Mobile Device Satellite Track Overlay for Real-Time Imaging Awareness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack the ability to notify users when imaging satellites can see them and provide real-time, advanced satellite imaging information on mobile devices, failing to offer situational awareness and opportunities for obtaining satellite imagery.

Innovation Solution

A method and mobile device application that determines the viewing direction and angle of the camera, location, and satellite orbits to compute and display satellite tracks as an overlay on a real-world image, providing real-time notifications and allowing users to preview, purchase, or task satellite imagery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If real-time satellite tracking and notification systems are implemented, then user situational awareness and access to satellite imagery opportunities are improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesatellite imaging opportunity informationVSAvoidmobile application complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments satellite tracking functionality into modular components: orbit determination module, satellite track computation module, notification module, and augmented reality display module. Each module handles specific aspects of satellite monitoring independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary elements such as satellite ephemeris data as intermediate representations, notification intermediaries that bridge satellite status and user alerts, and augmented reality overlay intermediaries that combine camera feed with satellite track visualizations. These intermediaries simplify the interaction between complex satellite data and user interface elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If real-time satellite track computation and display are implemented, then user awareness of satellite positions is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesatellite track computation speedVSAvoidmobile device energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic satellite track computations at optimized intervals rather than continuous real-time calculation. The notification system uses periodic checks for satellite overhead events, and the augmented reality display updates satellite overlays at frame-rate intervals. This periodic approach maintains timely information delivery while significantly reducing computational load and energy consumption compared to continuous processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10853410B2Method for providing imaging satellite information on a mobile device

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 ORBIT LOGIC

AI summary

A method and electronic mobile device display imaging satellite information on a screen of the mobile device. A viewing direction and angle of a camera of the mobile device, a location of the mobile device, and orbit information for satellites in a vicinity of the mobile device are all determined. Satellite tracks for each of the satellites determined to be in the vicinity of the mobile device are then computed based on the location of the mobile device, the viewing direction and angle of the camera of the mobile device, and the orbit information corresponding to each of the respective one or more satellites. A graphical representation of the computed satellite tracks may then be displayed on a display screen of the mobile device as an overlay over a real world image being captured in real time by the camera of the mobile device.