U.S. patent application number 14/717260 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-12 for world-wide, wide-band, low-latency, mobile internet and system therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is William M. Johnson. Invention is credited to William M. Johnson.
Application Number | 20150326304 14/717260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48136066 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150326304 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson; William M. |
November 12, 2015 |
WORLD-WIDE, WIDE-BAND, LOW-LATENCY, MOBILE INTERNET AND SYSTEM
THEREFOR
Abstract
A communication system for providing world-wide, mobile Internet
communication to a plurality of users and a method therefore. The
system includes ground-based, multi-channel, radio frequency
transmitting and receiving broadcasting grids that are capable of
providing content to multiple users via cell towers and
low-altitude, optical transmitting and receiving satellites that
are in optical communication with the ground-based, multi-channel,
RF transmitting and receiving broadcasting grids. The method
includes transmitting optical and/or RF signals between at least
one of the ground-based, multi-channel, RF transmitting and
receiving broadcasting grids and at least one of the low-altitude,
optical transmitting and receiving satellites.
Inventors: |
Johnson; William M.;
(Sudbury, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Johnson; William M. |
Sudbury |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48136066 |
Appl. No.: |
14/717260 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13573794 |
Oct 3, 2012 |
9065564 |
|
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14717260 |
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61542466 |
Oct 3, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/18523 20130101;
H04B 7/195 20130101; H04B 10/118 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/195 20060101
H04B007/195; H04B 7/185 20060101 H04B007/185 |
Claims
1. A communication system for providing world-wide, mobile Internet
communication to a plurality of users, the system comprising: a
plurality of ground-based, multi-channel, radio frequency or
optical transmitting and receiving broadcasting grids that are in
communication with a multiplicity of mobile devices comprising
cellular phones, smart phones, personal computers, and laptop
computers of the plurality of users, that are capable of providing
multichannel radio frequency transmitting to the plurality of users
via at least one cell tower; and a plurality of low-altitude,
optical transmitting and receiving satellites that are in optical
communication with the plurality of ground-based, multi-channel,
radio frequency or optical transmitting and receiving broadcasting
grids, wherein said satellites are spinning stabilized.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent Ser. No.
13/573,794, filed on Oct. 3, 2012, which claims priority of
Provisional Application No. 61/542,466 filed Oct. 3, 2011.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (Not applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Internet communication via satellite is know using High
earth orbit geostationary satellites. These are expensive and very
power hungry systems, hard to place and stabilize in orbit and have
a wide channel dimension for the RF communication they use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A communication system for providing world-wide, mobile
Internet communication to a plurality of users and a method
therefore is disclosed. The system includes ground-based,
multi-channel, radio frequency (RF) transmitting and receiving
broadcasting grids that are capable of providing content to
multiple users via cell towers and low-altitude, optical
transmitting and receiving satellites that are in optical
communication at the teleport interface with the ground-based,
multi-channel, radio frequency (RF) transmitting and receiving
broadcasting grids. The method includes transmitting optical and/or
RF signals between at least one of the ground-based, multi-channel,
RF transmitting and receiving broadcasting grids and at least one
of the low-altitude, optical transmitting and receiving
satellites.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention is pointed out with particularity in the
appended claims. However, the advantages of the invention described
above, together with further advantages, may be better understood
by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily drawn
to scale, and like reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the different views.
[0006] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a wide-band, low-latency system
in accordance with the present invention; and
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates the benefits and advantages of the
present inventions LEO, low earth orbit, spinner satellite Internet
communication system against the conventional GEO, geostationary
earth orbit, RF based Internet communication systems.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A satellite and a satellite system for performing optical
transmitting and receiving communication functions are known to the
art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,739,003 to Johnson is
incorporated in its entirety herein. Furthermore, a method and
system for over-the-air broadcast of high-definition television
(HDTV) are also well-known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,576 to
Kuykendall is incorporated in its entirety herein.
[0009] Combining the teachings and capabilities of the Johnson and
Kuykendall patents produces a low-cost, low-latency, optical and/or
RF transmitting/receiving system having particular advantages over
the prior art.
[0010] In the present invention there is shown means for providing
world-wide, wide-bandwidth, low-latency mobile Internet connection
from USA to Europe via low-cost, low-altitude satellite. FIG. 1 is
an example thereof.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, an optical satellite system
transmitting and receiving system 10 and a ground-based RF
transmitting and receiving system 20 are shown. The optical
satellite system transmitting and receiving system 10 and the
ground-based RF transmitting and receiving system 20 are in optical
communication 16. As a result, up-links and down-links travel
through the atmosphere between the two systems 10 and 20.
Bore-sighting a relatively high-power laser at the ground-based RF
transmitting and receiving system 20 to a relatively low-power
laser at the optical satellite transmitting and receiving system 10
can mitigate deleterious atmospheric effects, e.g., absorption,
turbulence, blooming, and so forth.
[0012] The optical satellite system transmitting and receiving
system 10 includes a and is incorporated in a plurality of
low-cost, low-altitude, spin stabilized satellites 12 that can be
deployed to provide an intra-satellite link 14 and communication
linkage 16 to the users in the United States 11, to users in Europe
13, and so forth. Advantageously, the optical satellite system
transmitting and receiving system 10 can propagate optical signals
in a vacuum and with minimal atmospheric deterioration between
satellites 12. As a result, the satellites 12 can be used as
optical signal routers in an optical space Internet system.
Advantageously, optical satellites 12 can simultaneously rout
optical signals 14 to other satellites and/or optical signals 16 to
the ground-based RF transmitting and receiving system 20 without
reliance on telephone lines, coaxial cables, fiber-optical cables,
and the like. This allows communication over significant earth
distances. More advantageous, is that bad weather that might
otherwise cause problems with up-links and/or down-links can be
avoided by using communication links that are not affected by the
bad weather.
[0013] By deploying the satellites 12 in a low altitude orbit, a
low latency connection is possible. Low latency is advantageous
because, inter alia, "handshaking" and "page-sending" operations on
mobile devices 25 are quick and convenient.
[0014] The ground-based RF transmitting and receiving system 20
includes a plurality of broadcasting grids 22a, 22b that are in
communication with a multiplicity of mobile devices 25, e.g.,
cellular phones, smart phones, personal computers, laptop
computers, and the like, via dedicated cell towers 24 on the
earth's surface 31. Broadcasting between units 22a, 22b, 24 and 25
as shown is two way grids for the United States 22a and Europe 22b
are shown in FIG. 1 for illustrative purposes only. Any number of
broadcasting grids 22 in any number of global markets can be
serviced by the system. 22b shows an Upgraded Broadcasting grid of
N Multi-channel transmitter tower sites in Europe by example and
22a shows an Upgraded Broadcasting grid of 200 multi-channel
transmitter tower sites in the USA.
[0015] As described in Kuykendall, the broadcasting grids 22a, 22b
of the ground-based RF transmitting and receiving system 20 include
a number, e.g., 200, of multi-channel transmitters that can operate
on a broad-band to provide, for example, home HDTV service, mobile
cell TV service, and so forth on a one way basis. Communication to
the mobile devices 25 via cell towers 24 is well-known to the art.
The broadcasting grids 22a, 22b may include fiber-optic links that
are adapted to inter-connect RF transmitters and RF cell towers 24,
especially in urban areas. In more rural areas, RF links are used
in lieu of fiber-optic links.
[0016] The interface between the optical, space-based portion 10
and the RF, ground-based portion 20 of the system occurs at a
teleport relay hub. The teleport relay hub includes an optical
transmitter/receiver for transmitting and receiving optical signals
with the space-based portion 10 and a conversion device for
converting a received optical signal to an RF signal and/or for
converting a received RF signal to an optical signal.
[0017] Proliferated constellations of low-altitude, low-cost, low
latency optical satellites are shown in units 12 in FIG. 1
providing Internet connection between Europe and the USA.
[0018] FIG. 1 as thus described provides an Optical Satellite
System Transmitting/Receiving to 200 Ground-based Optical
Transmitter/Receiving sites CO-located with 200 Multi-channel
Transmitter Sites that can provide home TV service and mobile cell
TV user service. The indicated cell phone tower network near each
of the 200 tower sites is already in place. This basic concept can
be upgraded to a high bandwidth internet system (shown by the
double-headed arrows) that enable smart phones, laptops, etc to
handshake and transmit/receive wide bandwidth data with a
low-latency, lower cost, connection capability. (the optical
satellite link system is preferred to an optional RF satellite link
system at a higher altitude with less carrier bandwidth and more
latency).
"The world-wide, wide-bandwidth, internet Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
system described in provides the shortest possible latency between
any two world-wide points via free space laser optical links to a
local ground segment (RF or fiber-optic). The shortest latency
provides the best internet user experience in terms of burst data
error correction and other internet handshaking protocols."
[0019] The spinning satellite space-segment communication system
described above is further provided with, in the constellation of
small, low-earth-orbit (LEO), spin-stabilized satellites 12, the
means that provide for inertial spin stabilization, attitude
determination, magnetic-loop control using techniques as are known
in the art. On the same basis the system further includes means for
providing satellite guidance, navigation and control in earth
coordinates, with counter-rotating, inertial-stabilized
pointing/tracking, bore-sighted downlinks/uplinks, and compensation
for atmospheric turbulence effects. The system as noted provides
very low latency, wide optical bandwidths along with optical
routing around satellite constellations and optical atmospheric
turbulence compensation as is know in the art.
The LEO free space optical system thus described has an optimal
internet capability.
[0020] In this respect, FIG. 2 illustrates the benefits and
advantages of the present inventions LEO, low earth orbit, spinner
satellite Internet communication system against the
conventional
[0021] GEO, geostationary earth orbit, RF based satellite Internet
communication system. The Satellite(s) 40 of the GEO approach
satellite 40 must be a 3-axis stabilized HEO, high earth orbit,
satellite at an altitude in the area of 22,300 miles to provide a
stationary synced orbit. The large 3-axis stabilized GEO satellite
is more difficult to point/track and has a large footprint with
less laser power density and a large uplink/downlink latency. (240
ms). Optical (P/T)atmos. turbulence .sup.-40 hz) (25 ms). The small
spin-stabilized LEO satellite is much easier to point/track and has
a small footprint with more laser power density and a small
uplink/downlink latency. (6.5 ms)
[0022] For the LEO satellite a Laser, .lamda.-1.5 .mu. and aperture
diameter, D,=5 cm (2 inches)is possible with
2.crclbar.=.lamda.=1.5.times.10.sup.-6 meter=3.times.10.sup.-5=30
.mu.0 radian=6 arc-seconds providing a small, interference
avoiding, channel size. In the environment of FIG. 2,
[0023] 2.crclbar.=.lamda./D, diameter.
[0024] For the GEO, high earth orbit satellites (HEO) 40 the
following apply:
[0025] 3-axis stabilized HEO satellite is used.
[0026] Laser, .lamda.-1.5 .mu. and aperture diameter, D-5 cm (2
inches)
[0027] 2.crclbar.=.lamda.1.5.times.10.sup.-6
meter=3.times.10.sup.-5=30 .mu.radian=6 arc-seconds [0028] D=5 cm
.lamda.=wavelength D=diameter
[0029] 2.crclbar.=the double angle describing the diameter of the
circular spot
[0030] Moreover, it is difficult to point and/or track a large,
flexible, GEO, 3-axis stabilized satellite with many large moving
parts (solar panels, RF antenna, reaction wheels, gas thrusters.
Momentum wheels, control moment gyros, etc.). Also high latency
prevents turbulence compensation.
[0031] Table I presents a summary of the benefits to LEO
spinners.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Order of Magnitude (OOM) HEO RF vs. LEO
Optical Advantages OOM Weight 2.0 Bandwidth 2 0 Point/track
accuracy 1.0 Power density (gnd) 3.0 Latency 1.5 Atmos. correction
1.0 Test & Operations 2.0 Avoid FCC licensing 1.0 32 .times.
10.sup.12 = 13.5 Large # yields lower cost likely
[0032] Proliferated small satellites are needed to provide
continuous coverage of ground stations on earth as the satellites
pass the earth positions. Area 30 in FIG. 2 illustrates a coverage
pattern representing an 8 minute teleport contact time during a
satellite overpass at 600 miles. Coverage calculated as 1200
sqrt(3) miles.times.90_minutes coverage per satellite means over
24,000 miles an 8 minute station pass. For a 90 minute orbit, 90
min/8 min implies 12 or more proliferated satellites in an
equatorial orbit would provide continuous contact to a ground=based
teleport near equator. It is much easier to point/track a small,
rigid, LEO, spinning satellite with no large moving parts. And
small latency enables turbulence compensation. Details in the art
are in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,571,076, 7,739,003, 8,185,262, incorporated
herein by reference
[0033] Although the invention is described through the
above-described exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to, and
variations of, the illustrated embodiments may be made without
departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
Accordingly, the invention should not be viewed as limited, except
by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
* * * * *