Wireless access and networking system and method for spacecraft
First Claim
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1. A method for spacecraft wireless access and networking, the method comprising:
- determining an orbital position of an orbiting spacecraft;
selecting a wireless access point of a terrestrial wireless communication network from a wireless access point database based on the orbital position;
receiving a beacon frame signal from the wireless access point at the orbiting spacecraft comprising access point identification information;
storing the access point identification information in a non-transitory computer readable medium;
pointing an antenna of the orbiting spacecraft to the wireless access point based on the access point identification information; and
establishing a communication with the wireless access point using the antenna.
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Abstract
A system and methods for spacecraft wireless access and networking are presented. An orbital position of an orbiting spacecraft is determined, and a wireless access point of a terrestrial wireless communication network is selected from a wireless access point database based on the orbital position. A communication is established with the wireless access point.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for spacecraft wireless access and networking, the method comprising:
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determining an orbital position of an orbiting spacecraft; selecting a wireless access point of a terrestrial wireless communication network from a wireless access point database based on the orbital position; receiving a beacon frame signal from the wireless access point at the orbiting spacecraft comprising access point identification information; storing the access point identification information in a non-transitory computer readable medium; pointing an antenna of the orbiting spacecraft to the wireless access point based on the access point identification information; and establishing a communication with the wireless access point using the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, 20)
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12. A system for spacecraft wireless access and networking, the system comprising:
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a navigation module configured to determine an orbital position of an orbiting spacecraft; a wireless access point database module configured to store at least one access point identification information in a non-transitory computer readable medium; a network tracking module configured to select at least one wireless access point of a terrestrial wireless communication network from the wireless access point database module based on the orbital position; a beacon search module configured to receive at least one beacon frame signal from the wireless access point at the orbiting spacecraft comprising the at least one access point identification information; an antenna pointing module configured to point an antenna of the orbiting spacecraft to the at least one wireless access point based on the at least one access point identification information; and a communication module configured to establish a communication with the wireless access point using the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for configuring a wireless local area network access point database for spacecraft wireless access, the method comprising:
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receiving a beacon frame signal from a wireless access point at an orbiting spacecraft; measuring a wireless access point received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for the beacon frame signal; determining a wireless access point location of the wireless access point; and adding the wireless access point received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the wireless access point location to a wireless access point database based on the wireless access point location. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification