US 12,284,024 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 Jul. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/771,718.
Application 18/771,718 is a continuation of application No. 18/533,909, filed on Dec. 8, 2023.
Application 18/533,909 is a continuation of application No. 17/959,000, filed on Oct. 3, 2022, granted, now 11,881,927, issued on Jan. 23, 2024.
Application 17/959,000 is a continuation of application No. 17/036,893, filed on Sep. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,463,158, issued on Oct. 4, 2022.
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 2024/0372605 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
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 computer-implemented method for satellite imaging, the method comprising:
receiving, at a low-earth orbit satellite, a command to capture imagery data of an image target comprising a geographic area on earth;
acquiring, using the low-earth orbit satellite, the imagery data of the image target;
determining that a low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than a direct downlink communication pathway; and
selecting the low-latency downlink communication pathway based on determining that the low-latency downlink communication pathway provides a quicker downlink speed than the direct downlink communication pathway; and
transmitting, via the low-latency downlink communication pathway, the imagery data to a geostationary relay satellite, wherein the low-latency downlink communication pathway comprises optical transmission of the imagery data.