Polar relay system for satellite communication
First Claim
1. A satellite communications apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of terminals (G);
a first satellite (S1) operating in a low Earth orbit (OR1);
said first satellite (S1) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G);
a second satellite (S2) operating in said low Earth orbit (OR1);
said second satellite (S2) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G);
said plurality of terminals (G) including a relay station;
said relay station being located at a latitude on Earth which enables said relay station to communicate with said first and said second satellites (S1, S2) as said first and second satellites independently pass over a pole of the Earth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is a telecommunications system that includes twelve satellites (S) which are equally deployed in four polar low Earth orbits (OR). A preferred embodiment provides a system for transmitting a message between two terminals (G) on the ground through a store-and-forward network. A first satellite (S1/OR1) traveling in a first polar orbit (OR1) receives and stores a message from a sending terminal (GA) on the surface of the Earth (E). As the first satellite (S1/OR1) passes over the North Pole (NP), it transmits the stored message from the sending terminal (GA) down to a relay station (GB) located near the North Pole (NP). The message is stored at this polar relay station (GB) until a second satellite (S1/OR2) moving in a second orbit (OR2) flies within range. At that time, the polar relay station (GB) sends the stored message up to the second satellite (S1/OR2), which stores the message and finally transmits it to a receiving terminal (GC) somewhere on the ground. This store-and-forward relay method takes advantage of the geometry of a system that employs more than one satellite which each operate in different polar orbits. The different polar orbits allow the satellites to fly over different parts of the globe frequently. The rotation of the Earth beneath the satellites allows every satellite in the system to fly over vast regions of the Earth'"'"'s surface and, therefore, to communicate with a very large number of terminals located virtually anywhere in the world. The present invention provides a wide variety of communication systems without requiring costly and complex intersatellite links.
99 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A satellite communications apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of terminals (G); a first satellite (S1) operating in a low Earth orbit (OR1); said first satellite (S1) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); a second satellite (S2) operating in said low Earth orbit (OR1); said second satellite (S2) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); said plurality of terminals (G) including a relay station; said relay station being located at a latitude on Earth which enables said relay station to communicate with said first and said second satellites (S1, S2) as said first and second satellites independently pass over a pole of the Earth.
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2. A satellite communications apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of terminals (G); a first satellite (S1) operating in a first low Earth orbit (OR1); said first satellite (S1) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); a second satellite (S2) operating in a second low Earth orbit (OR2); said second satellite (S2) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); said plurality of terminals (G) including a relay station; said relay station being located at a latitude on Earth which enables said relay station to communicate with said first and said second satellites (S1, S2) as said first and second satellites independently pass over a Pole of the Earth.
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3. A satellite communications system comprising:
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a plurality of satellites (S) operating in a plurality of low Earth orbits (OR); a plurality of relay stations (GB); a plurality of user terminals (G); said plurality of user terminals (G) being distributed, primarily in portions of the earth (E) which are inhabited; each of said plurality of satellites (S) operated for communicating with at least one of said plurality of relay stations (GB) and one of said user terminals (G); each one of said plurality of relay stations (GB) being located at a latitude on Earth (E) which enables each one of said relay stations (GB) to communicate with said plurality of satellites (S) as each one of said plurality of satellites (S) independently passes over a pole of the Earth (E); each one of said plurality of satellites (S) receiving and storing on board a message from one of said plurality of terminals (G); each one of said plurality of satellites (S) transmitting said stored message to one of said plurality of relay stations (GB) where it is stored; said relay station (GB) re-transmitting said stored message to another one of said satellites (S);
said satellite (S) forwarding said stored message to another one of said plurality of terminals (G); andat least one of said plurality of relay stations (GB) being operated for primary tracking, telemetry and control of said plurality of satellites (S), and for operating and controlling said plurality of satellites (S), said plurality of user terminals (G) and said plurality of relay stations (GB). - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of satellite communications comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of terminals (G) including a relay station (GB); operating a first satellite (S1) in a low Earth orbit (OR1); operating a second satellite (S2) in said low Earth orbit (OR1); locating said relay station (GB) at an Earth latitude which enables said relay station (GB) to communicate with said first and said second satellites (S1, S2) as said first and second satellites (S1, S2) independently pass over a pole of the Earth; communicating a message from at least one of said plurality of terminals (G) to said first satellite (S1); receiving and storing on board said first satellite (S1), said message from one of said plurality of terminals (G); transmitting said stored message from said first satellite (S1) to said relay station (GB) where it is stored; re-transmitting said stored message from said relay station (GB) to said second satellite (S2) for forwarding to one of said plurality of terminals (G); and communicating said message from said second satellite (S2) to at least one of said plurality of terminals (G).
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21. A method of satellite communications comprising the steps of:
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operating a plurality of satellites (S) in a plurality of low Earth orbits (OR);
providing a plurality of relay stations (GB);providing a plurality of user terminals (G) and distributing said user terminals (G) primarily in portions of the Earth (E) which are inhabited; locating each one of said plurality of relay stations (GB) at a latitude on Earth (E) to enable communicating between each one of said relay stations (GB) and each one of said plurality of satellites (S) as each one of said plurality of satellites (S) independently passes over a pole of the Earth (E); communicating between each one of said plurality of satellites (S) and at least one of said plurality of relay stations (GB); receiving and storing on board one of said plurality of satellites (S), a message from at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); transmitting said stored message from one of said plurality of satellites (S) to one of said plurality of relay stations (GB) where it is stored; re-transmitting said stored message from said relay station (GB) to a second one of said satellites (S2) for forwarding said stored message to a second one of said plurality of terminals (G); transmitting said message from said second satellite (S2) to a second one of said plurality of terminals (G); and tracking, telemetering, operating and controlling a system including said plurality of satellites (S);
said plurality of user terminals (G) and said plurality of relay stations (GB) with at least one of said plurality of relay stations (GB). - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A satellite communications apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of terminals (G); a first satellite (S1) operating in a low Earth orbit (OR1); said first satellite (S1) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); a second satellite (S2) operating in said low Earth orbit (OR1); said second satellite (S2) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); said plurality of terminals (G) including a relay station (GB); said relay station (GB) being located at an Earth latitude which enables said relay station to communicate with said first and said second satellites (S1 &
S2) as said first and second satellites independently pass over a pole of the Earth;said first satellite (S1) operated for receiving and storing on board, a message from one of said plurality of terminals (G); said first satellite (S1) operated for transmitting said stored message to said relay station (GB) where it is stored; said relay station (GB) operated for transmitting said stored message to said second satellite (S2), said second satellite (S2) forwarding said stored message to one of said plurality of terminals (G).
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32. A satellite communications apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of terminals (G); a first satellite (S1) operating in a first low Earth orbit (OR1); said first satellite (S1) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); a second satellite (S2) operating in a second low Earth orbit (OR2); said second satellite (S2) for communicating with at least one of said plurality of terminals (G); said plurality of terminals (G) including a relay station (GB); said relay station (GB) being located at an Earth latitude which enables said relay station to communicate with said first and said second satellites (S1 &
S2) as said first and second satellites independently pass over a pole of the Earth;said first satellite (S1) operated for receiving and storing on board a message from one of said plurality of terminals (G); said first satellite (S1) operated for transmitting said stored message to said relay station (GB) where it is stored; said relay station (GB) operated for transmitting said stored message to said second satellite (S2);
said second satellite (S2) forwarding said stored message to one of said plurality of terminals (G).
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Specification