WO2014009691A1

WO2014009691A1 - Mobile terminal viewing

Info

Publication number: WO2014009691A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/051546
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lee Robinson; Robert Adler
Original assignee: AD ASTRA FOREVER Ltd
Current assignee: AD ASTRA FOREVER Ltd
Priority date: 2012-07-11
Filing date: 2013-06-12
Publication date: 2014-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-11
Also published as: GB201212369D0

Description

MOBILE TERMINAL VIEWING

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing message information to a user of a user terminal. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a method of providing a celestial map (sometimes referred to as a star chart) on a computer terminal or smartphone which is displayed according to a direction selected by a user and which includes information associated with wireless signals pre-transmitted to the displayed area from an earth based transmitter complex.

It is known that from time to time users of fixed or mobile terminals such as PCs, computer terminals in general, smartphones, tablets, laptops or the like find it helpful and/or interesting to look at actual or computer generated images of celestial bodies. Such celestial bodies may be planets, stars, constellations, clusters or man-made objects such as satellites or space stations outside the earth's atmosphere. Whilst certain computer or smartphone applications (apps) that enable such viewing are available for download and/or execution on such terminals, the variety of what can be displayed is limited to those celestial bodies which have so far been identified. Likewise, the message information that can be displayed, if any, is often dull and merely factual/educational.

Developments in the twentieth and twenty first century have made wireless communication around the planets an almost commonplace event. For example, a myriad of techniques are known whereby a wireless signal can be transmitted from one location to another on earth. Nevertheless, the opportunity for transmitting wireless communication signals "off-planet" has been limited. A particular influence that has until now limited transmission to celestial locations is the complexity and cost of designing, building and maintaining a transmitter complex able to make transmissions to targets in outer space. Another restriction has been how wireless signals can be transmitted so as to be detectable and understandable at target locations which may be many light years away from earth. It is also known that advertising on earth using traditional media such as magazines, radio or television is well known. Nevertheless, as target audiences become more sophisticated, they seek ever more to be entertained with new advertising methodologies. Also, the opportunity for advertisers is limited by the traditional media outlets that have so far been available to those on this planet.

As advertising techniques become ever more interactive there is a requirement to deliver target driven advertising services in a new and profitable manner. Such opportunities have until now been limited to planet based systems.

It is also known that outer space, that is to say the region outside of our planet's atmosphere is seen as the last frontier. Until now there has been no way for companies, people, countries or organisations to communicate in a commercial sense with that region.

It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for selectively providing message information at the user interface (Ul) of a user terminal viewed by a user which is associated with certain pre-transmitted wireless signals.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of providing message information to a user interface of a user terminal which is associated with pre-transmitted signals transmitted to celestial nodes such as points in space or planets or stars or man-made objects outside of earth's atmosphere. It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a system for providing message information to a user terminal which includes a system node that determines a particular celestial node (which might be a point in space along a transmission path or a selectable celestial node such as a star or planet) and is connectable to a user terminal to identify the location of that celestial node at the user terminal. It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for transmitting a wireless signal to a celestial node.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus of advertising in which an image, which is an image of a celestial node to which a client message has been transmitted, is displayed on a display of a user terminal and which includes extra relevant information as message information on the user display associated with the client message that has been sent.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a computer- implemented method for controlling serving of an ad and/or message using relevancy to a celestial node which is displayed on a display of a user terminal.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of providing an outer space capable transmitter and transmitting at least one wireless signal to a celestial node.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing message information to a user of a user terminal, comprising the steps of: determining user terminal parameters for a user terminal;

determining the location of at least one celestial node associated with a respective pre-transmitted wireless signal; and

responsive to said user terminal parameters, providing message information, at a user interface of the user terminal, associated with said pre-transmitted wireless signal.

Aptly, the step of determining terminal parameters further comprises:

determining a location of the user terminal; determining a time at the user terminal; and

determining an orientation of the user terminal.

Aptly, the method further comprises determining the orientation of the user terminal by determining an azimuth of the user terminal with a compass of the user terminal and/or determining an altitude of the user terminal with a gyroscope or an accelerometer of the user terminal.

Aptly, the method further comprises the step of displaying a map comprising a plurality of celestial nodes on a display of the user terminal.

Aptly, the method further comprises the step of providing map data comprising the position of a plurality of displayable celestial bodies via an application pre-loaded on the user terminal.

Aptly, the method further comprises the step of providing map data comprising the position of a plurality of displayable celestial bodies to the user terminal via a wireless communication link. Aptly, the method further comprises the steps of displaying message information at respective locations on the displayed map, said message information generated from message data provided at the user terminal.

Aptly, the method further comprises providing message data comprising at least one of text data and/or a company logo data and/or image data and/or message sender data associated with said transmitted wireless signal to the user terminal via a wireless communication signal.

Aptly, the method further comprises providing the message data in real time.

Aptly, the method further comprises the steps of, as the user terminal is relocated by a user, and in real time, determining further user terminal parameters and displaying further celestial nodes and message information associated with said further nodes responsive to said further parameters.

Aptly, the celestial node comprises a location of a pre-determined celestial body or a current location reached by said pre-transmitted wireless signal.

Aptly, the celestial body comprises a planet or a star or a moon or an asteroid or an asteroid belt or a galaxy. Aptly, the celestial node comprises a location of a pre-determined celestial constellation.

Aptly, the celestial node comprises a celestial sphere zone. Aptly, the celestial node comprises a spacecraft or space station or man-made space vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for providing message information to a user terminal, comprising:

a service provider node that determines at least one celestial node associated with at least one respective pre-transmitted wireless signal transmitted to a selectable celestial node; wherein

the service provider node is connectable to a user terminal via a wireless communication link to identify the location of said at least one celestial node at said user terminal.

Aptly, the service provider node comprises a map data store that stores map data comprising the position of a plurality of celestial bodies displayable on the user terminal. Aptly, the service provider node is connectable to at least one transmitter that selectively transmits at least one wireless signal to at least one selected celestial node. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for transmitting a wireless signal to a celestial node, comprising:

at least one parabolic transmit antenna node each comprising an antenna reflector member and feed horn element; and

an information source that receives transmittable material from a scheduler node; wherein

each antenna node transmits a respective wireless signal transmission responsive to the transmittable material.

Aptly, each antenna node further comprises a phase adjustment module that selects a phase of transmission for the respective transmission whereby respective transmissions from all of the antenna nodes are detectable at a target celestial node substantially in-phase.

Aptly, the antenna reflector member and feed horn element of each antenna node are together independently locatable with respect to antenna reflectors and feed horns of remaining antenna nodes.

Aptly, the at least one antenna node comprises a plurality of antenna nodes, said apparatus further comprising:

an antenna control unit that co-ordinates a pointing angle for the antenna reflector and feed horn of each antenna node.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of advertising, comprising the steps of:

when an image comprising an image of a celestial node to which a wireless signal associated with a client has been transmitted, is displayed on a display of a user terminal, displaying message information at or proximate to the location of the celestial node in the image.

Aptly, the method further comprises transmitting a wireless signal associated with the client from at least one transmitter element to said a celestial node.

Aptly, the method further comprises transmitting a wireless signal to a predetermined celestial node simultaneously from a plurality of transmitter antennas. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer- implemented method for controlling serving of an ad using relevancy to a celestial node displayed on a display of a user terminal, comprising:

accepting, by a computer system including at least one computer, celestial data identifying one or more celestial nodes currently on view in a display of a user terminal comprising said computer system;

comparing, by the computer system, the accepted data with celestial targeting data associated with a plurality of possible ads; and

displaying at least one respective ad on the user display responsive to said comparison.

Aptly, each possible ad is an advert associated with a respective wireless signal transmitted to a respective celestial node.

Aptly, the method further comprises determining, by the computer system, the relevancy of the ad using a result of the comparison.

Aptly, the method further comprises utilising the relevancy of the ad to determine said at least one respective ad. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sending personal messages, comprising the steps of: when an image comprising an image of a celestial node to which a wireless signal associated with a client has been transmitted, is displayed on a display of a user terminal, sending a personal message to the user terminal. Aptly, the method further comprises sending said a personal message as an instant message to the user terminal.

Aptly, the method further comprises displaying the instant message at or proximate to the location of the celestial node in the image.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer- implemented method for controlling serving of a personal message using relevancy to a celestial node displayed on a display of a user terminal, comprising:

comparing, by the computer system, the accepted data with celestial targeting data associated with a plurality of possible personal messages; and

displaying at least one respective personal message on the user display responsive to said comparison.

Aptly, the method further comprises serving the personal message as an instant message. Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide the advantage that message information which is associated with pre-transmitted wireless signals transmitted to one or more celestial nodes is provided at a display of a user terminal. This may enable users to observe celestial nodes which may be points in the sky where pre-transmitted messages have so far travelled to. Alternatively or additionally the message information may include information associated with a selectable target node such as a planet or star. Alternatively or additionally the message information may include a logo and/or personal message and/or relevant text from a person or organisation or company associated with the pre-transmitted wireless signal. Users of the terminal may have an ability to select the message information which is provided by locating the user terminal physically in a particular direction or by selecting a displayed region of outer space via a keyboard or via a mouse or other indicating mechanism etc.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a system which can determine where a previously transmitted signal has arrived at in its transmission path or identify a target location where a pre-transmitted signal is heading to and can identify this to a user terminal via a wireless communication link so that the user terminal can thereafter use the provided information to display or otherwise provide relevant message information at the user terminal.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a method and apparatus for transmitting a wireless signal to a celestial node at a phase and power sufficient for the transmitted message to be successfully detected at a position which may be many light years or many tens of light years or many hundreds of light years from earth. Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a method of advertising which displays relevant information such as a logo and/or other icon and/or text associated with a particular party on a display of a user terminal in a desirable manner. Optionally, sounds (such as a Trade Marked jingle associated with a business) may be played by the terminal.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a computer-implemented method for controlling serving of an advert (ad) and/or message whereby ads and/or messages are only displayed to a user when that user is looking at a region of the sky associated in some way with the ad and/or message. This is a paradigm shift away from the current earth based advertising methodologies. Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a method by which an earth-based transmitter complex can be created and subsequently utilised to enhance the flexibility of wireless signal transmission off-planet and to deliver new advertising streams and/or messaging streams and to help educate those off-planet.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a business method whereby a sum of money is raised which is tied to the construction of a transmitter complex. That transmitter complex may then be usable to transmit wireless signals including selectable content to selectable targets which are in outer space. Aptly, those funding the construction are permitted to transmit signals of their choosing for at least a pre-determined period of time.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a transmission system;

Figure 2 illustrates an antenna array which is part of an earth-based transmitter complex;

Figure 3 illustrates in phase transmission to a celestial body; Figure 4 illustrates orientation of an antenna transmitter; Figure 5 illustrates a smartphone;

Figure 6 illustrates message information displayed by a smartphone; and Figure 7 illustrates a system architecture for a dedicated server system.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts. Figure 1 illustrates how one or more wireless signals 1 00 can be transmitted from a transmitter complex 1 10 to one or more locations in outer space 120 including the locations of rocket ships, manmade or otherwise. The transmittable material together with target co-ordinates and/or timing is delivered to the transmitter complex 1 1 0 via a connection 125 from a dedicated server node 1 30. This is connected to the internet 140 via a connection 145. The internet 140 is connected to a group 150 of primary clients 155 who are allocated broadcast slots and who can decide on the content of signals sent, the target locations of transmitted signals, and indicate when, within certain constraints, transmission of selected signals is to occur. The internet 140 is also connected to a group 1 60 of secondary clients 1 65 who are likewise able to provide content and target information and timing information for transmission of wireless signals 1 00 from the transmitter complex 1 1 0 to outer space 120. The internet 140 is also connected to one or more user terminals 170. These may be smart phones 175 or laptops 180 or tablet computers or PCs or the like. Each user terminal 170 has a user interface which includes a display on which a user may view images of the celestial nodes to which wireless signals 100 have been transmitted.

Whilst there is no clear boundary between the earth and its atmosphere and the remainder of the universe, reference will be made hereinafter to outer space and to celestial objects and to celestial nodes. In each case it will be understood that references are made broadly to locations or bodies or objects which are beyond an altitude of one hundred kilometres from the surface of the earth. This includes regions of the thermosphere and exosphere and beyond. Whilst outer space typically refers to the void that exists between certain known celestial bodies, throughout this specification outer space is meant more generally to include that void in space together with all of the celestial bodies contained within it. That is to say, planets, galaxies, dwarf galaxies, clusters, super clusters, black holes, stars, variable stars, white dwarf stars, neutron stars, Cepheid variables, compact objects, our sun, our planetary system including the planets of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and their satellites including our own moon, meteoroids, comets, and exoplanets or the like. Reference will be made to such objects as being celestial nodes. A celestial node is also taken to include a point in space. This includes a point in the void between adjacent bodies as well as a point in space where a celestial body is located.

Figure 1 illustrates multiple celestial nodes 190, one of which, for example, is the planet Saturn 191 . Likewise a celestial node is a region 192 of three known stars. Likewise a celestial node is the Milky Way 193. Likewise a celestial node is a well- known constellation of stars 1 94 or just a single known star 195 of known type. A celestial target is the ultimate destination location of a transmitted signal. Figure 2 illustrates parts of a transmitter complex 1 1 0 capable of transmission of a wireless signal via an RF transmission (or other such wireless signal) to distant receiving nodes located in outer space. The transmitter complex 1 10 may be thought of as a system node in the sense of being one part of an overall communication system. The transmitter complex 1 1 0 includes a number of parabolic transmit antennas 200₀..._n which are connected together and operate in a coordinated and synchronised fashion. The antennas 200₀..._n together produce a high RF signal power level to produce a signal energy required so as to reach target locations many tens and in some cases hundreds and in some cases thousands of light years away. The system includes a relatively large number of parabolic transmit antennas 200o...n, each driven with separate transmit high power amplifiers 21 0o...n which produce a resultant signal received at a target location significantly increased in level through in-phase free-space power combining of each of the separate signals. It will be appreciated that whilst only three antenna subsystems are illustrated in Figure 2 for clarity, the actual number employed may be much larger and will be a function of the ultimate desired transmission range. Aptly, twenty or more antennas will be utilised to send a wireless signal. Aptly, thirty or more antennas will be utilised to transmit a wireless signal. Aptly, forty or more antennas will be utilised to transmit a wireless signal. Information to be transmitted in the form of transmittable material is received from the server node 1 30 via a connection 125 at a main control station 220 (as shown in Figure 1 ). This control station forms part of the transmitter complex 1 10. The connection 125 is illustrated as a direct connection but the information can of course be provided via any suitable connection paths. The information to be transmitted is coded as appropriate for the desired transmission and enters the system to be stored in an information store as the "information source" 230 for any scheduled transmission(s). A modulator 240 converts the information intended for transmission into the desired RF signal structure. Appropriate modulation formats may be selected through the modulator 240 and may include various forms of frequency shift keying (FSK), phase shift keying (PSK), on/off keying or pulse code modulation (PCM), as well as combinations or alternatives. Optionally, forward error correction coding (FEC) is applied to the information to assist in distant de-modulation functions. It will be appreciated that a wide range of possible modulation and coding schemes may be utilised in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The output intermediate frequency or radio frequency signal generated by the modulator 240 is then provided to an excitor 250 which generates an actual modulated RF signal. This modulated RF signal is then passed through an RF signal distribution system 260 that includes RF power dividers, RF amplifiers and RF transmission lines. The function of the RF signal distribution system 260 is to provide the resultant modulating RF signal to each of the transmit antenna subsystems for amplification and transmission.

The modulated RF signal from the RF signal distribution system 260 is then passed to a phase adjustment system (PAS) 270₀..._n located in each of the distributed parabolic transmit antennas 200₀..._n- The phase adjustment system 270 has two principal functions. A first purpose is to compensate for changes in phase of the RF signal as it passes from the excitor 250 to the individual parabolic transmit antennas 200₀..._n. Simultaneously and additionally, the phase adjustment system 270 also adjusts the phase of the RF signal at each high power amplifier input 21 0₀..._n to compensate for any phase differences in the electrical path through an individual high power amplifier 210₀..._n and parabolic transmit antenna subsystem as well as through differences in physical transmission path to the intended target. The modulated RF signal, having been phase-adjusted is then passed to the high power amplifier (HPA) subsystem 210o..._n where it is amplified for transmission. It will be understood that alternative versions of high power amplifiers 210₀..._n are optionally usable according to certain embodiments of the present invention. Aptly, a HPA based upon travelling wave tubes is utilised. Aptly, a HPA based on Klystron electron tubes is utilised. Aptly, various solid state devices such as solid state power amplifiers utilising devices implemented in GaAs or GaN for high power transmission may be utilised. The amplified modulated RF signal is then passed to each of the parabolic transmit antennas 200₀..._n in parallel for transmission to the intended target.

Aptly, the system is able to provide a suitable signal power level at the receiver location to provide acceptable signal/noise (S/N) ratios for reception. Very high effective RF power levels are therefore desirable. Certain embodiments of the present invention may accomplish this using parabolic transmit antennas 200₀..._n driven by high power amplifiers. The system uses a plurality of linked parabolic transmit antennas which increases the resulting transmitted RF power through the use of free-space power combining in which the RF signals from each of the separate transmit antennas 200 are controlled such that they arrive in-phase at the receiver location. Due to their phase relationship, the received signals interfere constructively and produce an effective composite signal which is the mathematical sum of all of the individual contributing signals.

Figure 3 illustrates the phase-combining concept in more detail. As illustrated, each parabolic transmit antenna 200₀..._n transmits an associated wireless signal 300₀..._n which travels along a respective propagation pathway 31 0₀...n to a target celestial node such as a star. Each pathway has a slightly different length.

It will be appreciated that when the target celestial node is very far away, a period of time will elapse between the time of transmission from each antenna 200 to the ultimate arrival of all signals at the target node. Since the speed of transmission is known and the direction and timing of the transmission is known, it is possible to accurately estimate a location along the propagation pathway which a transmitted wireless signal has reached at any moment in time. Such a location, which will continually change, may also be referred to as a celestial node. For the purposes of estimating RF energy density, energy in three separate zones may be considered. These are the "near field" zone, the "transition" zone and the "far field" zone. Aptly, the target nodes to which wireless signals are transmitted are, as shown in Figure 3, under such circumstances the transmissions are effectively far field transitions. At distances in the far field the RF radiation appears to have originated at a point source and will thus arrive at a target node substantially in phase. Certain embodiments of the present invention can be utilised in the "near field" or "transition" zone, although some destructive interference may of course occur at the target node. Nevertheless, because such target zones are nearer the energy density is still sufficient to provide desirable signal-to-noise characteristics.

Phase stability in the modulated RF signals arriving at each of the parabolic transmit antennas 200o...n is accomplished through the design and implementation of the RF signal distribution system. Individual RF power dividers, amplifiers, phase-shifters and transmission lines are each carefully electrically matched. This approach provides duplicate copies of the modulated RF signal at each of the parabolic transmit antennas which are sufficiently close in phase to support the required operational accuracy with limited additional phase adjustment of each antenna. Correction of RF signal phase differences, both through the HPA and antenna RF equipment as well as on the intended transmit path, may be accomplished through the use of the phase adjustment system (PAS) associated with each antenna. The phase adjustment range of each PAS is in excess of one hundred and eighty degrees of electrical phase so any required phase angle compensation can be satisfactorily executed. Figure 4 illustrates how each antenna may be separately controlled to ensure that the maximum transmit gain is focussed on the desired target. A networked antenna control unit system 400 is utilised which co-ordinates the pointing angles for each antenna with the desired target. The antenna control units are capable of driving each of the parabolic transmit antennas over a full range of motion to any desired outer space target. The modulated RF transmission signal leaving each of the high power amplifiers 21 0 is band pass filtered in a band pass filter 41 0 in the antenna feed assembly. Following the band pass filter function the band limited RF transmit signal then passes through an orthomode transducer 420 in the antenna feed. This transducer 420 ensures that the RF frequency to be radiated by the transmit antenna 200 exhibits a desired polarisation characteristic. Possible transmit polarisations include linear and/circular modes. Aptly, specific implementations are selectable for different propagation conditions with selection of exact characteristics being performed during each transmission operation. The polarised RF signal energy is then radiated through the antenna feed horn 430 to an antenna reflector 440. Through an RF optical combination of sub-reflector and primary reflector surfaces the RF energy is then focussed towards the intended reception target. Pointing commands 450 are providing by a control station which are provided to an individual antenna control unit 460 for a specific antenna 200 and a motor drive system control unit 470 which actually controls the drive to an antenna reflector 440 and horn support 480.

Aptly, the transmitter systems are provided to produce sufficient output power to achieve a desired signal to noise ratio at a receive site. Table 1 below indicates the signal to noise ratio with the antenna array.

Table 1

ARRAY BASED SPACE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

Element Quantity Units Description

Transmit Array Calculations

No. of Array Elements 100 Number Quantity of antennas making up the transmit array

Operating Frequency 10.7 GHz Frequency of transmission in GHz

Antenna Diameter 9 Meters Transmit array antenna diameter

Antenna Efficiency 70.0% % Estimate of Transmit array efficiency

Antenna Gain 58.52 dB Gain of each antenna making up the array HPA Output Power 2.25 KW Individual transmit power connected to each antenna

HPA to feed Line Length 1 Meters Waveguide feed line from HPA output to antenna feed input

Feed line Loss Meter 0.106 dB WR90 - Loss of the feedline between HPA and antenna feed per Meter

Line loss 0.106 dB Total HPA feed line loss between HPA and antenna

Total Array Gain 78.52 dBi Composite gain of entire transmit array

Input power Per Antenna 33.42 dBW Power input to each antenna, calculated with

HPA power, and feed losses

Total Array Input Power 53.42 dBW Power input to the transmit array, calculated by multiplying input per antenna by antenna quantity

Total Array EIRP 131.94 dBW Total transmit EIRP from the entire array (sum of Total Array Gain and Total Input Power)

Transmission Path Calculations

Atmospheric Loss (Clear Day) 0.1 dB Estimate of atmospheric loss on Earth on a clear day at the transmit site

Atmospheric Loss (Rainy Day) 0.6 dB Estimate of atmospheric loss on Earth on a rainy day at the transmit site

Target Distance 772.7419011 Light-Years Distance from Transmitter to Target Receiver in Light-Years

Target Distance 7.3057E+18 Meters Conversion of Distance to Meters

Spreading Loss 430.31 dB Spreading loss due to transmit range (=((4 pi df)/c)^A2)

Loss to Target (Clear Day) 430.41 dB Total Loss to target on a clear day

(atmospheric + spreading losses)

Loss to Target (Rainy Day) 430.91 dB Total Loss to target on a rainy day

(atmospheric + spreading losses)

Power at Target (Clear Day) -298.47 dBW Power received at target on a clear day

Power at Target (Rainy Day) -298.97 dBW Power received at target on a rainy day

Receive Array Calculations

No. of Array Elements 350 Number Quantity of antennas making up the anticipated receive array

Antenna Diameter 6.3 Meters Receive array antenna diameter

Antenna Efficiency 70.0% % Estimate of Receive array antenna efficiency

Antenna Gain 55.42 dB Gain of each antenna making up receive array

Total Array Gain 80.86 dBi Total gain summed from all antennas in the receive array Receive Performance Calculations

Power at Receiver (Clear Day) -217.61 dBW Power through the transmit array, propagation path, and receive array to the receiver on a clear day

Power at Receiver (Rainy Day) -218.11 dBW Power through the transmit array, propagation path, and receive array to the receiver on a rainy day

Receive System Noise Temperature 50 Degrees K Anticipated received System Noise

Temperature

Signal Bandwidth 5 Hz Signal transmission bandwidth

Boltzmann's Constant

(Clear Day Conditions) -198.60 dBm/K Hz k

C/No Carrier to Noise Density -6.00 dB Clear Sky C/No (total C - kT in dB format)

C/N Carrier to Noise (Rainy Day conditions) -12.99 dB Clear Sky C/N in signal bandwidth

C/No Carrier to Noise Density -6.50 dB Rainy Sky C/No (total C - kT in dB format)

C/N Carrier to Noise -13.49 db Rainy Sky C/N in signal bandwidth

It will be appreciated that the probability of transmitting wireless signals to a civilisation on an inhabited planet significantly improves if transmissions are able to reach out many hundreds or even thousands of light years. This is because signals may selectively be received by multiple stars at the same time. Aptly, to maximise the signal-to-noise output produced at target nodes, the phase excursions of transmitted signals are controlled. Aptly, physical and electrical lengths of RF feed lines are matched as well as reasonably possible into each of the uplink antennas. Aptly, this may be achieved utilising fibre optic links buried in heated cable trays to keep a temperature constant. Optionally or additionally, a feedback mechanism may be utilised whereby transmissions from each antenna are reflected back and the measured signals utilised to alter the phase of each transmitter. This may be achieved using a boresight tower. Aptly, the feedback mechanism utilised is troposcatter. The RF energy is partially reflected from the troposphere (or reflection may be achieved from some distant object in space like LEO or GEO or the moon). These reflective techniques require the use of an additional receive antenna into the antenna array which can receive echo energy and provide a reference for phase adjustment.

Details of the nearest stars to earth are set out in Table 2 below. Table 2

TABLE OF THE EARTH'S NEAREST STARS

distance star magnitude spectral class ascension declination

.000016 ly The Sun -26.9 G2 -23 to +23

4.2 ly Proxima Centauri 11 .3 M5e 14:30 -62:41

4.3 ly Alpha Centauri A .33 GO 14:40 -60:50

4.3 ly Alpha Centauri B 1.70 K5 14:40 -60:50

5.96 ly Barnard's Star 9.5 M5 17:58 +04:34

7.6 ly Wolf 359 13.5 M6e 10:56 +07:01

8.11 ly Lalande 21 185 7.5 M2 11 :03 +35:58

8.7 ly Alpha Sirius -1.47 AO 06:45 -16:43

8.7 ly Beta Sirius 8.3 white dwarf 06:45 -16:43

8.93 ly A Luyten 726-8 12.5 M6e 01 :39 -17:57

8.93 ly B Luyten 726-8 13 M6e 01 :39 -17:57

9.4 ly Ross 154 10.5 dM3.5 V 18:50 -23:50

10.3 ly Ross 248 12.2 M6e 23:42 +44:10

10.7 ly Epsilon Eridani 3.7 K2 03:33 -09:28

10.8 ly Luyten 789-6 12.6 M6 22:38 -15:19

10.8 ly Ross 128 11 .1 M4 11 :48 +00:48

11.1 ly Alpha 61 Cygni 5.6 K5 21 :07 +38:45

11.1 ly Beta 61 Cygni 6.3 K6 21 :07 +38:45

11.3 ly Epsilon Indi 4.7 K5 22:03 -56:47

11.4 ly Alpha Procyon 0.38 F5 07:39 +05:13

11.4 ly Beta Procyon 10.7 white dwarf 07:39 +05:13

11.6 ly Sigma 2398 9 m4 18:43 +59:38

In order to provide a transmitter complex certain embodiments of the present invention may make use of an initial share offering whereby shares in the transmitter complex are offered. Aptly, one hundred initial shares are offered. Purchasors of each one hundredth share become a primary client 1 55 in the primary client group 150 and are allocated one or more broadcast slots daily or weekly or monthly or at some other pre-determined frequency. Such clients may be governmental organisations, religions, sports teams, product manufacturers, wealthy individuals or other companies or the like. Each purchasor of an original share thus purchases an ability to transmit wireless signals having an information content of their selection to one or more target locations in outer space of their choice. Alternatively, they can elect a third party to select content and targets etc. There are a number of instant benefits for such initial purchasors. For example, such a transmitter complex will be the first of its type in human history. Thus, those original purchasors will be the first in time to transmit their own messages into desired regions of outer space. Once such a message has been sent, the laws of physics dictate that nothing will pass it. Purchasors of shares are also provided with access to a truly universal communications platform able to broadcast messages beyond and around the planet. Another benefit is membership of an elite group of influential individuals and institutions or other such parties. This can lead to an enhanced reputation and recognition in the true spirit of being a classic visionary, explorer or adventurer.

Primary clients also gain an advantage of being heard by reaching large geographic and global audiences on the planet earth as will be described hereinafter below in more detail. Primary clients receive joint ownership of the land and transmitter complex and all physical broadcasting assets. They receive an equity participation in a commercial broadcast corporation arranged to control transmission of messages via specific timeslots through a co-ownership arrangement. After an initial period of time a larger majority of the broadcast airtime slots will be made available for resale. Aptly, the initial time period is ten years. Aptly, the initial period is twenty years. Aptly, the amount of broadcast air time will be increased to include one hundred percent of broadcast slots available from the transmitter complex and these are made available for sale to the public advertising market.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide a paradigm shift away from current known communication systems and advertising systems. A co- ordinating entity issues one hundred certificates which will each have a one hundredth security interest over all of the issuer entity's rights, title, interest and benefit in the assets of the issuer. Other numbers of shares could of course optionally be offered. The issuer enters a "forward broadcast commitment agreement" with a broadcasting company under which agreement the issuer commits to purchase eighty percent (80%) of slotted airtime for a fixed duration of twenty years. Aptly, other pre-determined time periods could be utilised. The issuers then enter a series of sub-agreements, one for each individual certificate holder pursuant to which the issuer further assigns one hundredth of the total slotted airtime contracted to each individual certificate holder. Pursuant to each forward broadcast commitment sub-agreement, certificate holders are authorised a daily or weekly or monthly fixed period broadcast of their personal message. Aptly, a ten minute broadcast is allocated. Aptly, each message is one hundred and fifty words long, which is transcribed and subsequently transmitted.

Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of system parts of a mobile terminal in the form of a smartphone 175. More particularly, the smartphone 1 75 includes a microprocessor 500 which co-ordinates control of the various component parts. A user interface (Ul) includes a display 505 and/or keyboard 510. The microprocessor 500 also controls an RF transceiver 520 which transmits wireless signals from an antenna 525 and receives wireless signals via the antenna 525. An analogue to digital converter 530 provides signals to a speaker 535. The analogue to digital converter 530 also receives signals from a microphone 540. A terminal orientation unit 550 includes a compass and/or gyroscope and/or accelerometer and/or GPS which can be utilised to determine the orientation of the smartphone when it is held by a user. A SIM card 560 or other such personal identifier is also connected to the microprocessor 500. The microprocessor 500 also has access to a data store 570 on board the smartphone. The data store 570 includes flash memory and/or SRAM memory.

Figure 6 illustrates how the user display 505 may be utilised to display a region of outer space to which one or more wireless signals have been transmitted. In order to carry out such a display a user of the smartphone 175 first downloads an associated app from a third party server (not shown) associated with the server 1 30. Optionally, the app may be provided in the form of a removable media such as a memory card, memory stick, disc or the like. Together with the app, users making a first download are provided with map data and message information as well as other information needed to be able to render a real time image of the heavens when a user selects a region of the heavens to be displayed on the display. When the app is first launched, information from the server 1 30 is included identifying pre-transmitted wireless signals communicated from the transmitter complex node. This includes target co-ordinates, timings of each transmission and other associated data. Subsequent to download of the app, a re-launch of the app by a user wishing to observe the celestial nodes pulls update data from the server 130 including only information which is new relative to the last access. In this way, a user of the smartphone 175 is continually kept up to date with what wireless signals have been transmitted, and to where, from the transmitter complex node 1 10.

As illustrated in Figure 6, as a user moves their smartphone 175 around the orientation of the terminal and location of the terminal and the time at the terminal is utilised to generate a picture of the stars and other celestial nodes located in the direction in which the terminal is pointing. In addition, as the smartphone 175 is located so as to point towards a node where a pre-transmitted signal has reached at that moment in time (or alternatively to which a signal is being sent), message information is displayed in a region 600 of the display 505. For example, as illustrated in Figure 6, when a primary client 155 has selected transmission of a message to a star 195 and when the user terminal is located so as to point at or near to that star 195, then a box 600 containing message information is automatically generated and displayed adjacent to the star. The message information may include optionally a logo 605 associated with the entity making the transmission together with optional textual content 61 0 and/or optionally a link 620 to a website associated with the transmitting entity or other designated party. In this way, an advert (ad) which may be in the form of the textual information 610 and/or the logo and/or access to a website may be served selectively depending upon the relevance of the ad to a celestial node displayed on the display of a user terminal. This is carried out by the app or application software running on the smartphone accepting one or more celestial nodes which are at that moment in time on view in the display of the terminal and comparing this to one or more possible ads which are pre-loaded onto the smartphone 1 75 either at an initial download stage or via repeated updates served whenever an app is launched. Whilst only message information associated with one ad is illustrated in Figure 6, it will be appreciated that a similar box 600 (which may of course be of any size and shape and may merely comprise a logo and/or text and/or link itself) containing ads and/or other information associated with other celestial nodes may simultaneously be displayed in the display area 650 of the display 505. Figure 7 illustrates a system architecture for the server node 130 of the overall communication system in more detail together with how this communicates with one or more viewing terminals such as a smartphone 1 75 and how content and target details are received from a web browser 701 of a primary client 155 (the same is true for secondary clients 165). Subsequent to being allocated time slots the client uses the internet browser on their computer to access an eCommerce site operated by the co-ordinating entity or their designated party. The internet browser 701 may be any known to those skilled in the art such as Microsoft Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or the like. Aptly, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or a more secure version HTTPS is used to communicate with the website. Subsequent to the client accessing the eCommerce website, the client's browser 701 communicates with the co-ordinating entity's eCommerce system 710. This system corresponds to the server node 1 30 shown in Figure 1 . The eCommerce system 710 is an integrated system that comprises different kinds of hardware and software sub-systems. The eCommerce system 710 includes a web server 720 which delivers web pages to a browser across the internet 140. These web pages are the pages that the user of the browser 701 sees and the web server 720 runs software that receives and processes requests for web pages from users. The web pages 725 are stored as files on a storage disc that the web server 720 reads and sends to the requesting browser 701 . Other ways of delivering web pages are of course possible according to certain other embodiments of the present invention. The web server 720 may be any type of known web server such as Microsoft IIS or Apache or the like. An optional database 730 is provided to store client information such as customer account records, pre-transmitted message data, or the like. The database 730 may be any known database such as Oracle, Sybase, DB2 or the like. The eCommerce system 710 interacts with the external transmitter complex 1 10 to provide target locations together with information to be transmitted to the transmitter complex 1 10. Aptly, the eCommerce system 71 0 communicates with the transmitter complex 1 1 0 through a direct connection, although any other type of connection mechanism such as a dedicated frame relay circuit connection 1 25 via over the internet 140 or the like can of course be utilised according to certain other embodiments of the present invention.

Likewise, it will be appreciated that instead of or in addition to the serving of ads, certain embodiments of the present invention may be used to serve messages to a terminal user when a user selects a region where a wireless signal has been transmitted. The messages delivered to the terminal may be SMS or MMS messages or the like. Aptly, the messages are instant messages.

The eCommerce system 710 includes an application server 740 which performs general business specific logic operations and sends data to the web server. The application server 740 also processes data and sends formatted output to a user. A client module 750 is integrated into the eCommerce system 71 0. This is connected to a manager's console 755 which displays output from the system to an employee of the co-ordinating entity.

Subsequent to the purchase of a share from the co-ordinating entity, the primary client 155 can thereafter log onto a website associated with the transmitter complex 1 1 0 at a pre-determined regular or non-regular period. Aptly, the client or, more specifically a designated content provider associated with the primary client 155, logs onto the website via their browser 701 and selects a target location such as a celestial node like a planet and provides content for a message to be transmitted wirelessly to that planet from the transmitter complex 1 10. This is achieved by filling in pre-determined data fields on the website. This information is communicated to the eCommerce system 710 which extracts client specific data from the supplied information and passes this as target co-ordinates and timings and content to the transmitter complex 1 10. Subsequent to the receipt of this information, a wireless signal is transmitted from the transmitter complex 1 10 to the target location which may or may not have been selected by the primary client 155. The timings of transmission are regulated by a schedular associated with the transmitter complex. Optionally, a moderator will validate each message prior to transmission to see that the content satisfies pre-determined standards. The data payload sent as a wireless signal includes the message input by the primary client via their browser 701 formulated in a format suitable for wireless transmission as previously described.

An initial app download to a smartphone 175 occurs via the internet 140 from a third party server such as an Apple™ or Google™ server or the like. The initial download includes the software which enables the smartphone 175 or other user terminal to generate star chart images on a user display. When the app is first launched, data, current at the time of download, including data associated with all wireless signals so far transmitted from the transmitter complex 1 10 to associated target nodes at that point in time is sent to the smartphone. Subsequently, whenever a smartphone user launches the app on their smartphone, the eCommerce system 710 provides an update including data identifying wireless signals transmitted from the transmitter complex 1 10 in an intervening time between a last download or update and the update request. Message data which can be utilised to display message information on a user terminal is also updated. The message information is aptly informational or personal in nature or advertisements or instant messages or graphical or sounds or music or combinations thereof.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of them mean "including but not limited to" and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A method of providing message information to a user of a user terminal, comprising the steps of:

determining user terminal parameters for a user terminal; determining the location of at least one celestial node associated with a respective pre-transmitted wireless signal; and

responsive to said user terminal parameters, providing message information, at a user interface of the user terminal, associated with said pre- transmitted wireless signal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said step of determining terminal parameters further comprises:

determining a location of the user terminal;

determining a time at the user terminal; and

determining an orientation of the user terminal.

The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

determining the orientation of the user terminal by determining an azimuth of the user terminal with a compass of the user terminal and/or determining an altitude of the user terminal with a gyroscope or an accelerometer of the user terminal.

The method as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a map comprising a plurality of celestial nodes on a display of the user terminal.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

providing map data comprising the position of a plurality of displayable celestial bodies via an application pre-loaded on the user terminal.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

providing map data comprising the position of a plurality of displayable celestial bodies to the user terminal via a wireless communication link.

7. The method as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising the steps of:

displaying message information at respective locations on the displayed map, said message information generated from message data provided at the user terminal.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

providing message data comprising at least one of text data and/or a company logo data and/or image data and/or message sender data associated with said transmitted wireless signal to the user terminal via a wireless communication signal.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

providing said message data in real time.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

as the user terminal is relocated by a user, and in real time, determining further user terminal parameters and displaying further celestial nodes and message information associated with said further nodes responsive to said further parameters.

1 1 . The method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the celestial node comprises a location of a pre-determined celestial body or a current location reached by said pre-transmitted wireless signal.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein said celestial body comprises a planet or a star or a moon or an asteroid or an asteroid belt or a galaxy.

13. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the celestial node comprises a location of a pre-determined celestial constellation.

14. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the celestial node comprises a celestial sphere zone.

15. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the celestial node comprises a spacecraft or space station or man-made space vehicle.

16. Apparatus for providing message information to a user terminal, comprising:

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising:

the service provider node comprises a map data store that stores map data comprising the position of a plurality of celestial bodies displayable on the user terminal.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, further comprising:

the service provider node comprises a message data store that stores message data associated with the pre-transmitted wireless signal.

19. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, further comprising:

the service provider node is connectable to at least one transmitter that selectively transmits at least one wireless signal to at least one selected celestial node.

20. Apparatus for transmitting a wireless signal to a celestial node, comprising: at least one parabolic transmit antenna node each comprising an antenna reflector member and feed horn element; and

an information source that receives transmittable material from a schedular node; wherein

21 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

each antenna node further comprises a phase adjustment module that selects a phase of transmission for the respective transmission whereby respective transmissions from all of the antenna nodes are detectable at a target celestial node substantially in-phase.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 or 21 , further comprising:

the antenna reflector member and feed horn element of each antenna node are together independently locatable with respect to antenna reflectors and feed horns of remaining antenna nodes.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

the at least one antenna node comprises a plurality of antenna nodes, said apparatus further comprising:

24. A method of advertising, comprising the steps of:

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising: transmitting a wireless signal associated with the client from at least one transmitter element to said a celestial node.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting a wireless signal to a pre-determined celestial node simultaneously from a plurality of transmitter antennas.

27. A computer-implemented method for controlling serving of an ad using relevancy to a celestial node displayed on a display of a user terminal, comprising:

28. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

each possible ad is an advert associated with a respective wireless signal transmitted to a respective celestial node.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

determining, by the computer system, the relevancy of the ad using a result of the comparison.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, further comprising:

utilising the relevancy of the ad to determine said at least one respective ad.

31 . A method of sending personal messages, comprising the steps of: when an image comprising an image of a celestial node to which a wireless signal associated with a client has been transmitted, is displayed on a display of a user terminal, sending a personal message to the user terminal.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31 , further comprising:

sending said a personal message as an instant message to the user terminal.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising:

displaying the instant message at or proximate to the location of the celestial node in the image.

34. A computer-implemented method for controlling serving of a personal message using relevancy to a celestial node displayed on a display of a user terminal, comprising:

comparing, by the computer system, the accepted data with celestial targeting data associated with a plurality of possible personal messages; and displaying at least one respective personal message on the user display responsive to said comparison.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising:

serving the personal message as an instant message.

36. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

37. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.