LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Iridium: Iridium System
built 636 days ago
A SOSI derived protocol using Iridium transport is used to send blocks of data on preset schedules or by interrogation. This two-way communications allows users to monitor instrumentation and modify sampling parameters and routines on command. SOSI can provide end-to-end data acquisition and dissemination through dial in servers and support. Data delivery by email or web based displays can be custom tailored to meet specific user requirements. SOSI provides high quality, reliable and secure solutions for your Iridium based integrated data collection and telemetry system needs.
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Iridium is a profitable company and has been since 2004. Business is growing at an impressive rate with the constant acquisition of new customers and partners both domestically and abroad in some of the furthest reaches of the planet. These individuals recognize the value of a system that is global, secure and guaranteed to work.
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With the original service start on November 1, 1998, Iridium LLC (founded in 1991 and having invested about $7 billion) announced the end of commercial service on March 17, 2000. The service had been relaunched on March 28, 2001. The concept for the Iridium system was proposed by Motorola engineers Ray Leopold, Ken Peterson, and Bary Bertiger. They envision a constellation of low orbiting satellites. Research and development began in 1987.
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In addition, Iridium is working with Boeing on an effort called "iGPS." iGPS is an initiative that the U.S. Government is looking at that uses the Iridium system to augment GPS signals to provide more robust anti-jam and interference protection, improved operations in restrictive environments, enhanced availability and extremely high accuracy. Technical trials are underway and have so far demonstrated the capability for iGPS to provide centimeter-level position accuracy, a significant improvement over current GPS capabilities. Boeing and Iridium are partnering to demonstrate initial capabilities of the system to the DoD by 2010.
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The Iridium system requires 66 active satellites in orbit to complete its constellation, with spare satellites in orbit to fill in case of failure. Satellites are in low Earth orbit at a height of approximately 485 miles (780 km) and inclination of 86.4°. Satellites communicate with neighbouring satellites via intersatellite links. Each satellite can have four intersatellite links: two to neighbors fore and aft in the same orbital plane, and two to satellites in neighboring planes to either side. The satellites orbit from pole to pole with an orbit of roughly 100 minutes. This design means that there is excellent satellite visibility and service coverage at the North and South poles, where there are few customers.
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The new Iridium service will incorporate end-to-end encryption for secure communications. Built-in safeguards will ensure that only defined users can receive, participate in or terminate broadcasts or nets. It ... will allow for integrating and relaying terrestrial radios and tying into terrestrial trunked radio systems. Multiple call types will be possible, including private mode, one-way broadcast mode and priority interrupt.
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Iridium System