Hubble Network Inc.

Ben Juda Wild

Louis LeRoi LeGrand, Iii

Louis Legrand

In one example method, a signal transmitted from an endpoint device is received at a first satellite and at one or more second satellites. The first satellite determines a first estimated position of the endpoint, an estimated position of the first satellite, and estimated frequencies and phases of one or more symbols transmitted in the signal. The first satellite then transmits this information to the one or more second satellites. The one or more second satellites use the information received from the first satellite to determine one or more estimated time differences of arrival between the signal arriving at the first satellite and the signal arriving at the one or more second satellites. The one or more second satellites then determine a second estimated position of the endpoint using the one or more estimated time differences of arrival.

Location determination using angle-of-arrival and time-of-flight

Techniques for leveraging information from a first satellite network to improve communications with a second satellite network are described. According to some embodiments, an endpoint device in an LPWAN communicates with satellites in a GNSS as well as with satellites in another satellite network (e.g., an LPWAN satellite network). By communicating with the GNSS satellites, the endpoint device is able to determine one or more locations in the sky overhead that provide favorable (e.g., unobstructed) communication paths between the endpoint device and satellites in those locations. Then, using ephemeris data for both satellite constellations, the endpoint device determines a time when one or more satellites of the LPWAN satellite network will be in (or near to) one or more of those same locations. At the determined time, the endpoint device transmits data to be received by the one or more satellites of the LPWAN satellite network.

Communication with multiple satellite networks

Techniques for differentiating orthogonally modulated symbols from different transmitters using one or more antenna arrays are described. According to some techniques, symbols received at one or more antenna arrays are grouped together by matching respective sets of receive beams for each symbol. In this manner, symbols received from a first transmitter at a first location can be differentiated from symbols received from a second transmitter at a second location, and both sets of symbols can be successfully decoded. When the symbols are received using frequency hopping, the receive beams for each symbol can be sorted according to path length, which improves performance, and also enables precise location of the transmitter(s).

Differentiating orthogonally modulated signals received from multiple transmitters at one or more antenna arrays

Wireless communication method and apparatus to enable communications between a plurality of endpoints and a satellite or terrestrial gateway integrated with a plurality of oblong shaped antenna arrays. The wireless communication method leverages data symbols that are orthogonally modulated. The method permits the use of a plurality of compact oblong shaped antenna arrays to increase network capacity and reduce endpoint power consumption.

Multi spoke beamforming for low power wide area satellite and terrestrial networks

Techniques for determining the position of an endpoint when a signal from the endpoint is received by multiple receive beams are described. According to some embodiments, the ratios of receive beam amplitudes for symbols received from the endpoint are compared to an ideal ratio that assumes no interference. Since the ideal ratio is indexed to the endpoint's position, the position of the endpoint can be estimated by comparing the calculated ratios to the ideal ratio. Endpoint position accuracy is further improved in some embodiments by using multiple spatially separated antenna arrays that jointly beamform. Embodiments described herein advantageously provide as good as, or better than, GPS-level accuracy without requiring an impractically large number of antennas.

Antenna arrays for position determination

Techniques for determining the position of a transmitter using two or more antenna arrays are described. According to some techniques, first and second antenna arrays create respective sets of receive beams, and at least some of the receive beams of each array detect symbols of a preamble symbol sequence. The respective sets of receive beams that detected the symbols are sorted by path length, and a shortest path length from the transmitter to the respective arrays is determined. An intersection point of the shortest paths is used to determine the position of the transmitter.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Ben Juda Wild