Low-Orbit Satellite Relay for High-Accuracy Navigation Positioning

The patent introduces low-orbit satellites as intermediary relay nodes between high-orbit satellites and ground receiving units. The low-orbit satellites receive signals from high-orbit satellites and relay them to ground, enabling positioning accuracy improvement without requiring expensive atomic clocks on every satellite. This mediator approach allows the system to leverage high-orbit satellite signals while using simpler, lower-cost low-orbit platforms.

The patent creates a signal copying mechanism where low-orbit satellites receive and retransmit signals from high-orbit satellites. Instead of requiring each satellite to generate its own high-precision timing signals with atomic clocks, the system copies the master clock signals from high-orbit satellites to multiple low-orbit relay satellites, distributing the timing reference throughout the network at minimal cost.

The patent merges the advantages of both high-orbit and low-orbit satellite systems by combining high-orbit satellites (which provide stable, high-precision timing signals) with low-orbit satellites (which provide better signal reception geometry and coverage). This hybrid approach consolidates the functions of having many low-orbit satellites into a smaller network that leverages the strengths of both orbital levels, reducing the total satellite count from 400+ to a manageable number.

The low-orbit satellites in the patent serve multiple functions: they act as signal relays from high-orbit satellites, provide additional geometric diversity for positioning, and extend coverage areas. This multi-functionality allows each low-orbit satellite to contribute to multiple system objectives simultaneously, reducing the total number of satellites needed compared to a dedicated low-orbit constellation.