Experimental smartphone ground station grid system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11005561-B2
Application number	US-202016840954-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2020
Priority date	Apr 21, 2016
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

This system and method provides for a plurality of satellite ground stations, distributed across some geographic region, and for these regions in turn to be scalable to cover large regions, including across the Earth or in orbit with planets or other celestial bodies using a combination of low-orbit satellites, terrestrial participant devices, and cloud-based communications. The invention in its simplest form is intended to solve the short temporal window problem inherent to the scenario where a single base or ground station is trying to track and communicate with a low-end OSAT or even a cube-satellite.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A network system for control of satellite communications comprising:
(a) at least one Participant Devices (PD);
(b) at least one Orbiting Satellite (OSAT); and
(c) a Computational Cloud;
wherein communications between the PD and OSAT is controlled by the Computational Cloud;
wherein communications between PDs is controlled by the Computational Cloud; and
wherein the Computational Cloud controls communications on a time-slot-by-time-slot basis.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one PD comprises:
(a) a radio; and
(b) a ground station.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one OSAT comprises:
(a) a satellite; and
(b) a radio antenna.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the OSAT may be equipped with stabilization, attitude control, radio parameters, or other satellite parameters under direct control of the distributed digital network system.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising programming providing temporal-spatial coordination and control of PDs.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one OSAT comprises:
(a) a satellite; and
(b) a radio antenna;
wherein said OSAT is capable of computing, performing wireless communications, and receiving, storing, and forwarding communications received from said PDs; and
wherein said OSAT's radio antenna pattern spatial-temporal alignment with said PDs is predicted by the Computational Cloud.

7. A Computational Cloud system for control and coordination of communication by Orbiting Satellites (OSAT) and Participant Devices (PD) comprising:
(a) a Module 1, comprising an Ephemeris Software Module;
(b) a Module 2, comprising a PD Registry Module;
(c) a Module 3, comprising a PD Communications Profile Planning Software Module;
(d) a Module 4, comprising an Internet Communications Software Module;
(e) a Module 5, comprising a Multi-Satellite Radio Path Predictor Module;
(f) a Module 6, comprising a Message/PD Apportionment Module;
(g) a Module 7, comprising a Composite Pre-Tuned Instrument Module; and
(h) a Module 8, comprising a Mobile Control Module.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the Computational Cloud further comprises a database of each of at least one OSAT's predicted orbital position.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the Computational Cloud issues a PD Issued Temporal Control, Communications and Instrumentation Profile (ITCCIP) for each at least one PD;
wherein said ITCCIP is further comprised of Radio Communications Parameters (RCPs) and basic Instrumentation Parameters (IMPs).

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein at least one PD is connected to the Computational Cloud;
wherein Module 1 provides its current and predicted OSAT location data to Module 3;
wherein Module 2 provides registry data and PD location data to Module 3;
wherein Module 4 serves as an interface function between Module 2 and said PD having connectivity with Module 4;
wherein Module 5's Satellite Radio Pattern Spatial Temporal Predictions (SRPSTPs) are described to Module 3 for Module 3's coordination with said PD; and
wherein Module 3 utilizes the data provided by Modules 1, 5, and 2 to coordinate communications between the PDs and OSAT.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PD is capable of implementing actuation commands.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the PD further comprises functional augmentation to support the automatic formation of ad hoc mobile wireless computational grids.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the Computational Cloud further comprises programming to effect mobility and motion control of the PD or OSAT.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system provides support for reinforced learning and storage of knowledge gained through said reinforced learning.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is capable of detecting adverse conditions.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one PDs is capable of transmitting data to other PDs in the system.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
multiple PDs can form PD clusters;
multiple OSATs can form OSAT clusters;
a combination of PDs and OSATs can form combination clusters; and
said combination clusters comprise the functionality to perform the functions of the Computational Cloud.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is optimized to operate outside of the Earth's atmosphere.

19. A method for improving communication between at least one Participant Device (PD) and at least one additional Participant Device (APD) comprising:
(a) placing at least one PD in or near the APD's orbital projection; wherein said PD comprises a radio and a ground station; wherein the radio communicates with the APD; and wherein said APD comprises a transceiver and a radio antenna;
(b) providing a Computational Cloud that is connected to at least one PD comprising:
i) a Module 1, comprising an Ephemeris Software Module and a database comprising the at least one APD's predicted orbital position;
ii) a Module 2, comprising a PD Registry Module;
iii) a Module 3, comprising a PD Communications Profile Planning Software Module; wherein Module 3 is capable of issuing PD Issued Temporal Control, Communications, and Instrumentation Profile (ITCCIP) for each PD; wherein said ITCCIP is further comprised of Radio Communications Parameters (RCPs) and basic Instrumentation Parameters (IMPs);
iv) a Module 4, comprising a Communications Software Module;
v) a Module 5, comprising a Multi-Satellite Radio Path Predictor Module; wherein Module 5 stores and contains a representation of said at least one APD's static radio antenna pattern; wherein Module 5 is capable of predicting how said at least one APD's antenna pattern projection will impinge a selected location and the time of the impingement;
vi) a Module 6, comprising a Message/PD Apportionment Module; wherein Module 6 allows messages to be communicated to be fragmented and apportioned;
vii) a Module 7, comprising a Composite Pre-Tuned Instrument Module, and wherein Modules 3, 4, and 7 provide IMP functionality;
viii) a Module 8, comprising a Mobile Control Module; wherein at least one PD is connected to the Computational Cloud; wherein said Module 1 provides its current and predicted at least one APD location data to Module 3; wherein said Module 2 provides data to Module 3; and wherein said Module 4 interfaces between Module 2 and said PD with Module 4;

(c) Module 3 functionally divides the at least one APD's orbital pass over an area containing PDs into time-slots, and communicates an ITCCIP for each PD on a time-slot-by-time-slot basis;
(d) Module 3 coordinates with Module 5 to send measurement data to Module 5, request that Module 5 perform predictive analysis, and receive Module 5's Satellite Radio Pattern Spatial-Temporal Predictions (SRPSTPs);
(e) Module 3 determines the appropriate RCPs and IMPs and their applicable time slots;
(f) the PDs perform the actions dictated by the RCPs and IMPs on a time-slot-by-time-slot basis;
(g) Module 4 confirms that Module 3's transmission and receipt of ITCCIP and communication messages are routed to and from the correct PD;
(h) the PD is configured by time slot, in accordance with Module 3's assigned IMPs, to report its time-stamped actual measurements of received measurements as the PD's radio receives communications from said OSAT or from other PDs;
(i) the PD sends its actual measurement data to Module 4; and
(j) Module 4 forwards the actual measurement data and measurement conditions to Module 5.

Assignees

• Univ Louisiana At Lafayette

Inventors

• Darby Iii Paul J

Classifications

• H04B7/18517 Primary

  Transmission equipment in earth stations · CPC title

• H04W84/06

  Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) · CPC title

• H04B7/18515 Primary

  Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays · CPC title

• H04B7/195

  Non-synchronous stations · CPC title

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title