Patent ID: 8606433

Claim:
A method for determining when a moving, airborne mobile platform will enter or exit at least one satellite coverage region, said method comprising: determining a plurality of boundary coordinates that define a satellite coverage region perimeter, the boundary coordinates taking into consideration latitude, longitude and altitude to define a three dimensional spatial volume defined by the satellite coverage region; using a subsystem on-board the mobile platform to monitor a position of the mobile platform and an altitude of the mobile platform as the mobile platform moves along a travel path; using the subsystem on-board the mobile platform to determine the proximity of the mobile platform to the satellite coverage region perimeter, taking into account a current latitude, longitude and altitude of the mobile platform; identifying fade areas caused by at least one of atmospheric anomalies or seasonal conditions, within the satellite coverage region perimeter, by utilizing signal strength data of a signal from a satellite associated with the satellite coverage region; and using the subsystem on-board the mobile platform to determine the proximity of the mobile platform to the fade area and to the perimeter of the satellite coverage region by comparing positional information of the mobile platform, in real time, to predetermined mapped and stored signal strength data associated with positional information within the satellite coverage region, the positional information including real time latitude, longitude and altitude information of the mobile platform to thus identify the fade areas with respect to an altitude at which the fade area will be experienced by the mobile platform; and using the altitude, the latitude and the longitude of the mobile platform to determine a time-to-perimeter measurement of the mobile platform to indicate an approximate time that the mobile platform will remain within the satellite coverage region.