Orbital Monitoring Windows In Satellite Platforms

Abstract

Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for orbital satellite system. In one example, a satellite system includes a plurality of satellite devices in non-geosynchronous orbit configured to establish a window within the non-geosynchronous orbit corresponding to an underlying object of interest by at least transferring state information related to execution of a software application payload from at least an outgoing satellite device leaving the window for receipt by at least a target satellite device entering the window. During orbital passage within the window, at least the target satellite device is configured to execute the software application payload in accordance with the state information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A satellite system, comprising:
 a plurality of satellite devices in non-geosynchronous orbit configured to establish a window within the non-geosynchronous orbit corresponding to an underlying object of interest by at least transferring state information related to execution of a software application payload from at least an outgoing satellite device leaving the window for receipt by at least a target satellite device entering the window; and   during orbital passage within the window, at least the target satellite device configured to execute the software application payload in accordance with the state information.   
     
     
         2 . The satellite system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the plurality of satellite devices configured to determine entry into or exit from the window based at least on determining overhead proximity to the underlying object of interest, wherein the underlying object of interest is experiencing movement.   
     
     
         3 . The satellite system of  claim 1 , wherein the window is established to track the underlying object of interest when the underlying object of interest is experiencing movement. 
     
     
         4 . The satellite system of  claim 3 , wherein the underlying object of interest comprises at least one among a vehicle, aircraft, or person. 
     
     
         5 . The satellite system of  claim 1 , wherein the state information comprises sensor data captured by others of the satellite devices during passage through the window, and comprising:
 during the orbital passage within the window, at least the target satellite device configured to capture additional sensor data for incorporation into the state information.   
     
     
         6 . The satellite system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 the plurality of satellite devices configured to determine entry into or exit from the window based at least on determining overhead proximity to the underlying object of interest as defined by geographic coordinates, wherein the underlying object of interest is experiencing movement.   
     
     
         7 . The satellite system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 responsive to detecting exit from the window, at least the outgoing satellite device configured to determine at least a portion of the state information, and deliver at least the portion of the state information to at least the target satellite device.   
     
     
         8 . The satellite system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 responsive to detecting entry into the window, at least the target satellite device configured to request at least a portion of the state information from at least the outgoing satellite device.   
     
     
         9 . The satellite system of  claim 1 , wherein the state information comprises routing instructions, and comprising:
 during the orbital passage within the window, at least the target satellite device configured to route communications traffic received from others of the satellite devices for delivery to a ground system; and   the others of the satellite devices configured to route the communications traffic for delivery to at least the target satellite device through zero or more peer satellite devices.   
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a satellite system, the method comprising:
 establishing a window within the non-geosynchronous orbit corresponding to an underlying object of interest by at least transferring state information related to execution of a software application payload from at least an outgoing satellite device leaving the window for receipt by at least a target satellite device entering the window; and   during orbital passage within the window, executing the software application payload in accordance with the state information in at least the target satellite device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining entry into or exit from the window based at least on determining overhead proximity to an object of interest that corresponds to the underlying object of interest, wherein the underlying object of interest is experiencing movement.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the window is established to track the underlying object of interest when the underlying object of interest is experiencing movement. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the underlying object of interest comprises at least one among a vehicle, aircraft, or person. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the state information comprises sensor data captured by others of the satellite devices during passage through the window, and further comprising:
 during the orbital passage within the window, in at least the target satellite device, capturing additional sensor data for incorporation into the state information.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining entry into or exit from the window based at least on determining overhead proximity to the underlying object of interest as defined by geographic coordinates, wherein the underlying object of interest is experiencing movement.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting exit from the window, in at least the outgoing satellite device, determining at least a portion of the state information, and delivering at least the portion of the state information to at least the target satellite device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 responsive to detecting entry into the window, in at least the target satellite device, requesting at least a portion of the state information from at least the outgoing satellite device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the state information comprises routing instructions, and further comprising:
 during the orbital passage within the window, in at least the target satellite device, routing communications traffic received from others of the satellite devices for delivery to a ground system; and   in the others of the satellite devices, routing the communications traffic for delivery to at least the target satellite device through zero or more peer satellites.   
     
     
         19 . A satellite device for deployment into a low-earth orbit, comprising:
 a positioning system configured to establish a window in a non-geosynchronous orbit corresponding to an object of interest based at least on detecting overhead proximity to the object of interest, wherein the object of interest is experiencing movement;   during orbital passage within the window, a processing system configured to execute a task in accordance with task instructions related to the orbital passage through the window; and   responsive to the positioning system detecting exit from the window, a communication system configured to transfer state information for delivery to at least another satellite device entering the window for use in execution of at least an additional task by the other satellite device in accordance with the state information.   
     
     
         20 . The satellite device of  claim 19 , wherein the task instructions include object sensing instructions, and comprising:
 the positioning system configured to determine entry into or exit from the window based at least on overhead proximity to the object of interest, wherein the underlying object of interest comprises at least one among a vehicle, aircraft, or person; and   during the orbital passage within the window, the processing system further configured to direct a sensor system to capture sensor data for incorporation into the state information.