predicted location at the future time when the data is to be transmitted;

determine a first radio frequency and a first data transmission rate supported by the first satellite; and

determine when the first satellite will go out of communication range of the origin mobile ground station; and

a transmitter configured to;

establish communications with the first satellite when the origin mobile ground station reaches the predicted location;

transmit the data to the first satellite via the determined first radio frequency and first data transmission rate;

transmit a request to the first satellite before the first satellite is determined to go out of communication range, the request verifying whether transmission of the data has been completed; and

transmit, if a response to the request is received verifying that transmission of the data has not been completed or if no response to the request is received, a flag to the first satellite, the flag indicating that the data is incomplete.

18. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions that, when read by a machine, operate to cause data processing apparatus to:

receive data via a network at an origin mobile ground station that is moving on Earth with a particular heading and velocity;

determine that the data is to be transmitted to a destination ground station via satellite transmission;

determine a future time when the data is to be transmitted;

using a location prediction process executed by the origin mobile ground station, determine a predicted location of the origin mobile ground station at the future time when the data is to be transmitted based on a current position, heading and velocity of the origin mobile ground station, and predict a location of satellites in a satellite network at the future time;

based on determining the predicted location of the origin mobile ground station and the predicted location the satellites at the future time, select a first satellite that will be within communication range of the predicted location at the future time when the data is to be transmitted;

determine a first radio frequency and a first data transmission rate supported by the first satellite;

establish communications, when the origin mobile ground station reaches the predicted location, with the first satellite;

transmit the data to the first satellite via the determined first radio frequency and first data transmission rate;

determine when the first satellite will go out of communication range of the origin mobile ground station;

transmit a request to the first satellite before the first satellite is determined to go out of communication range, the request verifying whether transmission of the data has been completed; and

transmit, if a response to the request is received verifying that transmission of the data has not been completed or if no response to the request is received, a flag to the first satellite, the flag indicating that the data is incomplete.

19. A computer-implemented method for effecting broadband Internet access from space using a single satellite, comprising:

routing Internet data from an origin mobile ground station to a satellite based on predicting future time when the satellite is within communication range of the origin mobile ground station, wherein the origin mobile ground station is moving on Earth with a particular heading and velocity;

storing the Internet data on the satellite until the satellite travels within predicted communication range of a destination ground station; and

routing the Internet data to the destination ground station when the satellite is within the predicted communication range of the destination ground station.

20. A device comprising:

an interface configured to receive data via a network;

a processor configured to;

determine, at a first satellite, a first geographical footprint based on a communication capability of the first satellite;

determine, at the first satellite and based on the first geographical footprint, a radio frequency associated with an origin mobile ground station that is within the first geographical footprint, wherein the origin mobile ground station is moving on Earth with a particular heading and velocity;

monitor, at the first satellite, the radio frequency;

receive, at the first satellite, data from the origin mobile ground station via the radio frequency;

determine, at the first satellite, a destination ground station based on information included with the data;

dynamically select, at the first satellite, a second satellite that is or is predicted to be physically closer to the destination ground station than the first satellite; and

determine, at the first satellite, a transmission medium supported by the first satellite and the second satellite; and

a transmitter configured to;

transmit the data from the first satellite to the second satellite via the transmission medium, when the second satellite is determined to be within communication range of the first satellite.

21. A computer program product, embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable medium, the computer program product comprising instructions that, when read by a machine, operate to cause data processing apparatus to:

determine, at a first satellite, a first geographical footprint based on a communication capability of the first satellite;

determine, at the first satellite and based on the first geographical footprint, a radio frequency associated with an origin mobile ground station that is within the first geographical footprint, wherein the origin mobile ground station is moving on Earth with a particular heading and velocity;

monitor, at the first satellite, the radio frequency;

receive, at the first satellite, data from the origin mobile ground station via the radio frequency;

determine, at the first satellite, a destination ground station based on information included with the data;

dynamically select, at the first satellite, a second satellite that is or is predicted to be physically closer to the destination ground station than the first satellite; and

determine, at the first satellite, a transmission medium supported by the first satellite and the second satellite; and

transmit the data from the first satellite to the second satellite via the transmission medium, when the second satellite is determined to be within communication range of the first satellite.