System and method for widespread low cost orbital satellite access

• US 9,519,873 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spire Global Subsidiary, Inc. (Spire Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spire Global, Inc.
• Inventors: Platzer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jha, Abdhesh
• Application Number:
  US13/757,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20140222472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 705/5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events

Abstract

A satellite support and administration system includes a web based portal to allow widespread user access to advanced satellite technology at extremely low costs. The system supports the sequential launch of increasingly sophisticated satellites having limited life spans. Each satellite is equipped with a powerful array of sensors for space based measurement of scientifically and commercially important phenomena. A ground based platform supports and encourages the development of software and custom applications to operate experiments utilizing the processors and sensor array on the satellite.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an in-orbit satellite;

an earth transceiver in communication with the in-orbit satellite;

a server in communication with the in-orbit satellite via the earth transceiver, the server storing information of time slots allocated to a plurality of users to access real-time information of the satellite, the server is configured to;

receive a user'"'"'s request, via a user interface, to access the satellite during the user'"'"'s allocated time slot;

receive real-time information of the satellite from the satellite via the earth transceiver during the user'"'"'s allocated time slot; and

output, to the user, via the user interface, the received real-time information of the satellite during the user'"'"'s allocated time slot;

wherein the server stores information of a first time slot allocated to a first user to access real-time information of the satellite and stores information of a second time slot allocated to a second user to access real-time information of the satellite, and

wherein the server is configured to;

receive the first user'"'"'s request to access the satellite during the first time slot;

receive real-time information of the satellite from the satellite via the earth transceiver during the first time slot;

output to the first user the received real-time information of the satellite during the first time slot;

receive the second user'"'"'s request to access the satellite during the second time slot;

receive real-time information of the satellite from the satellite via the earth transceiver during the second time slot; and

output to the second user the received real-time information of the satellite during the second time slot.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time information of the satellite includes images captured by the satellite.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time information of the satellite includes measurements taken by the satellite.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the real-time information of the satellite includes information determined by the satellite.

5. A system comprising:

an in-orbit satellite;

an earth transceiver;

a server in communication with the satellite via the earth transceiver, the server storing a plurality of time slots purchased by users for operating the satellite, the server configured to;

receive an application from a user via a user interface;

output the application to the satellite via the earth transceiver for execution of the application by the satellite at the user'"'"'s purchased time slot;

receive from the satellite via the earth transceiver data representing a result of the execution; and

output the received data to the user;

wherein the server stores a first time slot purchased by a first user for operating the satellite and a second time slot purchased by a second user for operating the satellite, and the server is configured to;

receive a first application from the first user;

output the first application to the satellite via the earth transceiver for execution of the first application by the satellite at the first time slot;

receive from the satellite via the earth transceiver data representing a result of the execution of the first application;

output the received data representing the result of the execution of the first application to the first user;

receive a second application from the second user;

output the second application to the satellite via the earth transceiver for execution of the second application by the satellite at the second time slot;

receive from the satellite via the earth transceiver data representing a result of the execution of the second application; and

output the received data representing the result of the execution of the second application to the second user.