Space based local area network (SBLAN)
First Claim
1. A space based local area network system for providing dynamically allocated downlink services for spacecraft in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, the system comprising:
- at least two client satellites which host an inter-satellite communications payload and which are in communication only with other satellites;
a hub satellite which hosts an inter-satellite communications payload, a downlink communications payload, and an aggregator payload; and
a ground station which transmits data to and receives data from the hub satellite,wherein the hub satellite, using the aggregator payload, aggregates at least two data flows received from the at least two client satellites over an inter-satellite link, by the inter-satellite communications payload, into a data stream that is downlinked to the ground station, using the downlink communications payload, over a space-to-ground link.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spaced based local area network system for providing dynamically allocated downlink services for spacecraft in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit. The system includes at least two client satellites which host an inter-satellite communications payload; a hub satellite which hosts an inter-satellite communications payload, a downlink communications payload, and an aggregator payload; and a ground station which transmits data to and receives data from the hub satellite. The hub satellite, using the aggregator payload, aggregates at least two data flows received from the at least two client satellites over an inter-satellite link, by the inter-satellite communications payload, into a data stream that is downlinked to the ground station, using the downlink communications payload, over a space-to-ground link.
9 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A space based local area network system for providing dynamically allocated downlink services for spacecraft in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, the system comprising:
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at least two client satellites which host an inter-satellite communications payload and which are in communication only with other satellites; a hub satellite which hosts an inter-satellite communications payload, a downlink communications payload, and an aggregator payload; and a ground station which transmits data to and receives data from the hub satellite, wherein the hub satellite, using the aggregator payload, aggregates at least two data flows received from the at least two client satellites over an inter-satellite link, by the inter-satellite communications payload, into a data stream that is downlinked to the ground station, using the downlink communications payload, over a space-to-ground link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A space based local area networking kit for a hub satellite which provides dynamically allocated downlink services for spacecraft in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, the space based local area networking kit comprising:
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a software defined radio; and an Internet protocol router, wherein the hub satellite is in communication only with other satellites, and wherein the software defined radio and the Internet protocol router are configured to demodulate signals received at the hub satellite from at least two client satellites over an inter-satellite link or a ground station over a space-to-ground link, route packets, and remodulate packet data onto one of the inter-satellite link and the space-to-ground link.
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21. A method for providing dynamically allocated downlink services for spacecraft in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a hub satellite, data transmitted over an inter-satellite link from at least two client satellites that are in communication only with other satellites; aggregating the data transmitted over the inter-satellite link from the at least two client satellites; and transmitting the aggregated data from the hub satellite to a ground station over a space-to-ground link. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification