How Satellites Sync Timing for Faster 5G Internet Connections
A method for terminal devices to calculate precise timing offsets when connecting to 5G satellite networks, reducing the need for constant data updates from base stations.
Original patent title: “Random access for broadband 4G and 5G over satellite”
A method for terminal devices to calculate precise timing offsets when connecting to 5G satellite networks, reducing the need for constant data updates from base stations. Granted to Lockheed Martin Corp in 2025 with 19 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a way for a user's device (like a satellite phone or remote terminal) to figure out exactly when to send data to a satellite so it arrives at the base station at the right moment. Because satellites move quickly and are very far away, signals take time to travel, which can cause data collisions. The device uses a pre-agreed rule (a convention) that links the satellite's internal clock (System Frame Numbers) to a global time reference (GNSS time). By comparing when a signal arrives from the satellite to when it was supposedly sent, the device calculates a 'timing advance' to offset its own transmission. This allows the device to 'pre-compensate' for the delay, ensuring its data hits the base station's network window perfectly.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on real-time satellite ephemeris data broadcasts from the base station.
- Does not cover terrestrial-only 5G networks that do not utilize satellite relays.
- Does not cover methods that do not use a pre-established convention relating system frame numbers to a GNSS epoch.
- Does not cover non-broadband satellite communication protocols.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in shifting the burden of timing calculation from the base station to the terminal device by using a pre-agreed mathematical convention, effectively turning the terminal into a self-correcting clock.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Satellite-to-mobile 5G direct-to-device services
Remote industrial IoT satellite terminals
Maritime and aviation broadband satellite links
Why it matters
The bigger picture
As 5G expands into space, managing the massive latency of satellite links becomes a major bottleneck. By allowing devices to calculate their own timing offsets, this method reduces the overhead on the base station, which would otherwise have to constantly broadcast satellite position data to every single user. This is essential for scaling satellite-based internet services to thousands of simultaneous users.
Filed
July 13, 2023
Granted
November 4, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Lockheed Martin is a major player in space-based communications and is likely integrating this into their satellite bus and ground station architectures. Other companies working in the direct-to-cell satellite space, such as SpaceX (Starlink) and AST SpaceMobile, are actively solving similar timing synchronization challenges.
Market impact
This patent addresses a critical efficiency hurdle for the emerging direct-to-device satellite market. By optimizing how terminals access the network, it helps enable the commercial viability of high-speed satellite broadband that can interoperate with standard 5G protocols without requiring specialized, high-power equipment at every user location.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a way for a user's device (like a satellite phone or remote terminal) to figure out exactly when to send data to a satellite so it arrives at the base station at the right moment. Because satellites move quickly and are very far away, signals take time to travel, which can cause data collisions. The device uses a pre-agreed rule (a convention) that links the satellite's internal clock (System Frame Numbers) to a global time reference (GNSS time). By comparing when a signal arrives from the satellite to when it was supposedly sent, the device calculates a 'timing advance' to offset its own transmission. This allows the device to 'pre-compensate' for the delay, ensuring its data hits the base station's network window perfectly.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in shifting the burden of timing calculation from the base station to the terminal device by using a pre-agreed mathematical convention, effectively turning the terminal into a self-correcting clock.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on real-time satellite ephemeris data broadcasts from the base station.
- Does not cover terrestrial-only 5G networks that do not utilize satellite relays.
- Does not cover methods that do not use a pre-established convention relating system frame numbers to a GNSS epoch.
- Does not cover non-broadband satellite communication protocols.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
13/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$41K – $131K
Midpoint $82K · 17.1 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
19 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Liu, X. (2025). How Satellites Sync Timing for Faster 5G Internet Connections (U.S. Patent No. 12,464,567). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12464567/raptor-future
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Satellites Sync Timing for Faster 5G Internet Connections cover?
A method for terminal devices to calculate precise timing offsets when connecting to 5G satellite networks, reducing the need for constant data updates from base stations.
Who owns patent US 12464567?
Lockheed Martin Corp owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on November 4, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
As 5G expands into space, managing the massive latency of satellite links becomes a major bottleneck. By allowing devices to calculate their own timing offsets, this method reduces the overhead on the base station, which would otherwise have to constantly broadcast satellite position data to every single user. This is essential for scaling satellite-based internet services to thousands of simultaneous users.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that rely solely on real-time satellite ephemeris data broadcasts from the base station.
Patent monitoring