Experimental smartphone ground station grid system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017310382-A1
Application number	US-201715493519-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 21, 2016
Publication date	Oct 26, 2017
Grant date	—

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 or even the globe 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 LEOSAT or even a cube-satellite.

First claim

1 . A terrestrially distributed digital network system for orchestrated and coordinated control of ground to satellite, satellite to ground, and ground to ground communications comprising:
(a) at least one Terrestrial Participant Devices (TPD), comprising:
i. a radio; and
ii. a ground station;
iii. wherein said TPD can be connected to the Internet;
iv. wherein said TPD is capable of performing wireless communications;
v. wherein said TPD is capable of performing wireless signal measurements; and
vi. wherein said TPD is capable of providing and storing its Global Positioning Coordinates.
(b) at least one Low Earth Orbiting Satellite (LEOSAT), comprising:
i. a satellite; and
ii. a radio antenna;
iii. wherein said LEOSAT is capable of computing;
iv. wherein said LEOSAT is capable of performing wireless communications; and
v. wherein said LEOSAT is capable of receiving, storing, and forwarding communications received from said TPDs.
(c) a Computational Cloud, comprising:
i. Module 1, comprising an Ephemeris Software Module; wherein Module 1 comprises a database of calculated and stored data regarding said LEOSAT's predicted orbital position with respect to time and geographic locations;
ii. Module 2, comprising a TPD Registry Module; wherein Module 2 serves as a TPD database containing the geographical coordinates stationary location of each TPD;
iii. Module 3, comprising a TPD Communications Profile Planning Software Module;
wherein Module 3 serves as the central coordination and communications module for the system;
wherein Module 3 issues TPD Issued Temporal Control, Communications, and Instrumentation Profile (ITCCIP) for each TPD on a time-slot-by-time-slot-basis;
wherein said ITCCIP is further comprised of Radio Communications Parameters (RCPs) and basic Instrumentation Parameters (IMPs);

iv. Module 4, comprising an Internet Communications Software Module; wherein Module 4 facilitates all Internet communication between said Module 3 and said TPD;
v. Module 5, comprising a Multi-Satellite Radio Path Predictor Module; wherein Module 5 stores and contains a three dimensional data representation of said LEOSAT's static radio antenna pattern;
wherein Module 5 is capable of predicting how said LEOSAT's three dimensional radio antenna pattern projection will impinge a selected geographical location and the time at which the impingement will be made;

vi. Module 6, comprising a Message/TPD Apportionment Module;
wherein Module 6 supports said Module 3 by allowing messages to be communicated to be fragmented and apportioned to the appropriate TPD;

vii. Module 7, comprising a Composite Pre-Tuned Instrument Module; and
wherein Module 7 provides IMP functionality with assistance from Modules 3 and 4; and

viii. Module 8, comprising a Mobile Control Module;
wherein Module 8 controls TPD mobility;

wherein at least one TPD is connected to the Computational Cloud via the Internet;
wherein said Module 1 provides its current and predicted LEOSAT location data to Module 3;
wherein said Module 2 provides registry data and TPD location data to Module 3;
wherein said Module 4 serves as the Internet interface function between Module 2 and said TPD having Internet connectivity with Module 4;
wherein said Module 5's Satellite Radio Pattern Spatial Temporal Predictions (SRPSTPs) are described to Module 3 for Module 3's coordination, via Module 4, with said TPD;
wherein said Module 3 utilizes the data provided by Modules 1, 5, and 2 to coordinate and orchestrate communications between the TPDs and LEOSAT.
(d) wherein the orchestration and coordination of communications between the TPD and LEOSAT is controlled by the Computational Cloud; (e) wherein the orchestration and coordination of communications between TPDs is controlled by the Computational Cloud; (f) wherein the TPD's radio is capable of being computationally commanded by the Computational Cloud for communications with the LEOSAT; and (g) wherein the Computational Cloud controls communications on a time-slot-by-time-slot basis to each said TPD for the duration of the LEOSAT's orbital pass.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the TPDs are geographically distributed on the Earth's surface and potentially clustered in geographical areas.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the TPDs may be stationary or portable satellite base stations, satellite ground stations, or personal ground stations.

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

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

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said LEOSAT's radio antenna pattern spatial-temporal alignment with said TPDs is predicted in advance by said Computational Cloud, wherein said Computational Cloud further comprises programming to perform said prediction.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the Computational Cloud is comprised of Internet-based computing facilities.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the Ephemeris Software Module is updated automatically from an automatic ground station locator source.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein Modules 6, 3, and 4 and the PTDs are functionally augmented to support Computationally Augmented Random Linear Network Coding.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the TPD further comprises a sensor.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the TPD further comprise functionality capable of implementing actuation commands.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the TPD further comprises a subcomponent that is capable of accepting and coordinating TPD Onboard Configurable Control Actuations.

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

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the Computational Cloud's functional modules are implemented through the mobile agents running on the multiple TPDs or LEOSATs, wherein the system functions without the use of Internet-based servers.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the LEOSAT further comprises software and hardware configurations allowing said LEOSAT to be under partial or full control of the system.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the LESOAT further comprises functionality to perform message fragmentation and apportionment, wherein said LEOSAT may originate and fragment or apportion said message and forward said message or fragments.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein when the system comprises multiple sets of TPDs or multiple LEOSATs, said system may split into two or more systems.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein Module 8 further comprises programming to effect mobility and motion control of the TPD or LEOSAT.

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

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the system is capable of detecting adverse conditions and pinpointing those conditions using the reinforced learning techniques.

21 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is supports experiments that adjust the LEOSAT altitude.

22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said TPD is capable of transmitting data to other TPDs in the syste

Assignees

• Univ Louisiana At Lafayette

Inventors

• Darby Iii Paul J

Classifications

• H04B7/18517 Primary

  Transmission equipment in earth stations · CPC title

• H04B7/18515

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

• H04W84/18

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• H04W24/08

  Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic · CPC title

• H04W16/22

  Traffic simulation tools or models · CPC title