Patent ID: 6043918
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A laser/optical communication system using an earth-orbiting satellite or a high altitude platform with a laser communication receiver and an acknowledgement transmitter mounted on said earth-orbiting satellite or platform,a ground terminal having a laser communications transceiver receiving a data stream, means for causing said ground terminal laser communications transceiver to break up said data stream into short packets of data signals which will fit entirely in the gaps between scintillation fades in the atmosphere and retransmitting said short packets of data signals multiple times,means on said earth-orbiting satellite or high altitude platform to transmit an acknowledgement signal to the ground terminal on receipt of said short packets of data signals, andmeans at said ground terminal for receiving said acknowledgement signal and causing said ground terminal laser communication transceiver to continuously transmit the next succeeding packet of data signals and repeating this process until all of the data has been received by said earth-orbiting satellite or high altitude platform, whereby all of said data stream is received by said laser communication receiver through scintillation windows in the atmosphere.