The program is part of the products developed for a company called LEOCell. They specialize in remote data acquisition and data mining. The main product is the so-called LEOCell hybrid communicator. This product consists of a software program for the client (the RDSU program) and a remote unit that can be either of the following:

1. A Siemens Cellular phone modem unit or

2. A STELLAR Data Communicator (EL-2000). This Communicator use the ORBCOMM LEO satellite network to transmit data.

The development of the so-called Cell part of the product was finished in March 1998 and was demonstrated at a ORBCOMM conference. The remote unit was developed by LektraTek and consists of a microprocessor connected to a SIEMENS cell phone module. The unit is totally self-contained with a solar panel and rechargeable battery-pack. The unit needs no attendance at all and can operate continuously for years. The remote unit activates it's cell phone module at certain time intervals (10 minutes every hour) to save power. In that awaken time-frame, the RDSU program calls the remote unit automatically and downloads it's data. The data is stored over a one week period in EEPROM memory. The program will phone all the modules automatically.

The LEO (Low Earth Orbit satellites) part of the product imply the following: In principle the Cell phone module is replaced with the STELLAR Data Communicator. This unit communicates directly with the LEO satellites and this means that data can now be downloaded from any place on earth (ORBCOMM plans to have all 29 satellites in orbit by 2000 for total global coverage). The data is downloaded to certain earth stations and from there it is sent via E-mail to the RDSU program.

RDSU Examples

The data download in action via CellPhone network

The GIS map showing stations.

Each station can be configured by the operator.