IP Library Granted Patent US 10,277,309
Granted Patent B2
US 10,277,309 · App. 14/945,836 · Granted Apr 30, 2019

Predicting radio frequency interference events

Inventors: Laurren Kanner (Mountain View, CA); Craig RayDean Scheffler (Lafayette, CO)
Assignee: Planet Labs, Inc.
H04B7/18513
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,277,309
App. No.
14/945,836
Granted
Apr 30, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for determining a communication schedule for a satellite system are provided. For instance, orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems can be obtained. Frequency data frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data can also be obtained. One or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system can then be determined based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data. One or more downlink periods during which data is transmitted by the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted by the first satellite can then be scheduled based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

Claims (34)

1. A computer-implemented method of determining a communication schedule for a satellite system, the method comprising:

obtaining, by one or more computing devices, orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems;

obtaining, by the one or more computing devices, frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data, wherein the one or more expected radio frequency interference events are based at least in part on a position of one or more of the second satellite systems relative to the first satellite, and wherein determining the one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining at least one expected radio frequency interference event when the first satellite system and at least one of the second satellite systems are located at an angle relative to a ground communication station that is greater than a threshold elevation angle, wherein the threshold elevation angle is relative to the ground communication station; and

scheduling, by the one or more computing devices, one or more transmission periods during which data is transmitted to or from the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted to or from the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more relevant satellite systems based at least in part on the frequency data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more relevant satellite systems are satellite systems that transmit data within a threshold frequency range of the first satellite system.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising determining, by the one or more computing devices, an orbital trajectory for the first satellite system and the one or more relevant satellite systems based at least in part on the orbital data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the one or more computing devices, an orbital trajectory for the first satellite system and the one or more second satellite systems based at least in part on the orbital data.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, a threshold angle associated with the position of the first satellite to the at least one second satellite relative to the ground communication station.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, the threshold elevation angle relative to the ground communication station.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein determining, by the one or more computing devices, one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, a radio frequency interference event when the first satellite system and at least one of the second satellite systems the threshold angle associated with the position of the first satellite to the at least one second satellite relative to the ground communication station.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold angle associated with the position of the first satellite to the at least one second satellite relative to the ground communication station is determined based at least in part on a radiation pattern of an antenna configured to communicate with the first satellite system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold angle associated with the position of the first satellite to the at least one second satellite relative to the ground communication station is determined based at least in part on a transmission power of an antenna configured to communicate with the first satellite system.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein scheduling, by the one or more computing devices, one or more transmission periods during which data is transmitted to or from the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted to or from the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events comprises updating a scheduling system associated with the first satellite system.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more silent periods correspond to the determined one or more radio frequency interference events.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the one or more silent periods interrupts an otherwise continuous transmission period.

14. A computing system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems;

obtaining frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data;

determining one or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data, wherein the one or more expected radio frequency interference events are based at least in part on a position of one or more second satellite systems relative to the first satellite, and wherein determining the one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining at least one expected radio frequency interference event when the first satellite system and at least one of the second satellite systems are located at an angle relative to a ground communication station that is greater than a threshold elevation angle, wherein the threshold elevation angle is relative to the ground communication station; and

scheduling one or more downlink periods during which data is transmitted by the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted by the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

15. The computing system of claim 14 , the operations further comprising determining one or more relevant satellite systems based at least in part on the frequency data.

16. The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more relevant satellite systems comprise one or more second satellite systems that transmit data within a threshold frequency range of the first satellite system.

17. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein determining one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining, by the one or more computing devices, a radio frequency interference event when the first satellite system and at least one of the second satellite systems are separated by an angle less than a threshold angle relative to an antenna configured to communicate with the first satellite system or the at least one of the second satellite systems.

18. One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining orbital data indicative of one or more orbital elements of a first satellite system and one or more second satellite systems;

obtaining frequency data indicative of one or more frequencies at which the one or more second satellite systems transmit data;

determining one or more expected radio frequency interference events associated with the first satellite system based at least in part on the orbital data and the frequency data, wherein the one or more expected radio frequency interference events are based at least in part on a position of one or more second satellite systems relative to the first satellite, and wherein determining the one or more expected radio frequency interference events further comprises determining at least one expected radio frequency interference event when the first satellite system and at least one of the second satellite systems are located at an angle relative to a ground communication station that is greater than a threshold elevation angle, wherein the threshold elevation angle is relative to the ground communication station; and

scheduling one or more downlink periods during which data is transmitted by the first satellite and one or more silent periods during which data is not transmitted by the first satellite based at least in part on the expected radio frequency interference events.

19. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 18 , wherein the one or more silent periods correspond to a period of time associated with the determined one or more radio frequency interference events.

20. The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the one or more silent periods interrupts an otherwise continuous downlink period.

Assignments (8)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 5, 2022
From: PLANET LABS INC.; PLANET LABS PBC
To: PLANET LABS PBC
Reel/Frame 059857/0587 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2021
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: PLANET LABS INC.; TERRA BELLA TECHNOLOGIES INC.; PL FOREIGN HOLDCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 058359/0501 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 21, 2019
From: PLANET LABS INC.; PL INTERMEDIATE TB, INC.; PLANET LABS TB, INC.; TERRA BELLA TECHNOLOGIES INC.; PLANET LABS LLC; PL FOREIGN HOLDCO, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 049558/0515 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2017
From: PLANET LABS TB, INC.
To: PLANET LABS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044260/0159 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT SERIAL NO. 15/061,851 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 043277 FRAME: 0669. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 18, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: PLANET LABS TB, INC.
Reel/Frame 043661/0060 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 043277 FRAME: 0669. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Aug 17, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: PLANET LABS TB, INC.
Reel/Frame 043409/0837 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2017
From: GOOGLE INC.
To: PLANT LABS TB, INC.
Reel/Frame 043277/0669 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2015
From: KANNER, LAURREN; SCHEFFLER, CRAIG RAYDEAN
To: GOOGLE INC.
Reel/Frame 037088/0433 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170146664A1 · May 25, 2017
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