Satellite communication for the Internet of Things

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10833756-B2
Application number	US-201816027448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2018
Priority date	Dec 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

In one embodiment, the techniques herein provide a fully automated satellite-based backhaul system. In particular, a system in accordance with the techniques herein may utilize a satellite communication terminal to allow an Internet of Things (IoT) device (or any device) to be deployed in any location which has a line of sight towards a communication satellite. Specifically, the placement, orientation, and/or communication characteristics of the IoT device and/or satellite communication terminal (or antenna) may be manipulated (e.g., manual adjustment based on calculated directions and/or completely autonomously) to ensure avoidance of interference in any other wireless communication network.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
determining, by a device, a location of an antenna which has a line of sight towards an intended satellite receiver;
determining, by the device, based on the location, an orientation of the antenna in which the antenna is pointed in a direction within a range of directions, wherein the orientation ensures, when the antenna is used for transmissions at the location, adequate received signal strength at the intended satellite receiver and prevention of any interference by the transmissions with one or more unintended receivers, the one or more unintended receivers comprising an incumbent point-to-point receiver (PtPR);
orienting the antenna in the determined orientation;
confirming, by the device and prior to a transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, that the antenna is placed at the location and is configured in the determined orientation; and
permitting, by the device and only in response to the confirming, the transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, wherein the transmission does not interfere with the one or more unintended receivers.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein determining the location and orientation comprise selecting a non-interfering location and orientation in advance of placement of the antenna, the method further comprising:
generating instructions for placing the antenna in the determined location and at the determined orientation.

3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein determining the location occurs after placement of the antenna.

4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the antenna is aimed independently of a particular device associated with the antenna.

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the antenna is aimed by manipulation of a particular device associated with the antenna.

6. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling an aim of the antenna via one or more motorized mechanisms.

7. The method as in claim 6 , wherein controlling the aim is autonomous.

8. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling an aim of the antenna via a phased array.

9. The method as in claim 1 , wherein an aim of the antenna is aligned manually.

10. The method as in claim 9 , further comprising:
controlling a user interface to indicate the direction the antenna must be aimed, the user interface selected from a group consisting of: a speaker to audibly indicate the direction the antenna must be aimed; a visual guide to indicate the direction the antenna must be aimed; a series of lights to indicate the direction the antenna must be aimed; and a graphical user interface (GUI) illustrating the direction the antenna must be aimed.

11. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing the transmission unless the antenna is within a safe shaking angle of a required pointing angle to the intended satellite receiver.

12. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the transmission is in accordance with one or more policies selected from a group consisting of: periodically; in response to one or more triggers; in response to a local communication link being down; and in response to reaching a non-interfering location.

13. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:
confirming, for each new transmission, that the current location, orientation, and parameters of the transmission would not cause interference with any incumbent system.

14. The method as in claim 1 , wherein transmission occurs after initial confirmation of the location and orientation without confirming that each new transmission would not interfere, wherein interference is detrimental but not destructive or prohibited.

15. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the antenna is associated with an Internet of Things (IoT) device selected from a group consisting of: an agriculture device; a plant hydration monitor; a ground moisture sensor; a leaf hydration sensor; an autonomous watering valve; a pathogen detector; a pest detector; an insect identifier; an insect counter; a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; an oceanic sensor; a wave height sensor; a fluid current sensor; an air quality sensor; a wind speed sensor; a wind direction sensor; and an object detection sensor.

16. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the antenna is associated with a particular device selected from a group consisting of: a remote application device; a device requiring redundant communication; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); a drone; an autonomous vehicle; and an emergency device.

17. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the device is locally associated with the antenna.

18. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the device is remote from the antenna, and wherein the antenna is locally associated to a particular device.

19. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a computer to execute a process comprising:
determining a location of an antenna which has a line of sight towards an intended satellite receiver;
determining, based on the location, an orientation of the antenna in which the antenna is pointed in a direction within a range of directions, wherein the orientation ensures, when the antenna is used for transmissions at the location, adequate received signal strength at the intended satellite receiver and prevention of any interference by the transmissions with one or more unintended receivers, the one or more unintended receivers comprising an incumbent point-to-point receiver (PtPR);
orienting the antenna in the determined orientation;
confirming, prior to a transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, that the antenna is placed at the location and is configured in the determined orientation; and
permitting, and only in response to the confirming, the transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, wherein the transmission does not interfere with the one or more unintended receivers.

20. The computer-readable medium as in claim 19 , wherein determining the location and orientation comprise selecting a non-interfering location and orientation in advance of placement of the antenna, the process further comprising:
generating instructions for placing the antenna in the determined location and at the determined orientation.

21. The computer-readable medium as in claim 19 , wherein determining the location occurs after placement of the antenna.

22. An apparatus, comprising:
a processor configured to execute one or more process; and
a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:
determine a location of an antenna which has a line of sight towards an intended satellite receiver;
determine, based on the location, an orientation of the antenna in which the antenna is pointed in a direction within a range of directions, wherein the orientation ensures, when the antenna is used for transmissions at the location, adequate received signal strength at the intended satellite receiver and prevention of any interference by the transmissions with one or more unintended receivers, the one or more unintended receivers comprising an incumbent point-to-point receiver (PtPR);
orient the antenna in the determined orientation;
confirm, prior to a transmission from the antenna to the intended satellite receiver, that the antenna is placed at the location and is configured in the determined orientation; and
permit, only in response to the confirming, the transmission from th

Assignees

• Higher Ground Llc

Inventors

• Reis Robert S
• Russell Mark Evan
• Shaffer Shmuel

Classifications

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title

• H04B7/18513 Primary

  Transmission in a satellite or space-based system · CPC title

• H01Q3/02

  using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole · CPC title

• H01Q3/30

  varying the {relative} phase {between the radiating elements of an array (H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence)} · CPC title