Satellite constellation system for facilitating enhanced positioning and gateway for use therewith
A ground-based node of a satellite system operates by: communicating control data with LEO navigation satellites in LEO around the earth; transmitting corrections data to the LEO navigation satellites; receiving a first collection of observations based on signaling from non-LEO navigation satellites in non-LEO around the earth, the signaling including collected observations from the non-LEO navigation satellites; receiving a second collection of observations based on navigation messages from the LEO navigation satellites, wherein the navigation messages facilitate client devices to determine their enhanced position when received in conjunction with second signaling from the non-LEO navigation satellites, and wherein the navigation messages are generated by the LEO navigation satellites in response to the corrections data; updating the corrections data based on the first collection of observations, the second collection of observations and based on telemetry data corresponding to the LEO navigation satellites included in the TT&C information; and repeating the foregoing.
1. A ground-based node of a satellite system, the ground-based node comprising:
an interface configured to communicate with at least one ground station;
at least one memory that stores operational instructions; and
at least one processor configured to execute the operational instructions, wherein the operational instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include:
(a) communicating control data, via the at least one ground station, with a constellation of LEO navigation satellites in LEO around the earth, wherein the control data includes telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) information corresponding to the constellation of LEO navigation satellites;
(b) transmitting, via the at least one ground station, corrections data to a plurality of LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites;
(c) receiving, via at least one global positioning receiver, a first collection of observations based on signaling from non-LEO navigation satellites of a constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites in non-LEO around the earth, the signaling including collected observations from the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites;
(d) receiving, via the at least one ground station, a second collection of observations based on navigation messages from the constellation of LEO navigation satellites, wherein the navigation messages facilitate client devices to determine their enhanced position when received in conjunction with second signaling from the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites, and wherein the navigation messages are generated by the constellation of LEO navigation satellites in response to the corrections data;
(e) updating the corrections data based on the first collection of observations, the second collection of observations and based on telemetry data corresponding to the constellation of LEO navigation satellites included in the TT&C information; and
(f) repeating steps (a)-(e).
2. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites are configured to determine corresponding states based on the correction data and further based on signaling from non-LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites and wherein the navigation messages are generated by the LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites based on the corresponding states and where in the navigation messages each include a timing signal and a LEO navigation satellite position and the navigation messages further includes orbital correction data and timing correction data associated with the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites.
3. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the corrections data includes precise point positioning (PPP) correction data corresponding to the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites and additional corrections data corresponding to the constellation of LEO navigation satellites.
4. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the control data includes at least one of: radio occultation; atmospheric data generated based on radio occultation; control information associated with satellite direction; control information associated with satellite attitude; control information associated with satellite status; control information associated with satellite inter-satellite transmit/receive condition; command information associated with satellite inter-satellite transmit/receive status; command information associated with inter-satellite transmit power or frequency; control information associated with encryption; constellation integrity information relating to health of one or more other nodes of the satellite system; or constellation integrity information relating to health of one or more non-LEO navigation satellites in the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites.
5. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the control data and corrections data are communicated between ones of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites via inter-satellite links.
6. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ground station transmits the corrections data to the plurality of LEO navigation satellites via a backhaul satellite.
7. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ground station that transmits the corrections data to the plurality of LEO navigation satellites includes a broadcast gateway that is separate from the at least one ground station that communicates the control data.
8. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ground station that receives the second collection of observations is co-located with the at least one ground station that communicates the control data.
9. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the operations further include:
transmitting the corrections data to ones of the client devices connected to the ground-based node via a wireless terrestrial network.
10. The ground-based node of claim 1 , wherein the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites are associated with at least one of: a Global Positioning System of satellites, a Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, a Galileo positioning system, a Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) or an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System.
11. A method for use in a ground-based node of a satellite system, the method comprising:
(a) communicating control data, via at least one ground station, with a constellation of LEO navigation satellites in LEO around the earth, wherein the control data includes telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) information corresponding to the constellation of LEO navigation satellites;
(b) transmitting, via the at least one ground station, corrections data to a plurality of LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites;
(c) receiving, via at least one global positioning receiver, a first collection of observations based on signaling from non-LEO navigation satellites of a constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites in non-LEO around the earth, the signaling including collected observations from the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites;
(d) receiving, via the at least one ground station, a second collection of observations based on navigation messages from the constellation of LEO navigation satellites, wherein the navigation messages facilitate client devices to determine their enhanced position when received in conjunction with second signaling from the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites, and wherein the navigation messages are generated by the constellation of LEO navigation satellites in response to the corrections data;
(e) updating the corrections data based on the first collection of observations, the second collection of observations and based on telemetry data corresponding to the constellation of LEO navigation satellites included in the TT&C information; and
(f) repeating steps (a)-(e).
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites are configured to determine corresponding states based on the correction data and further based on signaling from non-LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites and wherein the navigation messages are generated by the LEO navigation satellites of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites based on the corresponding states and where in the navigation messages each include a timing signal and a LEO navigation satellite position and the navigation messages further includes orbital correction data and timing correction data associated with the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the corrections data includes precise point positioning (PPP) correction data corresponding to the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites and additional corrections data corresponding to the constellation of LEO navigation satellites.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control data includes at least one of: radio occultation; atmospheric data generated based on radio occultation; control information associated with satellite direction; control information associated with satellite attitude; control information associated with satellite status; control information associated with satellite inter-satellite transmit/receive condition; command information associated with satellite inter-satellite transmit/receive status; command information associated with inter-satellite transmit power or frequency; control information associated with encryption; constellation integrity information relating to health of one or more other nodes of the satellite system; or constellation integrity information relating to health of one or more non-LEO navigation satellites in the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control data and corrections data are communicated between ones of the constellation of LEO navigation satellites via inter-satellite links.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one ground station transmits the corrections data to the plurality of LEO navigation satellites via a backhaul satellite.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one ground station that transmits the corrections data to the plurality of LEO navigation satellites includes a broadcast gateway that is separate from the at least one ground station that communicates the control data.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one ground station that receives the second collection of observations is co-located with the at least one ground station that communicates the control data.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
transmitting the corrections data to ones of the client devices connected to the ground-based node via a wireless terrestrial network.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the constellation of non-LEO navigation satellites are associated with at least one of: a Global Positioning System of satellites, a Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, a Galileo positioning system, a Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) or an Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System.