US 11,881,927 B2
Multi-pathway satellite communication systems and methods
Kiruthika Devaraj, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to PLANET LABS PBC, San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Planet Labs PBC, San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/959,000.
Application 17/959,000 is a continuation of application No. 17/036,893, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,463,158.
Application 17/036,893 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/529,299, filed on Aug. 1, 2019, granted, now 10,979,137, issued on Apr. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0022164 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04B 7/185 (2006.01); H04B 7/195 (2006.01)
CPC H04B 7/18513 (2013.01) [H04B 7/18515 (2013.01); H04B 7/18521 (2013.01); H04B 7/18584 (2013.01); H04B 7/195 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computing system comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer readable media that collectively store instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
obtaining a request for image data, wherein the request is associated with a priority indicating how quickly image data is to be acquired;
determining a selected imaging satellite from a plurality of imaging satellites to acquire the image data based at least in part on an availability of the selected imaging satellite to acquire the image data;
determining, based at least in part on the priority, a selected communication pathway of a plurality of communication pathways for servicing the request for image data, wherein the selected communication pathway comprises communication to one or more relay satellites in low-earth orbit when it is determined that the one or more relay satellites provide a quicker route than directly linking to the selected imaging satellite; and
sending an image acquisition command to the selected imaging satellite to service the request for image data in accordance with the selected communication pathway.