Higherground, Inc.

Darren Robert Reis

Shmuel Shaffer

Robert S Reis

David Alexander Reuss

James M Behmke

According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques are provided for concealed spread symbol communication. In particular, a system in accordance with the techniques herein relates to concealing communication (a reduced risk of being detected), particularly messages over satellites communication channels. The techniques herein provide additional message concealment by using a randomly variable sequence of spreading chips. The techniques also ensure that the randomized chip sequences used by the user equipment and by the ground station are synchronized.

Concealed spread symbol communication

According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques for satellite relaying for geolocation and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denial are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving, at a processing device from a communication satellite along a communication path, a message initiated by a transmitting device and indicating a transmission time, the communication path having a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite; determining a reception time upon receiving the message, (the processing device and the transmitting device have synchronized clocks); determining a time difference between the transmission time and the reception time; calculating a distance between the communication satellite and the target device based on a portion of the determined time difference associated with only traversal of a portion of the communication path between the communication satellite and the target device; and performing action(s) based on the distance.

Satellite relaying for geolocation and mitigation of GNSS denial

Satellite relaying for geolocation and mitigation of GNSS denial are provided, where a method comprises: receiving, by a processing device from a communication satellite along a communication path, a message initiated at a transmission time by a transmitting device, the communication path having a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite; determining, by the device, a reception time upon receiving the message; determining, by the device, a time of travel of the message associated with only traversal of a portion of the communication that is path between the communication satellite and the target device based on a difference between the transmission time and the reception time; calculating, by the device, a distance between the communication satellite and the target device based on the time of travel; and performing, by the device, one or more actions based on the distance between the communication satellite and the target device.

Satellite echoing for geolocation and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denial are provided herein, where an example method comprises: transmitting, by a processing device, an echo message along a communication path having a communication satellite and a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite; receiving, by the processing device, a return of the echo message from the communication satellite over the communication path; determining, by the processing device, a time of travel of the echo message associated with only a single traversal of a portion of the communication path that is between the communication satellite and the target device; calculating, by the processing device, a distance between the communication satellite and the target device based on the time of travel; and performing, by the processing device, one or more actions based on the distance between the communication satellite and the target device.

Satellite echoing for geolocation and mitigation of GNSS denial

According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques for multi-system-based detection and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: obtaining a first location of an object from a primary location determination hardware system; obtaining a second location of the object from a secondary location determination hardware system; determining a distance difference between the first location and the second location; determining whether the distance difference between the first location and the second location is acceptable based on a threshold distance; and initiating one or more mitigation actions in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being unacceptable.

Multi-system-based detection and mitigation of GNSS spoofing

Satellite echoing for geolocation and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denial are provided herein, where an example method comprises: transmitting an initiated message to a communication satellite along a communication path that has a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite; receiving a returned message from the communication satellite over the communication path in response to the initiated message; determining a local time difference between the transmission time and the reception time; calculating a distance between the communication satellite and the target device, the distance calculated based on a portion of the determined time difference associated with only a single traversal of a portion of the communication path that is between the communication satellite and the target device; and performing one or more actions based on the distance between the communication satellite and the target device.

According to one or more embodiments herein, interferometry-based satellite location accuracy is provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: determining, generally at a substantially given time, a reference satellite having a known accurate location within angular proximity of a communication satellite having a known general location; determining an accurate angular position of the communication satellite with relation to the reference satellite from the perspective of at least one ground station antenna of a known accurate location; determining an additional location reference measurement of the communication satellite; determining an accurate location of the communication satellite at the substantially given time based at least in part on the accurate angular position of the communication satellite with relation to the reference satellite from the perspective of the at least one ground station antenna and the additional location reference measurement of the communication satellite; and utilizing the accurate location of the communication satellite.

Interferometry-based satellite location accuracy

In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a signal from a remote antenna at first and second antennas, the first and second antenna being collocated and offset from one another by a fixed predetermined angle such that a center of a high gain region of a main lobe of the first antenna is substantially aligned with a low gain region of a main lobe of the second antenna; determining a set of characteristics of the signal based on the signal being received at the first antenna; decoding a first data set based on the signal being received at the first antenna and a second data set based on the signal being received at the second antenna, both using the set of signal characteristics; and determining a currently aimed direction of the first antenna with relation to the remote antenna based on the difference between the first and second data sets.

Precision aiming of an antenna based on a radio source

According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques are provided for accurately determining a round trip time (RTT) to a satellite. In particular, a method according to one embodiment herein may comprise: receiving, at a device, a reference signal with a stable phase; measuring, by the device, a phase delta over time between the reference signal and an internal signal of an internal oscillator of the device; transmitting, by the device at a transmission time, a ranging signal toward a particular satellite; receiving, by the device at a reception time, a return of the ranging signal from the particular satellite; and determining, by the device, a round trip time (RTT) of the ranging signal that accounts for a phase drift of the internal oscillator between the transmission time and the reception time according to the measured phase delta over time.

Accurately determining a round trip time to a satellite

The present disclosure relates generally to satellite communication systems, and, more particularly, to trilateration-based satellite location accuracy for improved satellite-based geolocation are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: determining, by a processing device, a location of each of a plurality of reference antennas with known locations; obtaining a plurality of distances between a communication satellite and the plurality of reference antennas, each distance of the plurality of distances corresponding to a respective reference antenna of the plurality of reference antennas, at least one distance of the plurality of distances based on an echo message communicated between a particular reference antenna of the plurality of reference antennas and the communication satellite; determining an accurate location of the communication satellite based on trilateration of the plurality of distances from the known locations of the plurality of reference antennas; and utilizing the accurate location of the communication satellite.

Trilateration-based satellite location accuracy for improved satellite-based geolocation

Fifty seven percent of the world's population, some 4.2 billion people, reside in places without internet access. Consequently, these areas also have no or limited infrastructure to deploy Internet of Things (IoT) devices/sensors. Numerous companies are racing to fill this communication gap and provide internet not only to those without internet but to also improve and provide additional options to those with internet access. One exemplary aspect is capable of providing a technically unique lower-cost solution for internet connectivity, and in particular for applications requiring real-time and/or near-real-time connectivity.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Darren Robert Reis