Abstract: An apparatus, including a case having a front panel, and multiple transceiver modules mounted on the front panel. The apparatus also includes at least one midplane adapter card having a first connector configured to transport networking signals, and a second connector configured to transport bus signals. The apparatus additionally includes a switch input/output board mounted within the case, coupled to the multiple transceiver modules, and having multiple first slots configured to accept the first connectors, and networking switch circuitry coupled to the first slots and configured to establish a network connection between two or more of the transceiver modules. The apparatus further includes a motherboard mounted within the case, and having a bus with multiple second slots configured to accept the second connectors, and a processor configured to manage the networking switch circuitry and to receive and process data commands in response to communications received from the transceiver modules.

Abstract: An apparatus, including a case having a front panel, and multiple transceiver modules mounted on the front panel. The apparatus also includes at least one midplane adapter card having a first connector configured to transport networking signals, and a second connector configured to transport bus signals. The apparatus additionally includes a switch input/output board mounted within the case, coupled to the multiple transceiver modules, and having multiple first slots configured to accept the first connectors, and networking switch circuitry coupled to the first slots and configured to establish a network connection between two or more of the transceiver modules. The apparatus further includes a motherboard mounted within the case, and having a bus with multiple second slots configured to accept the second connectors, and a processor configured to manage the networking switch circuitry and to receive and process data commands in response to communications received from the transceiver modules.

Abstract: A method, including receiving, at a first time of receipt, a first data frame and incorporating a first timestamp having a first length into the first data frame, the first timestamp being indicative of the first time of receipt. The method further includes subsequent to the first time of receipt, sequentially receiving at respective second times second data frames. The method continues by incorporating respective second timestamps having second lengths shorter than the first length into the second data frames, the respective second timestamps being indicative of respective increments in time from the first time of receipt.

Abstract: Communication apparatus includes a case including a front panel and having a rear side opposite the front panel. A computer motherboard includes a processor and a bus having bus slots, and is mounted in the case so that the bus slots are located adjacent to the rear side of the case. One or more communication adapter cards, each of which includes a bus connector compatible with the bus and one or more ports for receiving a communication cable, are mounted in the case so that the ports are accessible at the front panel. Bus extension circuitry is connected inside the case between the bus slots on the motherboard and the one or more communication adapter cards, and includes a backplane including at least one backplane slot, for receiving the bus connector of the one or more communication adapter cards.

Abstract: Communication apparatus includes a case including a front panel and having a rear side opposite the front panel. A computer motherboard includes a processor and a bus having bus slots, and is mounted in the case so that the bus slots are located adjacent to the rear side of the case. One or more communication adapter cards, each of which includes a bus connector compatible with the bus and one or more ports for receiving a communication cable, are mounted in the case so that the ports are accessible at the front panel. Bus extension circuitry is connected inside the case between the bus slots on the motherboard and the one or more communication adapter cards, and includes a backplane including at least one backplane slot, for receiving the bus connector of the one or more communication adapter cards.

Abstract: A plurality of satellites are placed into a virtually geosynchronous orbit, in which a first part of the orbit, that is near apogee, has a similar movement to the rotation of the earth, and therefore the orbit appears virtually stationary relative to the earth. Different satellites in the orbit are caused to have specified standardized parameters, and also defined according to an orbital position at a date certain. The different satellites and therefore be assigned to different owners according to these parameters.

Abstract: Provided is an improved system and method for implementing a constellation of satellites in inclined elliptical orbits. The satellites are operated during the portion of their orbits near apogee to emulate the characteristics of geostationary satellites. The orbits are configured to form a number of closely spaced repeating ground tracks around the earth. In each ground track the satellites operate only in arcs well above or below the equator to provide a large number of non-geostationary orbital slots that substantially increase global satellite capacity without interfering with the existing geostationary satellite ring. Minimum spacing is maintained between satellites in each active arc and between satellites in the active arcs of adjacent ground tracks to ensure that the satellites in the non-geostationary constellation do not interfere with each other.

Abstract: A plurality of satellites are placed into a virtually geosynchronous orbit, in which a first part of the orbit, that is near apogee, has a similar movement to the rotation of the earth, and therefore the orbit appears virtually stationary relative to the earth. Different satellites in the orbit are caused to have specified standardized parameters, and also defined according to an orbital position at a date certain. The different satellites and therefore be assigned to different owners according to these parameters.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for implementing a constellation of satellites in inclined elliptical orbits that provides simplified satellite tracking for ground stations on the earth. The satellite orbits form a pair of repeating ground tracks around the earth. In each ground track the satellites operate only in active arcs well above or below the equator) emulating many of the characteristics of geostationary satellites. The parameters of the satellite orbits are adjusted so that the end points of the active arcs in the two ground tracks coincide; the turn-off point of an active arc in one ground track being the same as the turn-on point of an active arc in the other. For a ground station served by the satellites in these arcs, the active satellites appear to be moving slowly in one direction around a closed, teardrop-shaped path in the sky, at a generally high elevation angle.

Abstract: Shows orbit-constellation of satellites that appears virtually geosynchronous.

Abstract: An array of satellites which is virtually geosynchronous. Each satellite is in an elliptical orbit. The apogee portion of each elliptical orbit is over one of the regions of interest. Each satellite is virtually geosynchronous during its apogee portion, over the region of interest. When it leaves the apogee portion, the satellite goes to another of the regions of interest, and acts virtually geosynchronous over that region.

Abstract: An array of satellites virtual forming a geosynchronous space. Communication with the satellites is only carried out during an active arc near the apogee portion. During other points of the satellites orbit, they are inactive. These inactive portions of the satellites orbit include the positions where the satellite communication could conceivably interfere with communications to geosynchronous satellites.

Abstract: An elliptical satellite communication system including a constellation of satellites which orbit the earth at a height less than that necessary for geosynchronous orbits but which simulate the characteristics of geosynchronous orbits. The satellites' velocity near the apogee portion of their orbit approximates the rotational velocity of the earth, and during that period appear to hover over the earth. The ground stations on the earth always communicate with a satellite at or near its apogee, and hence that satellite appears to the ground station to hover over the earth. During the times when the satellite is outside the apogee portion, its communication is shut off to prevent any possibility of interfering with geosynchronous satellites and its power supply is used to charge a battery on the satellite. Thus, the power supply of the system can be reduced by an amount equivalent to the percentage of time the satellite is not used.

Abstract: A plurality of satellites are placed into a virtually geosynchronous orbit, in which a first part of the orbit, that is near apogee, has a similar movement to the rotation of the earth, and therefore the orbit appears virtually stationary relative to the earth. Different satellites in the orbit are caused to have specified standardized parameters, and also defined according to an orbital position at a date certain. The different satellites and therefore be assigned to different owners according to these parameters.

Abstract: An elliptical satellite system which carries out communication. The satellite orbits a height above the earth less than that necessary for geosynchronous orbits. When the satellite is near the apogee portion of its orbit, its velocity approximates the rotational velocity of the earth, and during that period it appears to hover over the earth. Each ground station on the earth always communicates a satellite within a predetermined position of its apogee, and hence that satellite appears to the ground station to hover over the earth. The satellite hence does not communicate with any earth station when it is outside of that apogee portion. During the times when the satellite is outside the apogee portion, its communication is therefore shut off to prevent.any possibility of interfering with geosynchronous satellites. During this time, the power supply on the satellite is also used to charge a battery on the satellite.

Abstract: A non-geostationary low earth orbit satellite constellation using elliptical orbits with apogees in the Northern Hemisphere to provide continuous coverage over the Continental United States of America (CONUS), and by extension to the other points in the Northern Hemisphere situated above 25° north latitude. The constellation provides time-continuous visibility with at least one satellite to any point above 25° North latitude. An extension of the constellation has a combination of the elliptical orbits and at least one equatorial orbit to provide virtual global coverage. The distribution of capacity is deployed in proportion to the distribution of populations in the land masses of the earth. Time continuous visibility with at least one satellite is maintained by any point on earth north of the 50° South latitude, with a minimum number of satellites deployed.

Abstract: An elliptical satellite system which carries out communication. The satellite orbits a height above the earth less than that necessary for geosynchronous orbits. When the satellite is near the apogee portion of its orbit, its velocity approximates the rotational velocity of the earth, and during that period it appears to hover over the earth. Each ground station on the earth always communicates a satellite within a predetermined position of its apogee, and hence that satellite appears to the ground station to hover over the earth. The satellite hence does not communicate with any earth station when it is outside of that apogee portion. During the times when the satellite is outside the apogee portion, its communication is therefore shut off to prevent any possibility of interfering with geosynchronous satellites. During this time, the power supply on the satellite is also used to charge a battery on the satellite.

Abstract: Shows orbit-constellation of satellites that appears virtually geosynchronous.

Abstract: A non-geostationary low earth orbit satellite constellation using elliptical orbits with apogees in the Northern Hemisphere to provide continuous coverage over the Continental United States of America (CONUS), and by extension to the other points in the Northern Hemisphere situated above 25° north latitude. The constellation provides time-continuous visibility with at least one satellite to any point above 25° North latitude. An extension of the constellation has a combination of the elliptical orbits and at least one equatorial orbit to provide virtual global coverage. The distribution of capacity is deployed in proportion to the distribution of populations in the land masses of the earth. Time continuous visibility with at least one satellite is maintained by any point on earth north of the 50° South latitude, with a minimum number of satellites deployed.