Predicting Radio Frequency Interference Events

• US 20170146664A1
• Filed: 11/19/2015
• Published: 05/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Planet Labs PBC
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kanner, Laurren, Scheffler, Craig RayDean
• Granted Patent: US 10,277,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining a communication schedule for a satellite system are provided. For instance, orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems can be obtained. Frequency data frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data can also be obtained. One or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system can then be determined based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data. One or more downlink periods during which data is transmitted by the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted by the first satellite can then be scheduled based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of determining a communication schedule for a satellite system, the method comprising:

obtaining, by one or more computing devices, orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data; and

scheduling, by the one or more computing devices, one or more transmission periods during which data is transmitted to or from the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted to or from the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more relevant satellite systems based at least in part on the frequency data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the one or more relevant satellite systems are satellite systems that transmit data within a threshold frequency range of the first satellite system.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising determining, by the one or more computing devices, an orbital trajectory for the first satellite system and the one or more relevant satellite systems based at least in part on the orbital data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the one or more computing devices, an orbital trajectory for the first satellite system and the one or more second satellite systems based at least in part on the orbital data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, a threshold conjunction angle associated with the first satellite system.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, a threshold elevation angle relative to a ground communication station associated with the first satellite system.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, a radio frequency interference event when the first satellite system and at least one of the second satellite systems are located at an angle relative to the ground communication station that is greater than the threshold elevation angle, and are separated by an angle less than the threshold conjunction angle.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the threshold conjunction angle is determined based at least in part on a radiation pattern of an antenna configured to communicate with the first satellite system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the threshold conjunction angle is determined based at least in part on a transmission power of an antenna configured to communicate with the first satellite system.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein scheduling, by the one or more computing devices, one or more transmission periods during which data is transmitted to or from the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted to or from the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events comprises updating a scheduling system associated with the first satellite system.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the one or more silent periods correspond to the determined one or more radio frequency interference events.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more silent periods interrupts an otherwise continuous transmission period.

14. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising;

obtaining orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems;

obtaining frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data;

determining one or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data; and

scheduling one or more downlink periods during which data is transmitted by the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted by the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

15. The computing system of claim 14, the operations further comprising determining one or more relevant satellite systems based at least in part on the frequency data.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the one or more relevant satellite systems comprise one or more second satellite systems that transmit data within a threshold frequency range of the first satellite system.

17. The computing system of claim 14, wherein determining one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, a radio frequency interference event when the first satellite system and at least one of the second satellite systems are separated by an angle less than a predetermined threshold conjunction angle relative to an antenna configured to communicate with the first satellite system or the at least one of the second satellite systems.

18. One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems;

obtaining frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data;

determining one or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data; and

scheduling one or more downlink periods during which data is transmitted by the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted by the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

19. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18, wherein the one or more silent periods correspond to a period of time associated with the determined one or more radio frequency interference events.

20. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19, wherein at least one of the one or more silent periods interrupts an otherwise continuous downlink period.