# 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. - **Patent:** US 12464567 - **Original title:** Random access for broadband 4G and 5G over satellite - **Owner:** Lockheed Martin Corp - **Granted:** 2025 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** telecommunications, aerospace, consumer_electronics ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Satellite-to-mobile 5G direct-to-device services 2. Remote industrial IoT satellite terminals 3. Maritime and aviation broadband satellite links ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12464567/raptor-future **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12464567 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Satellites Handle Super Fast User Data Using Shared Antennas](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8135338/satellite-system-with-enhanced-payload-capacity) — This patent describes a satellite system boosting data capacity by having satellites receive high-speed user data, relay it via crosslinks to other satellites, and then send it to ground stations, often using a single antenna for both user and ground connections. - [How LEO Satellites Switch Beams for Speed and Avoid Interference](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11902010/dual-leo-satellite-system-and-method-for-global-coverage) — This patent describes a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system that provides global internet by switching users to faster, focused beams when needed, while also preventing interference with older, higher-orbit satellites. - [High-Flying Aircraft Relays Satellite Internet to Ground Users](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10707961/adaptive-communication-system) — This patent describes a communication system that uses satellites, high-altitude aircraft, and ground stations to send data, specifically using lasers for space links and cloud-penetrating radio waves for ground links. - [How High-Altitude Satellites Relay Data for Fast-Moving Low-Orbit Satellites](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10998965/high-throughput-satellites-and-methods-of-operating-high-throughput-satellites-f) — This patent describes how a high-throughput satellite (HTS) in a fixed orbit can dynamically track and relay data from fast-moving low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to ground stations by precisely switching its focused radio beams. - [How 5G Networks Coordinate AI Models Across Different Devices](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20230412513/providing-distributed-ai-models-in-communication-networks-and-related-nodesdevic) — A method for 5G networks to translate AI requirements into network performance settings so that AI models can run efficiently across cloud, edge, and local devices.