Emergency communication system and method
By introducing satellite communication links and wireless ad hoc network technology between base station nodes, dynamic switching and distribution of data between satellite communication links and wireless ad hoc networks are achieved, solving the single point of failure problem of traditional communication systems in disaster environments and improving the survivability and resource utilization efficiency of emergency communication systems.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ANHUI ZHUOYU INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-16
AI Technical Summary
When faced with regional fiber optic cable outages, critical node failures, or natural disasters, traditional communication networks are prone to simultaneous failure of primary and backup links, leading to communication interruptions. Existing emergency communication systems cannot effectively avoid single-point isolation and low resource utilization efficiency.
By employing satellite communication links and wireless ad hoc network technology, and through the exchange of status information between base station nodes and intelligent routing scheduling, dynamic switching and diversion of data between satellite communication links and wireless ad hoc networks are achieved. Combined with optical switches and backup baseband processing units, millisecond-level physical switching and multi-path transmission are realized.
In extreme disaster environments, the system can automatically switch to an independent satellite channel to avoid simultaneous failure of the primary and backup routes, improve network accessibility and resource utilization efficiency, ensure business continuity and survivability resilience, and achieve multiple backup paths and bandwidth aggregation.
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Figure CN121865244B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of emergency communications, and specifically to an emergency communications system and method. Background Technology
[0002] In traditional communication network protection schemes, backup links typically employ one of the following methods:
[0003] Same-path backup: Add redundant equipment or lines to the primary link, such as primary / backup BBU, optical path 1+1 protection, etc., while still sharing the same optical fiber physical route or transmission node.
[0004] Local detour: Routing is replaced only in certain segments, such as using microwave or different fiber optic routes in the access segment, but the whole still relies on the same terrestrial transmission network and core network access point.
[0005] Logical redundancy: Disaster recovery is achieved through the protocol layer, but the physical paths are not truly separated.
[0006] Such designs have always been limited to enhancing or repairing existing links. In the event of regional fiber optic cable outages, critical node failures, or natural disasters, both primary and backup links may fail simultaneously. Summary of the Invention
[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention proposes an emergency communication system and method.
[0008] The objective of this invention can be achieved through the following technical solutions:
[0009] A first aspect of the present invention relates to an emergency communication method applied in a wireless ad hoc network comprising multiple base station nodes, wherein at least some of the base station nodes are configured with satellite communication links; the method is executed by a local node among the base station nodes and includes the following steps:
[0010] Obtain status information broadcast by at least one neighboring station node, the status information including link performance parameters of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring station node;
[0011] Based on the aforementioned status information and the satellite communication link status of this station node, schedule operation one and / or schedule operation two are performed on the service data;
[0012] The scheduling operation includes the following steps: determining a first transmission performance index for data transmission via the satellite communication link of the local node, and determining a second transmission performance index for the composite path of data transmission via the wireless ad hoc network to the neighboring node and then via the satellite communication link of the neighboring node based on the status information, and selecting a forwarding path based on the comparison result of the first transmission performance index and the second transmission performance index.
[0013] The second scheduling operation includes the following steps: When the data traffic to be transmitted meets the preset bandwidth aggregation conditions, the data to be transmitted is divided into a first data portion and a second data portion. The first data portion is transmitted through the satellite communication link of the local node, and the second data portion is routed to the neighboring node through the wireless ad hoc network for transmission via the satellite communication link of the neighboring node. Optionally, the link performance parameters include at least: the on / off status of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring node, the remaining available bandwidth, and the data queue load level.
[0014] Optionally, the first transmission performance indicator is the first transmission delay, and the second transmission performance indicator is the second transmission delay; the step of selecting a forwarding path specifically includes: comparing the first transmission delay and the second transmission delay, and selecting the path with the minimum delay as the forwarding path.
[0015] Optionally, the preset bandwidth aggregation condition is: the data traffic to be transmitted exceeds the current available bandwidth of the satellite communication link of this station node.
[0016] Optionally, the base station node to which the method is applied includes a radio frequency remote unit, a primary baseband processing unit connected to the wired backhaul link, and a backup baseband processing unit connected to the satellite communication link; the method further includes:
[0017] Before performing the scheduling operation, an optical path switching unit is set between the radio frequency remote unit and the primary and backup baseband processing units. When a fault is detected in the primary baseband processing unit or the wired backhaul link is interrupted, the physical optical path connection of the radio frequency remote unit is switched from the primary baseband processing unit to the backup baseband processing unit.
[0018] Optionally, the step of detecting a fault in the primary baseband processing unit or an interruption in the wired backhaul link includes: the optical path switching unit monitors the optical signal power from the direction of the primary baseband processing unit, and when the optical signal power is lower than a preset threshold, performs a switch of the physical connection of the optical path.
[0019] A second aspect of the present invention relates to an emergency communication system applied in a wireless ad hoc network comprising multiple base station nodes, wherein the system is located at one of the base station nodes and has a satellite communication link; the system includes:
[0020] The information acquisition unit is configured to acquire status information broadcast by at least one neighboring station node, the status information including link performance parameters of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring station node;
[0021] The routing scheduling unit is configured to perform the following scheduling operation one and / or scheduling operation two on service data based on the status information and the satellite communication link status of the local node;
[0022] The scheduling operation includes the following steps: determining a first transmission performance index for data transmission via the satellite communication link of the local node, and determining a second transmission performance index for the composite path of data transmission via the wireless ad hoc network to the neighboring node and then via the satellite communication link of the neighboring node based on the status information, and selecting a forwarding path based on the comparison result of the first transmission performance index and the second transmission performance index.
[0023] The second scheduling operation includes the following steps: when the data traffic to be transmitted meets the preset bandwidth aggregation conditions, the data to be transmitted is divided into a first data part and a second data part, the first data part is controlled to be sent through the satellite communication link of the local node, and the second data part is controlled to be routed to the neighboring node through the wireless ad hoc network, so as to be sent through the satellite communication link of the neighboring node.
[0024] Optionally, the link performance parameters include at least: the on / off status of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring station node, the remaining available bandwidth, and the data queue load level.
[0025] Optionally, the routing scheduling unit is specifically configured to: determine the first transmission performance indicator as the first transmission delay and the second transmission performance indicator as the second transmission delay; compare the first transmission delay and the second transmission delay, and select the path with the minimum delay as the forwarding path.
[0026] Optionally, when the routing scheduling unit determines that the data traffic to be transmitted exceeds the current available bandwidth of the satellite communication link of the local node, it determines that the preset bandwidth aggregation condition is met.
[0027] Beneficial effects:
[0028] The technical solution of this invention effectively improves the survivability and service continuity of emergency communication systems in extreme disaster environments. By introducing optical switches and a thermal backup baseband processing unit (backup BBU) at the physical layer, the system can automatically switch the radio frequency link to an independent satellite channel within milliseconds after the primary ground fiber optic cable is interrupted. This design achieves complete decoupling between the backup link and the ground transmission infrastructure, effectively avoiding the risk of simultaneous failure of primary and backup routes due to regional optical cable damage in traditional solutions, and ensuring that a single base station can quickly transform into an independently surviving micro base station after the public network is lost.
[0029] Furthermore, the communication system of this invention utilizes MESH self-organizing network technology to construct a collaborative rescue mechanism among base stations, breaking the limitation of traditional base stations easily becoming isolated single points during disasters. When the local satellite link of a certain site becomes unusable due to physical obstruction, equipment failure, or congestion, the system can automatically discover and borrow available satellite links from neighboring sites for data relay, thereby providing multiple backup paths for disaster-stricken sites and significantly improving network accessibility in complex geographical environments.
[0030] Finally, regarding resource utilization efficiency, this invention resolves the contradiction between limited satellite bandwidth and diverse service demands through a cross-layer optimized intelligent routing strategy. The system can not only dynamically calculate and select the optimal path for direct satellite connection or MESH multi-hop based on the service's latency sensitivity, but also perform bandwidth aggregation when facing large volumes of data, segmenting the data and transmitting it in parallel through multiple heterogeneous links. Attached Figure Description
[0031] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the SDN-controlled fiber-to-satellite switching process of this application;
[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the emergency communication system of this application;
[0034] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the link structure of the emergency communication system of this application;
[0035] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the MESH self-organizing network in this application;
[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the local base station connection relationship in this application. Detailed Implementation
[0037] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0038] In some embodiments of the present invention, an emergency communication system is disclosed, including a transmission and control subsystem, a base station equipment subsystem, and a power supply system.
[0039] The transmission and control subsystem is configured with dual-route fiber optic links and a Ku-band satellite link.
[0040] The transmission and control subsystem includes a 1×2 optical switch, a satellite ground station, and satellite resources. Specifically, the optical switch connects the primary BBU, backup BBU, and RRU, and is responsible for switching signals between the fiber optic and satellite links. The satellite ground station includes an automatic tracking satellite antenna (parabolic antenna), a high-power amplifier (BUC), a low-noise downconverter (LNB), and a satellite modem.
[0041] In some examples, the satellite resources mentioned may use high-throughput satellites such as AsiaSat 6D, providing uplink 5Mbps / downlink 10Mbps transmission rates.
[0042] The base station equipment subsystem includes a primary BBU (Base Band Unit), a backup BBU, and a remote unit (RRU). The primary BBU handles services in non-emergency situations and connects to terrestrial fiber optic cables. The backup BBU is dedicated to emergency mode and connects to satellite transmission equipment. The RRU is responsible for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, directly serving user mobile terminals.
[0043] The power supply system includes photovoltaic modules and energy storage devices. The energy storage devices can be, but are not limited to, high-density lithium battery systems or large-capacity lead-acid batteries, ensuring continuous operation during cloudy or rainy days or when the mains power is interrupted.
[0044] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the entire system consists of the user side (mobile phone / CPE), base station site (RRU, primary / backup BBU, 1×2 optical switch, controller), satellite link (ground station, high-throughput satellite), and core network, forming two physically isolated backhaul paths:
[0045] Primary path (terrestrial fiber): User equipment → Radio interface → RRU → 1×2 optical switch (primary port) → Primary BBU → Carrier core network.
[0046] Backup path (satellite link): User equipment → Radio interface → RRU → 1×2 optical switch (backup port) → Backup BBU → Satellite ground station → High-throughput satellite → Satellite private network → Carrier core network.
[0047] Its core automatic switching and collaborative working mechanism is described step by step as follows:
[0048] Step 1: Routine Operation and Monitoring
[0049] When the system is working normally, the 1×2 optical switch will connect the transmission optical path of the RRU to the primary BBU by default, and the service flow will be transmitted through the primary path.
[0050] The policy router is configured locally and continuously pings one or a group of domestic public IP addresses through the IP link established by the primary BBU, thereby serving as a global heartbeat detection for the entire site's internet access status.
[0051] Step 2: Fault Detection and Triggering
[0052] When a disaster causes an uplink fiber optic cable interruption in the primary BBU, two parallel fault detection and response mechanisms at different levels will be triggered simultaneously:
[0053] a. Automatic Physical Layer Switching: A 1×2 optical switch located between the RRU and BBU monitors the optical power from the primary port in real time. Upon detecting a loss of optical signal, the switch immediately and automatically performs a physical switch, changing the RRU's optical path from the "primary port" to the "backup port," thereby directing service flow to the backup BBU. This process is entirely completed at the hardware level, is extremely fast, and is the first line of defense for uninterrupted service.
[0054] b. Network Layer State Awareness and Satellite Wake-up: Almost simultaneously, the controller will detect that all its continuously sent Ping requests have timed out and no response has been received. Based on this, the controller logic determines that "this site has lost connection with the public network." Note that this determination is an IP layer result and does not depend on the action of the optical switch.
[0055] Step 3: Backup Link Activation and Service Recovery
[0056] After determining that the network is interrupted, the controller sends "wake-up" and "activation" commands to its only controlled object—the satellite ground station.
[0057] After receiving the instruction, the satellite ground station starts up, completes the process of satellite alignment and uplink power calibration, establishes a stable wireless connection with the high-throughput satellite, and accesses the operator's core network through the satellite operator's private network.
[0058] At this point, the backup path is fully operational: the service flows through the optical switch (already switched to the backup port) → backup BBU → (activated) satellite ground station → satellite, and finally reaches the core network, thus restoring communication services.
[0059] like Figure 2 As shown, when an emergency causes a network outage, the system can use the following methods to switch links.
[0060] When the primary BBU goes offline due to a fiber optic cable interruption, the connection channel is physically switched from the failed primary BBU to the backup BBU via an optical switch. Correspondingly, the signal path of the RRU is redirected to the backup BBU.
[0061] After the physical handover is completed, a new signal transmission path is established, and the specific process is as follows:
[0062] The first step is that the user's mobile phone signal is received by the antenna and transmitted to the RRU in the form of radio frequency signal.
[0063] The second step is optical signal fronthaul, where the RRU converts the RF signal into a CPRI / eCPRI optical signal. This optical signal passes through a 1×2 optical switch and is directly transmitted to the backup BBU. At this point, the backup BBU is in warm standby mode and takes over the baseband processing tasks.
[0064] The third step is that after the backup BBU processes the baseband signal, it converts it into a standard Ethernet signal, which is then transmitted to the satellite ground station via a network cable.
[0065] The fourth step involves the satellite ground station modulating the Ethernet signal and establishing a satellite link via a parabolic antenna. The signal is then uplinked to a high-throughput satellite (e.g., AsiaSat 6D), downlinked to the satellite gateway station, and finally connected to the operator's core network.
[0066] In the above embodiments, the warm standby state can be configured according to the following conditions: In the warm standby state, the standby BBU is powered on and the operating system has started. When configuring the standby BBU, cell parameters (e.g., but not limited to frequency point, PCI, transmit power) and RRU topology data are pre-loaded into memory. In the warm standby state, the optical port laser of the standby BBU is in the on or monitoring mode, but it is in a standby listening state before receiving the optical signal from the RRU.
[0067] like Figure 3 As shown, some embodiments of this application disclose a master-slave deployment architecture for base stations, specifically including a master station and several sub-stations.
[0068] The master station is typically a regional aggregation node or macro base station, responsible for coverage and traffic aggregation over a large area. Specifically, the master station has two sets of transmission interfaces: one connects to the terrestrial fiber optic transmission network, and the other connects to the high-throughput satellite ground station.
[0069] Compared to substations, the satellite terminals of the main station have a larger bandwidth throughput capacity, which can carry the normal business traffic of the station.
[0070] During main station operation, the system monitors the connectivity and signal quality of the primary fiber optic link in real time. Upon detecting a fiber optic interruption (such as an optical power alarm (LOS)), the system triggers switching logic. The routing module automatically redirects the service data stream from the optical port to the satellite ground station's network port. The data is then uploaded to the satellite via the satellite link and finally terminated at the core network gateway to restore service. Before the fiber optic cable is repaired, the satellite link ensures that the base station remains operational and services are uninterrupted.
[0071] In some existing technologies, substations are typically distributed remote radio unit (RRU) sites or perimeter blind spot sites, usually relying on the master station or the next higher level transmission node.
[0072] In some embodiments of this application, the substation has independent survivability. That is, by adding auxiliary micro BBU equipment, when the uplink optical cable is interrupted, the substation can activate the local micro BBU, transforming itself from an antenna node into an independent micro base station. At the same time, deploying the satellite ground station directly on the tower achieves single-point-level communication assurance.
[0073] Firstly, the switching of the optical switch is in the millisecond range, but because the controller ping packets are in the second range, the overall switching time is within 3 seconds. During the time between the optical switch and the controller triggering, the link will not be disconnected after switching from the primary link to the backup link. The backup link is always connected. The switch only realizes the link switching, while the controller realizes the data connection.
[0074] As defined above in the warm standby state definition, the standby BBU has already been configured with data during initial installation and does not need to obtain data from the primary BBU.
[0075] When a substation detects an interruption in its main optical fiber connection to the master station or core network (uplink interruption), it activates the link layer and network element layer. Specifically, at the link layer, the satellite ground station is activated, establishing a physical connection with the satellite. At the network element layer, the backup BBU is automatically started or taken over; the baseband signal, originally processed by the remote (primary BBU), is now handled by the local backup BBU. The backup BBU in the substation establishes a tunnel connection directly with the core network via the satellite link. The substation then restores signal coverage, ensuring communication continuity in isolated areas.
[0076] In some embodiments of the present invention, the emergency communication system includes a physical link layer and a network routing layer.
[0077] The physical link layer performs rapid, hardware-based primary-backup switching at the BBU level via optical switches.
[0078] The network routing layer constructs dynamic and intelligent backup paths at the IP network level through MESH self-organizing networks and policy routers, and merges different backup links (such as satellites) into a single logical channel.
[0079] More specifically, the optical switch can be an M × N port matrix (e.g., 1 × 2, 2 × 4, 1 × N, etc.). Each port connects to a physical optical fiber.
[0080] Upon receiving a control command, its internal microelectromechanical system, liquid crystal, or waveguide technology can physically switch the optical signal from any input port to any one (or more) output ports within milliseconds. This process does not involve photoelectric-to-electro-optical conversion; it is a pure optical path switching, resulting in extremely low latency and transparent speed.
[0081] Switching / flipping mode is an important operating mode for optical switches. In some examples, a 1×2 optical switch is configured so that the input optical signal is output from the primary port under normal conditions. When a switching command is received, the internal optical path changes, and the same input signal is switched to the backup port for output, thereby realizing the protection switching of the physical optical path.
[0082] like Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown, each node in a MESH network has routing and forwarding capabilities.
[0083] Nodes automatically discover neighbors and exchange network topology information via wireless links.
[0084] When data needs to be transmitted, data packets can dynamically jump between multiple nodes, automatically selecting the path with the best quality, fewest hops, or most stable path to reach the target node.
[0085] When the primary terrestrial fiber optic link is completely interrupted, causing a site to become isolated, the MESH system can utilize its multi-hop relay capability to find a potentially circuitous but functional wireless path to transmit the site's data to other unaffected access points in the network, thereby restoring the connection. It provides a backup method that does not rely on fixed infrastructure.
[0086] Specifically, the implementation of a MESH-based collaborative satellite communication network system relies on MESH self-organizing network access modules deployed within each base station node. This module, acting as a third physical communication interface independent of the terrestrial fiber optic main link and satellite backup link, connects directly to the policy router within the station. Each base station node in the MESH network is not merely a simple signal relay point, but also a network edge computing node with intelligent routing decision-making and data forwarding capabilities. At the physical level, the MESH antenna arrays of adjacent sites constitute a decentralized wireless mesh topology, forming a terrestrial horizontal communication layer independent of the existing telecom operator's basic bearer network.
[0087] Each base station node maintains a real-time neighbor discovery mechanism via a high-gain wireless link. During system power-on initialization or operation, the MESH module periodically sends probe beacons and handshake signaling on a dedicated control channel to automatically identify other similar base station nodes within communication range and establish stable radio frequency connections. Beyond basic identity exchanges, nodes engage in deeper interaction regarding network topology information and status parameters. This exchanged information includes, but is not limited to, each site's current satellite uplink quality (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio, available bandwidth), local backup BBU load status, optical switch status, and current node hardware health. Through this flooding or on-demand state synchronization, each site's policy router can maintain a global topology view containing the real-time status of the entire network, thereby gaining an understanding of the resource distribution across the entire satellite station cluster.
[0088] When business data needs to be transmitted and the heterogeneous routing mechanism is triggered, the policy router makes intelligent decisions based on a global view, and data packets will dynamically hop between multiple MESH nodes. The path selection at this time is no longer limited to the traditional minimum hop count principle, but adopts a multi-dimensional weighted algorithm with cross-layer optimization. This algorithm comprehensively considers the horizontal transmission latency of the MESH link, the vertical transmission latency of the satellite link at the target egress site, and the processing queuing latency of each node. The system automatically calculates and selects the optimal path with the minimum sum of "MESH forwarding latency + satellite link transmission latency" and the lowest link jitter. For example, when a local site needs to transmit command voice services that are extremely sensitive to latency, if the satellite link quality of a neighboring site is significantly better than that of the local site, the data packet will preferentially hop to that neighboring site for routing.
[0089] In particular, in extreme scenarios where a severe natural disaster causes a complete disruption of the primary terrestrial fiber optic link, and the local satellite link is blocked or malfunctioning, rendering the site a communication island, the multi-hop relay capability of the MESH system plays a crucial role. In this situation, the policy router at the isolated site will activate an emergency coordination mode, utilizing the MESH network to find a wireless path that may be physically tortuous but logically connected within the complex geographical environment. Service data will be encapsulated and relayed along this path until it reaches an access point that is unaffected by the disaster and has a normal satellite link or terrestrial fiber optic link, from which it will then upload the data to the core network. This mechanism provides a backup method that is completely independent of existing fixed infrastructure (such as fiber optic trenches and tower base station transmission networks). Through horizontal interconnection between sites, it achieves spatial complementarity and redundancy of physical resources, greatly enhancing the survivability and resilience of the entire emergency communication system. Furthermore, for high-bandwidth services, the system also supports data stream fragmentation, simultaneously utilizing the weak local satellite link and neighboring site links via MESH hops for parallel transmission, achieving bandwidth aggregation and load balancing.
[0090] In the communication system of this application, a MESH self-organizing network access layer is added to a communication network containing multiple independent sites (each site containing at least one satellite base station or satellite access unit). (See attached...) Figure 4 As shown, a MESH network interface is added to each satellite base station (or its associated policy router), and all or some satellite base stations are interconnected in pairs through the wireless routing links shown by the dashed lines, forming a distributed, decentralized MESH backbone network. This MESH network is independent of the primary fiber / microwave terrestrial network and also independent of the satellite space segment; it is a dedicated "terrestrial lateral communication layer" for coordination between satellite base stations.
[0091] Through the aforementioned MESH network, physically dispersed satellite base stations are organized into a logically coordinated satellite station cluster, possessing the following collective intelligence:
[0092] Status sharing and heartbeat monitoring: Each station periodically broadcasts its own status (such as available satellite link bandwidth, current load, and device health) through the MESH link. All members within the station cluster can perceive the global status in real time, which is the basis for collaborative decision-making.
[0093] Dynamic routing and resource relay: as attached Figure 4 As shown, the dashed lines connecting MESH nodes indicate that paths can be dynamically selected. When the satellite uplink of site A is interrupted, its service data can be automatically and dynamically routed through the MESH network to site B or site C with normal satellite links, and then the latter will take over the uplink transmission, realizing "star link sharing" and "link relay".
[0094] Load balancing and traffic scheduling: When multiple stations need to use satellite bandwidth in the face of regional terrestrial network outages, the station group can coordinate and schedule traffic. For example, high-priority services can be concentrated at the station with the best satellite link quality, while high-volume services can be split and transmitted in parallel across the satellite links of multiple stations, maximizing overall throughput.
[0095] Distributed control and self-healing: The inherent self-organizing and self-healing characteristics of MESH networks enable the MESH network to automatically reorganize routes even if a satellite base station fails, ensuring uninterrupted communication with other members in the cluster and greatly enhancing the robustness of the system.
[0096] In some embodiments of the present invention, the policy router constitutes the core intelligent scheduling hub of the base station node. Its physical deployment is located in the network aggregation layer inside the site. It is connected to the satellite ground station modem and ground optical transmission equipment through the Ethernet interface, and interconnected with the MESH self-organizing network access module and optical switch control unit through the high-speed bus or dedicated interface.
[0097] More specifically, the core of the policy router lies in its embedded adaptive full-path quality assessment algorithm. This algorithm collects and analyzes key performance indicators (KPIs) for each potential link in real time, including but not limited to round-trip time (RTT), packet loss rate, jitter, and remaining available bandwidth. Unlike traditional routing protocols that select routes based solely on hop count or fixed cost, the policy router of this invention employs a cross-layer end-to-end latency prediction model. The latency prediction may include the following steps:
[0098] Step 1: End-to-end path decomposition
[0099] The end-to-end communication path is decomposed into three logical segments: the ground MESH segment, the satellite space segment, and the core network segment;
[0100] Step 2: Segmented Delay Prediction
[0101] Establish a delay prediction sub-model for each logical segment:
[0102] A ground-based MESH segment delay prediction model is based on G / G / 1 queuing theory and real-time link status information.
[0103] A satellite space segment delay prediction model is based on the satellite-to-ground geometry and adaptive coding modulation characteristics, and takes into account the effects of weather attenuation.
[0104] The core network segment latency prediction model is based on piecewise linear regression and network load characteristics;
[0105] Step 3: Delay Prediction Fusion
[0106] The latency prediction results of each logic segment are added together to obtain a preliminary end-to-end latency prediction value;
[0107] Step 4: Dynamic Correction
[0108] Based on historical prediction error statistics, an extended Kalman filter is used to correct the preliminary prediction results in real time, and a gradient boosting decision tree model is combined for error compensation.
[0109] Step 5: Confidence Assessment
[0110] Based on the current network status, calculate the confidence interval and confidence level for the latency prediction;
[0111] Step 6: Output the prediction results
[0112] The output includes structured prediction results containing predicted delay values, confidence intervals, delay decomposition for each segment, and prediction quality indicators.
[0113] More specifically, the above steps include two layers of continuous optimization mechanisms to refine the preliminary prediction results:
[0114] Recursive dynamic correction: A multi-dimensional state-space model is established, which includes the delay of each segment and its changing trend. Based on the latest measured end-to-end delay, the model continuously updates and corrects the optimal estimates of each state variable (i.e., the delay of each segment and its rate of change) in a recursive manner, so that the prediction can track the dynamic changes of the network state in real time.
[0115] Machine learning error compensation: The gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model is used as input, with the previous step's corrected output, historical errors, network load, business characteristics and environmental factors (such as weather) as input, to predict and compensate for systematic residual errors, so as to correct model bias and capture complex nonlinear relationships.
[0116] The initial fusion of end-to-end delay predictions undergoes a two-stage correction process involving recursive state estimation and machine learning compensation to improve their accuracy and adaptability.
[0117] This phase aims to track the dynamic changes in latency in real time. First, a state-space model is constructed, with its state vector... x Including ground mesh segment latency d m Satellite space segment latency d s Core network segment latency d c and their respective rates of change. The model is derived through a state transition equation. This describes the trend of these delay components evolving over time.
[0118] In each prediction cycle k First, based on the state estimation of the previous cycle... x k-1 Predict the current state using the state transition equation. x k When new actual end-to-end delay observations are obtained. z k Next, the residual between the observed values and the predicted values calculated based on the predicted state is calculated. Then, a recursive estimation algorithm is used to optimally update the estimated state vector based on this residual, resulting in the corrected state. x k And its uncertainty (covariance). The algorithm aims to minimize the mean squared error of the estimation error, and its core is to dynamically allocate weights between the predicted and observed values.
[0119] Predicted time delay value after recursive correction y kal Bias may still exist due to systematic factors not fully described by the model. To address this, a gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model is introduced for compensation in the second stage.
[0120] The input feature F of this GBDT model is a composite vector, including:
[0121] Predicted features, including recursively corrected time delay values y kal and its estimated variance.
[0122] Network status characteristics, including real-time collected link signal-to-noise ratio, load rate, and queue depth.
[0123] Historical and contextual characteristics, including latency trends over a past period, business type, time (such as whether it is a peak period), meteorological data, etc.
[0124] The goal of the model is to learn from the features F to the predicted residuals. The mapping relationship, that is =GBDT(F). Finally, the system's delay prediction output is:
[0125]
[0126] The GBDT model uses historical running data (composed of feature F and the corresponding true residuals). The system (consisting of samples) is trained offline and periodically updated online to continuously adapt to changes in the network environment.
[0127] When the primary local fiber optic cable is interrupted and a neighboring station's satellite link needs to be borrowed through the MESH network, the model dynamically calculates the weighted sum of the MESH multi-hop forwarding delay and the target neighboring station's satellite link transmission delay. Specifically, the policy router obtains the current satellite link status of candidate neighboring stations (such as station B and station C) through the interaction information of the MESH control plane. Combining the wireless hop count and channel quality from the local station to each neighboring station, it accurately predicts the total estimated delay of a data packet from the local station, via MESH relay, and finally uplinked to the core network via the neighboring station's satellite. For example, if the calculation results show that the total delay of reaching station C via a single hop and utilizing its satellite link is lower than the total delay of reaching station B via a two-hop route, even if station B's satellite link physical bandwidth is slightly larger, the policy router will prioritize scheduling delay-sensitive services (such as emergency command voice) to the routing path pointing to station C, thereby ensuring optimal service experience in extreme environments.
[0128] In the emergency communication scenario of this invention, the policy router also undertakes the responsibility of fine-grained service routing and load balancing. Its internal deep packet inspection (DPI) module can identify different types of service data streams and perform differentiated transmission according to preset QoS policies.
[0129] For high-priority control signaling and real-time voice, the policy router locks a dedicated encrypted tunnel established on a low-latency link. For large-volume video backhaul or log backup data, it activates a multi-link bundling mechanism to fragment the data stream. It can simultaneously activate local satellite links (if partially available) and MESH links pointing to different neighboring stations, using multiple paths to transmit data fragments in parallel and reassemble them on the core network side, thereby breaking through the bandwidth bottleneck of a single physical link.
[0130] In addition, the policy router maintains linkage with the optical switch and the backup BBU. Once it detects that the optical switch has performed a physical layer switchover or the BBU state has changed, it will update the routing table entries in milliseconds to ensure that the upper layer service data flow can be seamlessly switched to the currently working baseband processing unit, realizing deep collaboration between physical layer hard switching and network layer soft scheduling.
[0131] See attached document Figure 4 Figure 4 As shown, the service routing decision-making process of a MESH-based collaborative satellite communication station cluster system is illustrated. In this embodiment, the policy router and MESH communication module are configured to execute a multi-dimensional intelligent routing and traffic scheduling method.
[0132] This method dynamically selects the optimal transmission path based on the type of user command received and the current network link status.
[0133] Step 1: Multi-dimensional perception of network status
[0134] The policy router collects global network status information, including latency, packet loss rate, bandwidth, and load rate of each link.
[0135] The MESH communication module collects local network status information, including neighbor node status, local queue length, link quality, etc.
[0136] Collect service characteristic information, including service type, QoS requirements, priority, etc.;
[0137] Collect economic cost information, including unit traffic cost and time cost factor for different links;
[0138] Collect system stability information, including historical link availability, failure frequency, recovery time, etc.
[0139] Step 2: Business Identification and Classification
[0140] The deep packet inspection technology is used to identify service types, including VoIP, video conferencing, real-time gaming, critical data, and general data.
[0141] Extract the QoS requirements of the service, including maximum tolerable latency, maximum tolerable packet loss, minimum required bandwidth, jitter tolerance, etc.
[0142] Assign appropriate priorities and service levels to services based on their type and QoS requirements.
[0143] Step 3: Multi-dimensional comprehensive scoring
[0144] Define a scoring function for each decision dimension:
[0145] Link quality score: calculated based on metrics such as latency, packet loss rate, jitter, and bandwidth;
[0146] Business requirement dimension scoring: calculated based on the degree to which business QoS requirements are met;
[0147] Network load dimensional scoring: calculated based on link utilization, queue length, congestion level, etc.
[0148] Economic cost dimension scoring: calculated based on communication costs and economic budget;
[0149] System stability score: calculated based on historical availability, failure rate, recovery capability, etc.
[0150] Weights are assigned to each dimension based on the business type, and a comprehensive score is calculated for each candidate path.
[0151] Step 4: Intelligent Routing Decision
[0152] Candidate paths are selected based on comprehensive scoring and hard constraints on service QoS;
[0153] For paths that meet the requirements, the path with the highest overall score is selected as the main path;
[0154] For services with high bandwidth requirements, when the bandwidth of a single path is insufficient, a multi-path traffic splitting mechanism is triggered.
[0155] The load balancing is achieved by calculating the load distribution weight based on the comprehensive score of each path.
[0156] Step 5: Distributed Fast Execution
[0157] The MESH communication module performs fast path selection and traffic forwarding based on local information;
[0158] Supports local fault detection and rapid recovery, with a recovery time of less than 200ms;
[0159] Neighboring nodes exchange load information to achieve local load balancing;
[0160] Local decision results are reported to the policy router for global coordination and optimization.
[0161] Step 6: Dynamic Learning and Optimization
[0162] The weights of each dimension are dynamically adjusted based on historical decision-making effects and actual performance data.
[0163] Optimize the scoring function parameters using machine learning algorithms;
[0164] The decision-making strategy is adaptively adjusted based on changes in network status.
[0165] In some embodiments of the present invention, the execution of a specific traffic routing strategy may include the implementation logic of the following typical application scenarios:
[0166] In the first scenario, the optimal local satellite link scenario, this typically corresponds to regular data transmission services or when the local satellite link is in its best condition. When the user-end RRU receives a request for a regular data service, the system first checks the physical layer status of the local satellite link, including but not limited to the link's signal-to-noise ratio, bit error rate, and currently available bandwidth. If the check indicates that the local satellite link is in good condition and the load is within a preset normal range, the policy router executes a routing decision based on the nearest principle. In this case, the data flow does not undergo additional multi-hop relay through the MESH network, but is directly transmitted uplink to the core network via the locally established satellite physical link through the satellite ground station equipment bound to the base station. This approach avoids unnecessary MESH forwarding latency and overhead, maximizing the utilization of local link resources.
[0167] In the second scenario, namely the collaborative rescue scenario for local satellite link congestion or interruption, it mainly targets critical services that must ensure service continuity. When the satellite link of the local base station is interrupted due to a fault, the link quality deteriorates below a threshold, or severe congestion occurs, the MESH module activates the collaborative mechanism.
[0168] In this embodiment, each base station node periodically broadcasts its own status information through the MESH network, including the availability of satellite links, remaining bandwidth, and queue load. Based on this status information, the source base station dynamically queries and locks neighboring sites (e.g., site B or site C) with available satellite link resources within the MESH network. After data streams are encapsulated, they are routed to the selected neighboring sites via the wireless MESH links between base stations, using the neighboring sites' satellite links as the exit point to connect to the core network. This achieves network self-healing and service survival in the event of a single point of physical link failure.
[0169] In the third scenario, namely low-latency sensitive service scenarios, this mainly targets services that are extremely sensitive to end-to-end latency, such as voice calls, video conferencing, or real-time command and control instructions. The policy router executes the path calculation logic to select the optimal route. Unlike traditional routing algorithms based solely on hop count, this embodiment employs a composite latency calculation model across heterogeneous links. The system not only obtains the MESH forwarding latency to each neighbor node but also combines it with the spatial transmission latency of the current satellite links of each neighbor node to calculate the estimated total end-to-end latency of each candidate path (total latency equals the sum of satellite link transmission latency and MESH network forwarding latency). The system compares the local link with the paths forwarded through each neighbor node and ultimately selects the path with the lowest total latency for data transmission. For example, even if neighbor site C requires a single hop through the MESH network, if its satellite link transmission latency is significantly lower than that of the local site or site B, and its total latency is the lowest, the system will prioritize forwarding via site C, thereby ensuring the timeliness of command and control in obstacle-prone environments.
[0170] In the fourth scenario, namely high-bandwidth non-real-time services or high-reliability command scenarios, data backhaul or control signaling transmission is involved. For high-bandwidth services (such as high-definition video recording backhaul), when the bandwidth of a single local satellite link is insufficient, the system executes a load balancing strategy. The policy router fragments the original data stream; one portion of the data fragments is uploaded via the local satellite link, while the other portion is distributed through the MESH network to one or more lightly loaded neighboring sites for parallel uploading. Finally, aggregation and reassembly are performed on the core network side, achieving cross-site bandwidth aggregation. A multi-path aggregation server is deployed on the core network side to implement the above aggregation and reassembly steps.
[0171] For highly reliable commands (such as high-priority control signaling), the system can employ a dual-transmission and selective-receive strategy, replicating the same command stream into two copies. One copy is transmitted via the local satellite link, while the other is routed to neighboring nodes via the MESH network. The core network receiver selects the first arriving or fully verified data packet, trading space for time to significantly improve communication reliability in extreme environments. Furthermore, for mobile user terminals, the MESH network supports dynamic handover based on signal strength, ensuring service continuity when users move between different base station coverage areas.
[0172] In the description of this specification, reference is made to at least one embodiment or example of the invention, using terms such as "an embodiment," "example," "specific example," etc. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
[0173] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed invention.
Claims
1. An emergency communication method applied in a wireless ad hoc network comprising multiple base station nodes, wherein at least some of the base station nodes are configured with satellite communication links; the method is executed by the local node among the base station nodes, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Obtain status information broadcast by at least one neighboring station node, the status information including link performance parameters of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring station node; Based on the aforementioned status information and the satellite communication link status of this station node, schedule operation one and / or schedule operation two are performed on the service data; The scheduling operation includes the following steps: determining a first transmission performance index for data transmission via the satellite communication link of the local node, and determining a second transmission performance index for the composite path of data transmission via the wireless ad hoc network to the neighboring node and then via the satellite communication link of the neighboring node based on the status information, and selecting a forwarding path based on the comparison result of the first transmission performance index and the second transmission performance index. The second scheduling operation includes the following steps: when the data traffic to be transmitted meets the preset bandwidth aggregation conditions, the data to be transmitted is divided into a first data part and a second data part. The first data part is sent through the satellite communication link of the local node, and the second data part is routed to the neighboring node through the wireless ad hoc network for transmission via the satellite communication link of the neighboring node. The emergency communication method is applied to a base station node including a radio frequency remote unit, a primary baseband processing unit connected to a wired backhaul link, and a backup baseband processing unit connected to the satellite communication link; the method further includes: Before performing the scheduling operation, the optical path switching unit, which is set between the radio frequency remote unit and the primary baseband processing unit and the backup baseband processing unit, switches the physical optical path connection of the radio frequency remote unit from the primary baseband processing unit to the backup baseband processing unit when the primary baseband processing unit is detected to be faulty or the wired backhaul link is interrupted. Other nodes in the base station nodes besides the local node are configured with backup baseband processing units. When a link interruption is detected, the node activates the satellite ground station, establishes a physical connection with the satellite, and starts the backup baseband processing unit, thereby establishing a tunnel connection with the core network through the satellite link. The radio frequency remote unit of the base station node converts the radio frequency signal into a CPRI / eCPRI optical signal, which is then transmitted to the backup baseband processing unit via a 1×2 optical switch.
2. The emergency communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The link performance parameters include at least: the connectivity status of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring station node, the remaining available bandwidth, and the data queue load level.
3. The emergency communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission performance indicator is the first transmission delay, and the second transmission performance indicator is the second transmission delay; the step of selecting a forwarding path specifically includes: comparing the first transmission delay and the second transmission delay, and selecting the path with the minimum delay as the forwarding path.
4. The emergency communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset bandwidth aggregation condition is: the data traffic to be transmitted exceeds the current available bandwidth of the satellite communication link of this station node.
5. The emergency communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of detecting a fault in the primary baseband processing unit or an interruption in the wired backhaul link includes: the optical path switching unit monitors the optical signal power from the direction of the primary baseband processing unit, and when the optical signal power is lower than a preset threshold, it performs a switch of the physical connection of the optical path.
6. An emergency communication system, applied in a wireless ad hoc network comprising multiple base station nodes, wherein the system is located at one of the base station nodes and has a satellite communication link, characterized in that, The system includes: The information acquisition unit is configured to acquire status information broadcast by at least one neighboring station node, the status information including link performance parameters of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring station node; The routing scheduling unit is configured to perform the following scheduling operation one and / or scheduling operation two on service data based on the status information and the satellite communication link status of the local node; The scheduling operation includes the following steps: determining a first transmission performance index for data transmission via the satellite communication link of the local node, and determining a second transmission performance index for the composite path of data transmission via the wireless ad hoc network to the neighboring node and then via the satellite communication link of the neighboring node based on the status information, and selecting a forwarding path based on the comparison result of the first transmission performance index and the second transmission performance index. The second scheduling operation includes the following steps: when the data traffic to be transmitted meets the preset bandwidth aggregation conditions, the data to be transmitted is divided into a first data part and a second data part, the first data part is controlled to be sent through the satellite communication link of the local node, and the second data part is controlled to be routed to the neighboring node through the wireless ad hoc network, so as to be sent through the satellite communication link of the neighboring node. The base station node includes a radio frequency remote unit, a primary baseband processing unit connected to the wired backhaul link, and a backup baseband processing unit connected to the satellite communication link. Before performing the scheduling operation, the optical path switching unit, which is set between the radio frequency remote unit and the primary baseband processing unit and the backup baseband processing unit, switches the physical optical path connection of the radio frequency remote unit from the primary baseband processing unit to the backup baseband processing unit when the primary baseband processing unit is detected to be faulty or the wired backhaul link is interrupted. Other nodes in the base station node, besides the local node, are configured with backup baseband processing units. When a link interruption is detected, the node activates the satellite ground station, establishes a physical connection with the satellite, and starts the backup baseband processing unit. Then, through the satellite link, a tunnel connection is established with the core network. The radio frequency remote unit of the base station node converts the radio frequency signal into a CPRI / eCPRI optical signal. The optical signal passes through a 1×2 optical switch and is directly transmitted to the backup baseband processing unit.
7. The emergency communication system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The link performance parameters include at least: the connectivity status of the satellite communication link associated with the neighboring station node, the remaining available bandwidth, and the data queue load level.
8. The emergency communication system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The routing scheduling unit is specifically configured to: determine the first transmission performance indicator as the first transmission delay and the second transmission performance indicator as the second transmission delay; compare the first transmission delay and the second transmission delay, and select the path with the minimum delay as the forwarding path.
9. The emergency communication system according to claim 6, characterized in that, When the routing scheduling unit determines that the data traffic to be transmitted exceeds the current available bandwidth of the satellite communication link of the local node, it determines that the preset bandwidth aggregation condition is met.