IP Library Granted Patent US 11,483,061
Granted Patent B2
US 11,483,061 · App. 17/110,127 · Granted Oct 25, 2022

Aggregated space system network

Inventors: James Pham (San Jose, CA); Sherrie Schmit (Sunnyvale, CA); William Gray (Santa Clara, CA); William Hreha (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: MAXAR SPACE LLC
H04B7/18513H04B7/18519
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,483,061
App. No.
17/110,127
Granted
Oct 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for aggregating spaced related systems includes accessing service provider information for multiple service providers to determine relevant services/systems available, automatically determining that no single service provider provides services sufficient to perform a particular space activity, automatically identifying multiple services from different service providers that in aggregate include performing the space activity, and automatically determining a parameter to configure space equipment to perform each of the multiple services from the different service providers in order to perform the space activity. In some embodiments, this system can be scaled across multiple regions (e.g., multiple planetary regions). For example, each region can have its own set of servers and ledgers that provide real-time services within the region and opportunistically synchronize between regions (e.g., when communication is available).

Claims (78)

1. A machine implemented method for space systems, comprising:

receiving a request regarding performance of a space activity;

accessing service provider information for multiple service providers to determine relevant services available;

identifying multiple services from different service providers that in aggregate include performing the space activity;

determining a parameter to configure space equipment to perform at least one of the multiple services in order to perform the space activity, the space activity is performed in a first network in proximity to a first planet or moon, the first network comprises a first set of one or more space vehicles and a first set of servers that each include a first ledger, each of the first ledgers of the first set of servers are configured to store records that identify a transaction for a space service, the first network is remote from a second network, the second network is in proximity to a second planet or moon, the second network comprises a second set of one or more space vehicles and a second set of servers that each include a second ledger, each second ledger of the second set of one or more servers are configured to store records that identify a transaction for a space service; and

storing in first ledgers of multiple servers of the first set of servers copies of a first set of one or more records for at least a subset of the multiple services that are included in performing the space activity; and

the first ledgers of the first network synchronizing the first set of one or more records with the second ledgers of the second network.

2. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the space equipment includes ground based equipment and space based equipment, the method further comprising:

communicating with the ground based equipment;

communicating with the space based equipment;

implementing a security policy for the request; and

interfacing with a mission manager server.

3. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the determining the parameter to configure space equipment includes using the parameter to configure the space equipment to perform the space activity using a first space service.

4. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the request identifies a first quantity for a first performance metric;

the identifying multiple services from different service providers that in aggregate include performing the space activity includes:

identifying a first space service that specifies a second quantity for a second performance metric that is different than the first performance metric, and

translating between the first performance metric and the second performance metric to determine whether the second quantity for the second performance metric satisfies the first quantity for the first performance metric; and

the determining the parameter includes automatically determining the parameter to configure space equipment to perform the space activity using the first space service such that the first quantity for the first performance metric is satisfied.

5. The machine implemented method of claim 4 , wherein:

the determining the parameter includes using the parameter to configure space equipment to perform the space activity using the first space service such that the first quantity for the first performance metric is satisfied; and

the method further comprises monitoring the first space service to verify that first quantity for the first performance metric is satisfied.

6. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the determining the parameter to configure space equipment comprises determining a link budget for communication between space equipment.

7. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the multiple services;

determining a fault condition in a first service of the multiple services;

automatically identifying an alternative service to the first service; and

automatically determining an update to the parameter to reconfigure the space equipment to perform the space activity using the alternative service in lieu of the first service.

8. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring the multiple services;

determining a fault condition in a first service of the multiple services; and

automatically determining an update to the parameter to reconfigure the space equipment to perform the first service after the fault condition.

9. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the first ledgers of the first set of servers are configured to store records that identify a transaction for a space service and contain a hash of a previous record to prevent records from being manipulated after committing, a record is committed in the first network only with validation from and storage in first ledgers of multiple servers of the first set of servers, each second ledger of the second set of one or more servers are configured to store records that identify a transaction for a space service and contain a hash of a previous record to prevent records from being manipulated after committing, a record is committed in the second network only with validation from and storage in second ledgers of multiple servers of the second set of servers, the second network is only in intermittent communication with the first network such that there are connection times when the second network is in communication with the first network and there are quiet times when second network is not in communication with the first network, a common set of records have security that allows storage in the first network and the second network; and

the first ledgers of the first network synchronize the first set of one or more records with the second ledgers of the second network during connection times and do not synchronize the first set of one or more records with the second ledgers of the second network during quiet times.

10. A machine implemented method for space systems, comprising:

receiving a request regarding performance of a space activity;

accessing service provider information for multiple service providers to determine relevant services available;

automatically determining that no single service provider provides services sufficient to perform the space activity;

automatically identifying multiple services from different service providers that in aggregate include performing the space activity;

automatically determining a parameter to configure space equipment to perform the multiple services from the different service providers in order to perform the space activity, wherein the receiving a request and determining the parameter are performed in a first network in proximity to a first planet or moon, the first network comprises a first set of one or more space vehicles and a first set of servers that each include a first ledger, each of the first ledgers of the first set of servers are configured to store records that identify a transaction for a space service and contain a hash of a previous record to prevent records from being manipulated after committing, a record is committed in the first network only with validation from and storage in first ledgers of multiple servers of the first set of servers; and

storing in first ledgers of multiple servers of the first set of servers multiple copies of a first set of one or more records for the multiple services that in aggregate include performing the space activity.

11. The machine implemented method of claim 10 , wherein

the first ledgers are blockchains; and

each transaction identifies a service, a security policy, a service level agreement and another contract term.

12. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the space equipment includes a satellite and a ground terminal;

the space activity includes wireless communication between the satellite and the ground terminal; and

the determining a parameter includes determining at least one parameter related to a link budget for the ground terminal.

13. The machine implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:

the second network is only in intermittent communication with the first network such that there are connection times when the second network is in communication with the first network and there are quiet times when second network is not in communication with the first network; and

the first ledgers of the first network synchronizing the first set of one or more records with the second ledgers of the second network during connection times and do not synchronize the first set of one or more records with the second ledgers of the second network during quiet times.

14. A machine implemented method comprising:

receiving a request regarding performance of a space activity, the request identifies a first quantity for a first performance metric for the space activity;

identifying a first space service that specifies a second quantity for a second performance metric, the second performance metric is different than the first performance metric;

translating between the first performance metric and the second performance metric to determine whether the second quantity for the second performance metric satisfies the first quantity for the first performance metric; and

automatically determining a parameter to configure space equipment to perform the space activity using the first space service such that the first quantity for the first performance metric is satisfied.

15. The machine implemented method of claim 14 , wherein:

the automatically determining the parameter includes using the parameter to configure the space equipment to perform the space activity using the first space service.

16. The machine implemented method of claim 14 , wherein:

the automatically determining the parameter includes determining a link budget for communication between space equipment.

17. The machine implemented method of claim 14 , further comprising:

monitoring the first space service;

determining a fault condition in the first space service;

identifying a second space service that satisfies the first quantity for the first performance metric; and

automatically updating the parameter to reconfigure the space equipment to perform the space activity using the second space service such that the first quantity for the first performance metric is satisfied.

18. The machine implemented method of claim 14 , further comprising:

monitoring the space service;

determining a fault condition in the first space service; and

automatically updating the parameter to reconfigure the space equipment to perform the space service after the fault condition such that the first quantity for the first performance metric is satisfied.

19. A system comprising:

a first network in proximity to a first planet or moon, the first network comprises a first set of one or more space vehicles and a first set of servers that each include a first ledger, each of the first ledgers of the first set of servers are configured to store records that identify a transaction for a space service and contain a hash of a previous record to prevent records from being manipulated after committing, a record is committed in the first network only with validation from and storage in first ledgers of multiple servers of the first set of servers; and

a second network in proximity to a second planet or moon, the second network comprises a second set of one or more space vehicles and a second set of servers that each include a second ledger, each second ledger of the second set of one or more servers are configured to store records that identify a transaction for a space service and contain a hash of a previous record to prevent records from being manipulated after committing, a record is committed in the second network only with validation from and storage in second ledgers of multiple servers of the second set of servers, the second planet or moon is remote from the first planet or moon, the second network is only in intermittent communication with the first network such that there are connection times when the second network is in communication with the first network and there are quiet times when second network is not in communication with the first network, a common set of records have security that allows storage in the first network and the second network, one or more separate sets of records have security that allows storage in the first network and not the second network, the second ledgers of the second network synchronize the common set of records with the first ledgers of the first network during connection times and do not synchronize the common set of records with the first ledgers of the first network during quiet times.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein:

the first ledgers and the second ledgers are blockchains; and

each transaction identifies a service, a security policy, a service level agreement and another contract term.

Assignments (9)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 7, 2026
From: MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: LANTERIS SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 074270/0351 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 6, 2025
From: MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: LANTERIS SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 073512/0398 →
RELEASE (REEL 060389/FRAME 0720) Recorded May 12, 2023
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063633/0431 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 5, 2023
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC. (F/K/A DIGITALGLOBE, INC.); AURORA INSIGHT INC.; MAXAR MISSION SOLUTIONS INC. ((F/K/A RADIANT MISSION SOLUTIONS INC. (F/K/A THE RADIANT GROUP, INC.)); MAXAR SPACE LLC (F/K/A SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC); SPATIAL ENERGY, LLC; MAXAR SPACE ROBOTICS LLC ((F/K/A SSL ROBOTICS LLC) (F/K/A MDA US SYSTEMS LLC)); MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS INC.
To: SIXTH STREET LENDING PARTNERS, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 063660/0138 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT - RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 060389/0782 Recorded May 4, 2023
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 063544/0074 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 17, 2022
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 060389/0782 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2022
From: MAXAR INTELLIGENCE INC.; MAXAR SPACE LLC
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 060389/0720 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2021
From: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
To: MAXAR SPACE LLC
Reel/Frame 054960/0466 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2020
From: PHAM, JAMES; SCHMIT, SHERRIE; GRAY, WILLIAM; HREHA, WILLIAM
To: SPACE SYSTEMS/LORAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 054522/0321 →