The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 27, 1996
Brian R Williams, Orange, CA (US);
Peter H Cress, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A multiple altitude satellite relay system is disclosed in which Medium Earth Orbit satellites are continuously linked with at least one geosynchronous satellite to provide uninterrupted relaying of messages and data. The Medium Earth Orbit satellites are synchronized with the geosynchronous satellites to produce continuous links. A parameter to achieve the synchronization involves the positions of the Medium Earth Orbit satellite relays relative to the positions of the geosynchronous satellite relays. Another parameter to achieve synchronization involves the ratio between the orbital periods of the geosynchronous satellite relays relative to the orbital periods of the Medium Earth Orbit satellite relays. These parameters may be further adjusted to provide continuous links above the horizon of the earth. An additional satellite relay system is disclosed in which the high-orbit satellite need not be in geosynchronous orbit and in which a high-orbit satellite communicates over a continuous unbroken link with a low-orbit satellite. A further satellite relay system is disclosed in which more than two satellites are arranged at discrete orbit altitudes, again providing a continuous, unbroken daisy-chain link between satellites.