US 12,309,767 B2
Scheduling satellite data transmissions using differing sets of ground stations
Deepak Vasisht, Redmond, WA (US); and Ranveer Chandra, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed on Jul. 1, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/761,226.
Application 18/761,226 is a continuation of application No. 18/362,901, filed on Jul. 31, 2023, granted, now 12,058,667.
Application 18/362,901 is a continuation of application No. 18/048,028, filed on Oct. 19, 2022, granted, now 11,770,818, issued on Sep. 26, 2023.
Application 18/048,028 is a continuation of application No. 17/385,898, filed on Jul. 26, 2021, granted, now 11,528,721, issued on Dec. 13, 2022.
Application 17/385,898 is a continuation of application No. 17/087,534, filed on Nov. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,096,188, issued on Aug. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0422766 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. H04W 72/12 (2023.01); H04B 7/155 (2006.01); H04B 7/195 (2006.01); H04B 17/40 (2015.01)
CPC H04W 72/12 (2013.01) [H04B 7/155 (2013.01); H04B 7/195 (2013.01); H04B 17/40 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory comprising computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the processor to:
determine a primary ground station and a set of secondary ground stations based on a predicted orbit of a satellite, wherein the primary ground station is configured to transmit to the satellite and to receive from the satellite, and wherein the secondary ground stations are configured to at least receive from the satellite;
identify a subset of the secondary ground stations, wherein the identified subset of the secondary ground stations are within communication range to receive data transmissions from the satellite;
dynamically change the subset of secondary ground stations at instances in a time period of the predicted orbit of the satellite, such that, for each instance in the time period, the subset of secondary ground stations includes only secondary ground stations for which the satellite will have a line of sight (LOS) and be within communication range;
provide a transmission schedule to the satellite via the primary ground station, wherein the transmission schedule indicates the subset of secondary ground stations.