Experimental smartphone ground station grid system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9991949-B2
Application number	US-201715493519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

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

The invention claimed is:

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) 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 (3);

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

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

• H04W24/08

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

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title