Patents Assigned to Higher Ground LLC
  • Patent number: 11971490
    Abstract: According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques for multi-system-based detection and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: obtaining a first location of an object from a primary location determination hardware system; obtaining a second location of the object from a secondary location determination hardware system; determining a distance difference between the first location and the second location; determining whether the distance difference between the first location and the second location is acceptable based on a threshold distance; and initiating one or more mitigation actions in response to the distance difference between the first location and the second location being unacceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke, David Alexander Reuss
  • Patent number: 11770714
    Abstract: Satellite echoing for geolocation and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denial are provided herein, where an example method comprises: transmitting an initiated message to a communication satellite along a communication path that has a target device with an unknown distance to the communication satellite; receiving a returned message from the communication satellite over the communication path in response to the initiated message; determining a local time difference between the transmission time and the reception time; calculating a distance between the communication satellite and the target device, the distance calculated based on a portion of the determined time difference associated with only a single traversal of a portion of the communication path that is between the communication satellite and the target device; and performing one or more actions based on the distance between the communication satellite and the target device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke, David Alexander Reuss
  • Patent number: 11736946
    Abstract: According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques for satellite relaying for geolocation and mitigation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denial are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke, David Alexander Reuss
  • Patent number: 11638153
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments herein, interferometry-based satellite location accuracy is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke, David Alexander Reuss
  • Patent number: 11600919
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a signal from a remote antenna at first and second antennas, the first and second antenna being collocated and offset from one another by a fixed predetermined angle such that a center of a high gain region of a main lobe of the first antenna is substantially aligned with a low gain region of a main lobe of the second antenna; determining a set of characteristics of the signal based on the signal being received at the first antenna; decoding a first data set based on the signal being received at the first antenna and a second data set based on the signal being received at the second antenna, both using the set of signal characteristics; and determining a currently aimed direction of the first antenna with relation to the remote antenna based on the difference between the first and second data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke
  • Patent number: 11595815
    Abstract: According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques for using satellite diversity for enhancing communication confidentiality are provided. In particular, a system in accordance with the techniques herein enhances the security of encrypted messages transmitted over a secure channel, specifically through the use of satellite communications diversity to securely deliver secret messages from a sender to a recipient, ensuring message confidentiality. That is, the techniques herein provide secure message communication over satellites, particularly with additional message security in the presence of an eavesdropping adversary party by segmenting the message and sending the various message segments over different diverse paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventor: Robert S. Reis
  • Patent number: 11349559
    Abstract: According to one or more of the embodiments herein, systems and techniques are provided for accurately determining a round trip time (RTT) to a satellite. In particular, a method according to one embodiment herein may comprise: receiving, at a device, a reference signal with a stable phase; measuring, by the device, a phase delta over time between the reference signal and an internal signal of an internal oscillator of the device; transmitting, by the device at a transmission time, a ranging signal toward a particular satellite; receiving, by the device at a reception time, a return of the ranging signal from the particular satellite; and determining, by the device, a round trip time (RTT) of the ranging signal that accounts for a phase drift of the internal oscillator between the transmission time and the reception time according to the measured phase delta over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: David Alexander Reuss, Darren Robert Reis, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11346957
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to satellite communication systems, and, more particularly, to trilateration-based satellite location accuracy for improved satellite-based geolocation are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Shmuel Shaffer, Darren Robert Reis, James M. Behmke, David Alexander Reuss
  • Patent number: 10924181
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a communicating device (e.g., either a ground station server or a particular distributed module of a satellite communication system) mitigates congestion on a particular return communication path via an intermediate satellite from the plurality of distributed modules to the ground station server. In particular, in response to determining that the level of congestion is above a threshold, then the communication device mitigates the congestion by, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: HIGHER GROUND LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Reed Cooper, Bruce Leonard McKinley, Scott A. McDermott, Mark Evan Russell, David Daugherty, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10833756
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the techniques herein provide a fully automated satellite-based backhaul system. In particular, a system in accordance with the techniques herein may utilize a satellite communication terminal to allow an Internet of Things (IoT) device (or any device) to be deployed in any location which has a line of sight towards a communication satellite. Specifically, the placement, orientation, and/or communication characteristics of the IoT device and/or satellite communication terminal (or antenna) may be manipulated (e.g., manual adjustment based on calculated directions and/or completely autonomously) to ensure avoidance of interference in any other wireless communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Mark Evan Russell, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10823822
    Abstract: A system in accordance with one aspect mitigates interference with PtPRs (Point to Point Receivers) that may be caused by a Wi-Fi base station or terminal devices associated with the Wi-Fi base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HIGHER GROUND LLC
    Inventors: Robert Reis, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10742309
    Abstract: Fifty seven percent of the world's population, some 4.2 billion people, reside in places without internet access. Consequently, these areas also have no or limited infrastructure to deploy Internet of Things (IoT) devices/sensors. Numerous companies are racing to fill this communication gap and provide internet not only to those without internet but to also improve and provide additional options to those with internet access. One exemplary aspect is capable of providing a technically unique lower-cost solution for internet connectivity, and in particular for applications requiring real-time and/or near-real-time connectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: HIGHER GROUND LLC
    Inventors: Robert Reis, Darren Reis, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10715206
    Abstract: A communications protocol in accordance with one exemplary embodiment uses information from GPS satellites to synchronize the phases of transmitters, and aligns the phase with a spreading code used to de-spread the received signals at, for example, a ground station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HIGHER GROUND LLC
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Bruce Leonard McKinley, Scott A. McDermott
  • Patent number: 10602372
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a terminal of a first wireless communication network determines a protection zone for each of a plurality of unintended receivers of a second wireless communication network, where a protection zone defines a geographical area where transmission by the terminal might interfere with operation of a corresponding unintended receive. At the time of an attempted transmission, the terminal determines its current location, and whether the current location is within any protection zone of the plurality of unintended receivers. If not within any protection zone of the plurality of unintended receivers, the terminal performs the transmission, but if so, then the terminal may then perform a local assessment of interference to the one or more unintended receivers. Once concluding that there would be no interference with any of the one or more unintended receivers, the terminal may then perform the transmission. Otherwise, the terminal prevents the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Mark E. Russell, Paul Christopher Hansen
  • Patent number: 10602371
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a device of a first wireless communication network determines location information and antenna properties corresponding to each of a plurality of unintended receivers of a second wireless communication network. The device may then compute a protection zone for each of the plurality of unintended receivers based on the location information and antenna properties, wherein a protection zone defines a geographical area where transmission by a terminal in the first wireless communication network might interfere with operation of a corresponding unintended receiver. As such, the terminal may thus determine whether to perform or prevent an attempted transmission to an intended receiver in the first wireless communication network based on whether a current location of the terminal, at a time of the attempted transmission by the terminal, is within any protection zone of the plurality of unintended receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Mark E. Russell, Paul Christopher Hansen
  • Patent number: 10574666
    Abstract: A system in accordance with one aspect mitigates interference with PtPRs (Point to Point Receivers) that may be caused by a Wi-Fi base station or terminal devices associated with the Wi-Fi base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: HIGHER GROUND LLC
    Inventors: Robert Reis, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10523684
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a ground station server of a satellite communication system mitigates congestion on a particular forward communication path via an intermediate satellite from the ground station server to a plurality of distributed modules. In particular, in response to determining that the level of congestion is above a threshold, then the ground station server mitigates the congestion by, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Reed Cooper, Bruce Leonard McKinley, Scott A. McDermott, Mark Evan Russell, David Daugherty, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10404358
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a communicating device (e.g., either a ground station server or a particular distributed module of a satellite communication system) mitigates congestion on a particular return communication path via an intermediate satellite from the plurality of distributed modules to the ground station server. In particular, in response to determining that the level of congestion is above a threshold, then the communication device mitigates the congestion by, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Reed Cooper, Bruce Leonard McKinley, Scott A. McDermott, Mark Evan Russell, David Daugherty, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10349422
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a server of a first wireless communication network receives a wireless communication originated by a terminal of the first wireless communication network, the wireless communication containing a current geographic location of the terminal as determined by the terminal. The server may then determine acceptable communication parameters for the terminal to communicate on the first wireless communication network, e.g., based on preventing transmission by the terminal that might interfere with operation of one or more unintended receivers. The server then generates an instruction message for the terminal based on the acceptable communication parameters, and transmits the instruction message toward the terminal to cause the terminal to only continue transmitting according to acceptable communication parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Mark E. Russell, Shmuel Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10330796
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a process obtains a first compensated directional reading from a first directional sensor of a directionally sensitive system, and obtains a second compensated directional reading from a second directional sensor of the directionally sensitive system. The process may then determine, a difference between the first compensated directional reading and the second compensated directional reading, and declares, in response to the difference being greater than an acceptable threshold, an inaccurate directional reading. As such, the process may then prevent performance of a directionally sensitive action by the directionally sensitive system in response to an inaccurate directional reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Higher Ground LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Reis, Michael Glenn Capella, Shmuel Shaffer